Please always refer to the producer's manual, which is usually included in the furniture delivery.
WOODEN FURNITURE MAINTENANCE
Wood is a natural product and always reacts in direct proportion to the relative humidity of the ambient atmosphere. Therefore, wood expands during humid, and shrinks during dry periods. When the wood is "working" like this, the transitions between massive wooden parts might become visible. Massive wooden table tops may bend and wind cracks may occur, these are narrow cracks between the veins, that have no effect on the durability. The cracks usually close by themselves.
Wooden furniture made of certain wood types may show significant changes in colour as soon as they are taken out of the box. This process is activated by sunlight. The more a piece of furniture is exposed to sunlight, the faster its colour will change. If you want to slow down this process, you will have to protect it from the sunlight. Avoid "sun marks" made by objects, by not leaving them on top of wooden surfaces, especially during the first couple of months.
MAINTENANCE OF SOAPED FURNITURE
Leached, or soaped, massive wooden tables are sufficiently protected for normal usage. Regular care is easily taken care of and grants a long durability. For best results, treat the table with soap before starting to use it and then every four to six weeks, depending on the positioning of the table and what it is used for, as regular treatment will improve the wood's natural durability.
Daily care
Use a clean, soft cloth, which has been immersed in tepid water and well wrung out for daily cleaning.
Attention!
- Never use detergents, chemicals nor steel wool for cleaning soaped furniture.
- Don't leave objects out of steel on oak furniture. Steel may react with the wood and leave dark marks, which can only be removed through sanding.
Regular maintenance
1. Before treating the surface with soap flakes/water, sand down the entire surface carefully in the direction of the veins with a sanding sponge (which is included in the packaging when you purchase maintenance products at holm°).
2. Shake the bottle with soap water and apply it with a dry cloth or sponge in the direction of the grains. When treating a wood table with soap, it is important to also apply the soap to edges, legs and the underside of the table to prevent uneven drying, since the uneven release of moisture from the wood can result in unnecessary cracks and warping of the table top.
3. Please allow the table to rest for at least 10 minutes after the treatment.
4. To remove residues, wipe the table with a clean sponge or cloth tightly wrung out with hot water.
5. Allow for the piece of furniture to dry properly. It is possible that the wood fibres might rise slightly after the first few soap treatments. If so, use a sanding sponge or fine sandpaper to rub down the entire piece of furniture. Always sand in the direction of the grain. After sanding the furniture, it must be given a second soap treatment.
Attention!
- When treating oak furniture, the soap content of the lye should not be too high, since the soap may react with the tannic acid in the wood and stain it darker.
Soap water for cleaning wooden furniture is available in our online shop.
MAINTENANCE OF OILED WOODEN FURNITURE
Oil treated wooden furniture have a lasting protection. Regular care is easily accomplished and preserved a wooden piece of furniture a life time. Best results are obtained, if you treat a table two to four times a year.
Attention!
Never use detergents, chemicals or steel wool to clean wooden furniture!
Regular maintenance
1. First clean the entire table thoroughly with a clean cloth tightly wrung out with clean hot water. Then leave the table to dry.
2. Before applying the oil, lightly rub the surface of the furniture with the sanding sponge.
3. Apply the oil from the care set using a clean white cloth or a sponge. Do not pour the oil directly onto the wood. Apply the oil in the direction of the grain in a thin, even layer. It is important to treat the entire surface of the furniture. During the dry season (winter), cross-cut edge ends should be treated more frequently to avoid drying and subsequent cracking.
4. Allow the oil to dry for about two hours, and then remove any excess oil with a clean dry cloth. If the table top has any scratches, these can be removed by gently sanding the wood. It is important to sand the wood in the direction of the grain using the enclosed sanding sponge or fine sandpaper (grade 240). If you have to purchase a sanding sponge, it should be at least grade 180 or finer.
5. After sanding, always wipe the table with a clean, dry cloth to remove residual dust. Then oil the wood as described above.
Attention!
- The uneven release of moisture from the wood may cause unnecessary cracks and warping of the table top, which is why we recommend the same treatment for both the top and underside of the furniture.
- Please note that cloths or sponges which have been used to oil the furniture can ignite spontaneously, which is why they must always be kept in an airtight metal or glass container. This also applies if the cloth is being disposed of.
Stain removal and repair of oiled and soaped surfaces
Red wine, grease and oil
- Stains from red wine, grease or oil are preferably removed by carefully rubbing the stain with a sponge soaked in oil or soap solution (depending on its initial treatment). If the stain has already been absorbed by the surface, please use a sandpaper (initially with grain 180 and then with grain 220). Be careful not to create an indentation by sanding too hard or only on the stain, but make sure to sand the entire surface evenly. Then treat the surface anew.
Wax
- Stains from wax should be removed by very carefully scraping it off, without damaging the surface. Then treat the surface with a little oil or soap solution, depending on its initial treatment.
Crayons and watercolours
- Stains from crayons and watercolours are best removed by absorbing as much as possible with blotting paper and subsequently cleaning with alcohol.
Ink
- First, try to absorb as much as possible with blotting paper. If that doesn't work, use a soft brush, a little water and very mild cleaning agent. Pay attention not to use too much water. If this still doesn't work, try with alcohol or benzene. As a last resort try to sand down the stain. Use fine sand paper (grain 240 - 320). Be careful not to create an indentation by sanding too hard or only on the stain, but make sure to sand the entire surface evenly. Then treat the surface anew.
Dents and scratches
- Dents and scratches are usually possible to remove, as long as the wooden grains have not been broken. Apply a little bit of lukewarm water with a soft brush on to the dent. This will raise the wooden grains. As soon as it has dried, sand it down with a fine sand paper and subsequently treat with oil or soap solution.
LAQUERED WOODEN FURNITURE
As the lacquer seals the surface of the wood, the furniture will not be affected by daylight in the same way as soap or oil-treated furniture. However, the furniture will still darken with time, and we recommend that you exercise care when positioning dishes, candlesticks, etc. on the surface.
Daily care
For everyday cleaning, wipe the table top with a soft cloth wrung out with clean lukewarm water.
Regular maintenance
It is possible to increase the table's resistance to scratches by treating the furniture with highly qualitative car wax.
Attention!
- Please refrain from using cleaning agents or other forms of chemicals on the wood.