Furniture Maintenance
Maintaining our Hand-rubbed Oil Finish
(for chairs, footstools, barstools,table bases, and cabinet bodies)
For furniture used indoors (not porch rockers)
- Wipe spills and dry the surface as soon as is convenient.
- Move throws, place mats, and such from time to time to avoid "tan" lines.
- Occasionally polish with a furniture care product of your choice.
Once every 3-5 years, on our chairs, we apply a light coat of lemon oil polish (Guardsman is a good one), rub it in, and buff it dry.
The grain on the arms, seat, and crest rail may raise due to use. These can be treated separately if you choose. Use a fine Scotch Brite pad and plenty of oil to create a slurry and make the surface smooth. Again buff with a dry cloth to remove all excess oil.
For Furniture used outdoors (mahogany porch rockers)
- Mahogany will weather from the light brown at delivery to a rich, red brown, on to a gray brown, and then to gray.
- This change in color will depend on weather, exposure, and you.
- The furniture will remain tight and functional for decades, whatever you choose. Nothing is required.
- You will probably want to wipe down or lightly wash the chair from time to time.
- At some point, you will probably decide the chair is looking dry and will want to re-oil it.
See Porch Rocker Maintenance
Maintaining Varnished Table and Cabinet Tops
- Polyurethane varnish is essentially impervious to water and alcohol, but it is wise to wipe and dry the liquid spills.
- Protect the surface from hot vessels.
- From time to time, move place mats, centerpieces, and such to avoid "tan" lines.
- Occasionally polish with a furniture care product of your choice.