Caring for your Pine Furniture

Taking care of your pine furniture is not as simple as it seems, yet not unduly difficult either. There are just a few basic steps and rules that need to be followed in order to ensure that your furniture stays in good condition and lasts for many years to come.

The first step is to make sure that your pine furniture has been sealed properly. If it is unfinished, you should ensure that the sealant that you use is the correct one and is also of good quality. Your furniture dealer should be able to advise you on the correct sealant.

For finished pieces, make sure that the stain is completely dry before putting on subsequent layers. Also make sure that it is completely dry before putting on a protective top coat or thin layer of varnish. This allows the stain to draw in completely before being sealed in. if the stain is not completely dry, you may find that the top coat will eventually blister and peel. To fix that will mean sanding down the entire piece and re-applying the stain and varnish.

As a wood, pine is quite delicate as it is a soft wood. It is very sensitive to environmental changes (e.g. temperature, humidity etc.) and should never be put in direct sun or near heaters or radiators. A damage factor that is seldom considered is the damage that UV rays can inflict on your beautiful pine furniture. It is also advisable to not place any hot or cold objects directly onto the surface of your furniture. Always put down a coaster or some other sort of protection.

When dusting it not advisable to use any form of polish or wax. A soft, dry cloth or a duster is sufficient. Other dusting lotions will be drawn into the grain of the furniture and may spoil the look of it. Wax can build up and start forming thickened, sticky spots that can only be removed by sanding the furniture down.

Having said that, there is some maintenance that you’ll need to do from time to time in order to keep your pine furniture looking like new. Sometimes you need to retreat the surface of your piece of furniture in order to keep hold of its distinctive character. This is done by using un-perfumed (blocked) wax. You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully when using this. After treatment it may appear that your furniture is a little waxier than normal. This is because pine furniture is wood and wood ‘breathes’, allowing the wax to stay on the surface for a little longer. Eventually the wax will draw in to fully protect it.

Other maintenance is quite standard. It is never advisable to move furniture on your own, as it could damage the balance and straightness of the furniture. Check hinges, knobs etc. regularly and refasten these. They come loose when the wood expands and retracts.

Then: Enjoy your furniture again.