{"id":4175,"date":"2016-12-15T14:45:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-15T19:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/?p=4175"},"modified":"2025-11-10T11:22:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:22:32","slug":"care-solid-wood-furniture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/care-solid-wood-furniture\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Care for Solid Wood Furniture"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your solid wood furniture helps play host to beautiful dinners, magical home movie screenings, and overnight guests during the holiday season. It\u2019s during these times that a few extra tips on solid wood furniture care will safeguard your custom-made designs from damage.<\/p>\n<h2>Manage Heat and Humidity<\/h2>\n<h3>Handle Humidity<\/h3>\n<p>Wood expands and contracts as the amount of moisture in the air changes. Keep an even\u00a0humidity\u00a0level in your home to help preserve your fine furniture.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use a humidifier in winter and air conditioning in the summer to keep relative humidity between 35 percent to 45 percent.<\/li>\n<li>Never store table leaves or fine furniture in a damp basement or garage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Store table leaves for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/Amish-Empire-Dining-Room-Table\/p\/8633\">Amish Rolla Solid Wood Leg Dining Table<\/a>\u00a0as close to the dining table as possible so they both adjust to the same relative humidity<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/Amish-Empire-Dining-Room-Table\/p\/8633\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-27703 size-medium aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_8633-Amish-Empire-Leg-Table-11-300x189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"189\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_8633-Amish-Empire-Leg-Table-11-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_8633-Amish-Empire-Leg-Table-11-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_8633-Amish-Empire-Leg-Table-11.jpg 817w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Beat the Heat<\/h3>\n<p>When your\u00a0heat is on the humidity inside your home drops and steals moisture from your furniture. Dry heat can cause wood to dry out and shrink, possibly leading to cracks.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do not position your solid wood furniture directly in front of radiators, fireplaces, heating units, or heating vents<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep it cool enough for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/Amish-Crestline-Sideboard\/p\/47482\">Amish Crestline Sideboard<\/a>\u00a0to stay hydrated for your dining room display.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/Amish-Crestline-Sideboard\/p\/47482\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10558 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Amish-Crestline-Sideboard_400_0.jpg\" alt=\"Crestline Sideboard\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Amish-Crestline-Sideboard_400_0.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Amish-Crestline-Sideboard_400_0-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Shirk the Sunlight<\/h2>\n<p>Continuous direct sunlight can rob your solid wood furniture of its beautiful finish.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep furniture out of the sun to prevent fading and any shrinking or drying of the wood, which could eventually lead to cracks.<\/li>\n<li>Consider using drapes, sheers, or protective window films to protect furnishings from the sun\u2019s rays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Careful Cleaning is Best<\/h2>\n<p>Dusting your furniture will help remove particles that can build up and scratch the surface.<\/p>\n<h3>Do Away with Dust<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Dust your solid wood furniture often to remove abrasive particles on the surface.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Use a soft, wet cloth with a few drops of water, dusting agent, or polish.\u00a0A completely dry cloth can leave scratches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Be sure cloths are not too damp or wet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Never spray furniture directly with water or cleaning products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>A dry, soft cloth, cheesecloth, feather duster, lamb\u2019s wool duster, cotton diaper, or cut-up T-shirt are all gentle enough to clean your furniture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Follow the grain pattern of the wood when dusting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Lift objects when dusting. Never slide them across wood surfaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Polish furniture once a month, but don\u2019t over polish. Too much can cause buildup.<\/li>\n<li>A paste wax can be applied every 6 to 12 months to protect the finish. Remove old wax first with a mild, non-alkaline soap and water solution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Daily Dos and Don\u2019ts<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Blot clean all spills immediately.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Use coasters to prevent sweating beverages from leaving rings on the finish.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Place trivets or hot pads under hot dishes to protect tables from heat. Be sure trivets have soft felt bottoms.<\/li>\n<li>Consider tablecloths, mats, or padded table covers to provide protection against spills and scrapes.<\/li>\n<li>Do not use covers with rubber or vinyl backing as the chemicals contained in them can ruin the finish.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Always lift and place objects on the surface of your fine furniture. Never drag objects across it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Open and close doors and drawers gently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep solvents like alcohol, nail polish, and polish removers away from wood surfaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Blotting up spills, using hot pads, and placing objects carefully\u00a0on top of the Amish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/Amish-Woodall-Modern-Kitchen-Nook-Dining-Set-3-Piece-Set\/p\/55077\">South Haven<\/a> Kitchen Nook Dining Set will help it keep its sparkling finish.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/Amish-Woodall-Modern-Kitchen-Nook-Dining-Set-3-Piece-Set\/p\/55077\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420.jpg\" alt=\"Amish South Haven Kitchen Dining Nook Set\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420-840x560.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pid_55077-Amish-South-Haven-Kitchen-Dining-Nook-Set-420-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Care for your solid wood furniture to help maintain its beauty for years to come.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"related-post slider\">\r\n        <div class=\"headline\">Related Posts<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"post-list owl-carousel\">\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"What Language do the Amish Speak?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/pennsylvania-dutch-the-amish-language\/?related_post_from=613\">\r\n        What Language do the Amish Speak?  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"thumb post_thumb\">\r\n    <a  title=\"What Language do the Amish Speak?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/pennsylvania-dutch-the-amish-language\/?related_post_from=613\">\r\n\r\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2240\" height=\"1260\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"What language do the Amish speak?