Early Oak Furniture

Household cleaning materials are likely to damage the finish of your furniture over time. Instead, wipe the surfaces down with a clean, damp cloth. Since oak is porous, it can soak up liquids. If you have a spill, it can lead to staining – particularly ugly if it’s red wine or coffee. Blot the spill with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth. For long-standing stains, it’s best to contact a professional furniture restorer who will use time-served techniques to get your furniture back to tip-top shape.

When considering positioning, it is best to leave a gap of approximately 25mm between the wall and the back of your furniture; this will allow airflow and keep the oak at a more stable temperature, helping to prolong its life.

Avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading to the finish. It’s also important not to position in front of a radiator, as the constant change in heat will dry out your furniture and could result in joints of the furniture opening up. This also applies to rooms with air conditioning units. Likewise, avoid placing oak furniture in conservatories, where extreme temperatures are common. And it’s certainly not wise to put oak furniture outside unless specifically designed for outdoor use.

As with any natural product, your furniture will be affected by a certain amount of structural movement; this is fine, but the excessive movement will most likely mean your furniture is not placed in the best position.