Porter Bedside Table

Whether you have an all-wood piece of furniture or a furnishing made of a mix of wood, manmade wood, and wood veneer, you want to protect it from damage, maintain its perfect finish and keep it looking beautiful for years to come. Here are some tips to help you do that. How to Care for Wood Furniture: • Use a lint-free cloth to polish wood furniture every week. • Keep furniture away from heating and air conditioning sources to prevent loss of moisture and avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading or darkening of wood. • Use felt backing on lamps and other accessories to prevent scratches and gouges, and rotate accessories so they do not remain in the same spot all the time. • Use placemats under plates, hot pads under serving dishes, and coasters under beverages. • Do not place newspapers or magazines on woods surfaces. The ink from these items may bleed into the finish and could damage the wood. • Do not use abrasives or harsh chemicals on wood furniture. • Should you scratch your furniture: Touch up crayons and markers are available at local hardware and home improvement stores in a variety of color packs. These types of crayons and markers are made especially for furniture, and work well in touching up most flaws. How to Spot Clean Wood Furniture: • To remove food stains, wipe up the spill immediately. Polish with a soft, clean cloth. • To remove cloudiness, rub surface with cloth dipped in solution of one tablespoon of vinegar mixed with one quart of water. Rub in the same direction as the grain until the surface is completely dry. Follow with an application of furniture oil or polish that does not cause a waxy build-up or has silicones, such as Guardsman or Heritage. • To remove water rings, rub with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and cooking oil in the same direction of the grain. • To remove candle wax or chewing gum, hold an ice cube over the wax or gum for a few seconds so that it will chill and harden. Be sure to wipe up water as the ice melts to prevent water spots. Remove as much of the wax or gum as possible with your fingers, then scrape away the remainder gently using the dull edge of a table knife. Rub the spot briskly with a cloth saturated in cream wax. Repeat if needed.