\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch.jpg 2240w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Amish-Language-Pennsylvania-Dutch-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2240px) 100vw, 2240px\" \/>\r\n\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    This post was originally published on July 25th, 2013. It was updated on January 30th, 2025. If you have spoken <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/pennsylvania-dutch-the-amish-language\/?related_post_from=613\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Cherry Wood Furniture-The Lowdown\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/put-a-cherry-on-top\/?related_post_from=915\">\r\n        Cherry Wood Furniture-The Lowdown  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"thumb post_thumb\">\r\n    <a  title=\"Cherry Wood Furniture-The Lowdown\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/put-a-cherry-on-top\/?related_post_from=915\">\r\n\r\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"794\" height=\"1124\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CHERRY-WOOD-INFOGRAPHIC.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"CHERRY WOOD INFOGRAPHIC\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CHERRY-WOOD-INFOGRAPHIC.png 794w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CHERRY-WOOD-INFOGRAPHIC-211x300.png 211w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CHERRY-WOOD-INFOGRAPHIC-723x1024.png 723w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px\" \/>\r\n\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    You Put Cherries On Top For A Reason! Why cherry wood? There are so many wood choices, is there really <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/put-a-cherry-on-top\/?related_post_from=915\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Amish Recipe: Apple Sponge Pudding\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-recipe-apple-sponge-pudding\/?related_post_from=1405\">\r\n        Amish Recipe: Apple Sponge Pudding  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"thumb post_thumb\">\r\n    <a  title=\"Amish Recipe: Apple Sponge Pudding\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-recipe-apple-sponge-pudding\/?related_post_from=1405\">\r\n\r\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/APPLE-SPONGE-PUDDINGcrop.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"amish recipe: apple sponge pudding\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/APPLE-SPONGE-PUDDINGcrop.png 600w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/APPLE-SPONGE-PUDDINGcrop-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/APPLE-SPONGE-PUDDINGcrop-580x870.png 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\r\n\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    In which I use far too many italics, and redefine \"pudding.\" I just plain do not understand how this is <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/amish-recipe-apple-sponge-pudding\/?related_post_from=1405\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Steven &#038; Sons\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/meet-amish-makers-steven-sons\/?related_post_from=1479\">\r\n        Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Steven &#038; Sons  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"thumb post_thumb\">\r\n    <a  title=\"Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Steven &#038; Sons\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/meet-amish-makers-steven-sons\/?related_post_from=1479\">\r\n\r\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4591\" height=\"3796\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"AmishMakersSteven\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743.jpg 4591w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743-1024x846.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140605-PEP_6743-580x479.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4591px) 100vw, 4591px\" \/>\r\n\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    We can say, with narrative\u00a0certainty, that our\u00a0Amish Makers' love for working with their hands starts young, and with ferocity. Steven <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/meet-amish-makers-steven-sons\/?related_post_from=1479\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n      \r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <script>\r\n      <\/script>\r\n  <style>\r\n    .related-post {}\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list {\r\n      text-align: left;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item {\r\n      margin: 10px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .headline {\r\n      font-size: 18px !important;\r\n      color: #999999 !important;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_title {\r\n      font-size: 16px;\r\n      color: #3f3f3f;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n      text-decoration: none;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_thumb {\r\n      max-height: 220px;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_excerpt {\r\n      font-size: 13px;\r\n      color: #3f3f3f;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n      text-decoration: none;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .owl-dots .owl-dot {\r\n          }\r\n\r\n      <\/style>\r\n      <script>\r\n      jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\r\n        $(\".related-post .post-list\").owlCarousel({\r\n          items: 3,\r\n          responsiveClass: true,\r\n          responsive: {\r\n            0: {\r\n              items: 1,\r\n            },\r\n            768: {\r\n              items: 2,\r\n            },\r\n            1200: {\r\n              items: 3,\r\n            }\r\n          },\r\n                      rewind: true,\r\n                                loop: true,\r\n                                center: true,\r\n                                autoplay: true,\r\n            autoplayHoverPause: true,\r\n                                nav: true,\r\n            navSpeed: 1000,\r\n            navText: ['<i class=\"fas fa-chevron-left\"><\/i>', '<i class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i>'],\r\n                                dots: true,\r\n            dotsSpeed: 1200,\r\n                                                    rtl: false,\r\n          \r\n        });\r\n      });\r\n    <\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your solid wood furniture helps play host to beautiful dinners, magical home movie screenings, and overnight guests during the holiday season. It\u2019s during these times that a few extra tips on solid wood furniture care will safeguard your custom-made designs from damage. Manage Heat and Humidity Handle Humidity Wood expands and contracts as the amount of moisture in the air changes. Keep an even\u00a0humidity\u00a0level in your home to help preserve your fine furniture. Use a&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Steven &#038; Sons<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":4347,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1434,179,1437],"tags":[801,802,370,101,206],"class_list":["post-4175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-furniture-tips","category-older","category-wood-types-and-finishes","tag-furniture-care","tag-furniture-care-tips","tag-how-to","tag-solid-wood-furniture","tag-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4175"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27705,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4175\/revisions\/27705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}