5 Tips to Maintain Your Tasmanian Oak Furniture

Tasmanian oak furniture is beautiful and hard wearing, but like any natural timber product, it does some occasional maintenance to keep it in the best condition. When you invest in high quality furniture you want a product that will be functional, look amazing and last for a long time. In this article, we will share five tips that will help you to protect your natural timber furniture.

1. Keep it Clean

Many people use commercial dusting sprays and polishing products to keep their natural timber furniture clean and shiny. This is a bad idea, although you will get a quick shine it will start to diminish, and your furniture will look dull. The silicon and other chemicals in these types of products actually attract dust, and over time a significant amount of dirt can build up on your surfaces. The best way to clean Tasmanian oak furniture is to clean the dust off with a damp soft cotton cloth and then use a dry soft cotton cloth to buff the surface dry. This should be done at least once per fortnight for the very best results, and it will help to protect your furniture.

2. Avoid Exposure to Sunlight

If you expose your natural timber furniture to direct sunlight for extended periods of time, it will result in "spotting." This is a technical term that refers to the formation of dark and bright spots across the furniture cross section. This is often seen on dining tables that are kept near windows with no protection from ultraviolet rays. The best way to deal with this issue is to fit window treatments and/or cover the table with a tablecloth.

3. Aging Can be Beautiful

One of the most attractive aspects of owning high quality timber furniture is that it ages with you and it lasts a long time if it’s cared for properly. This graceful aging process is not something that you should be unduly concerned about. In fact, as the furniture ages, it may become darker or lighter over time, and the grain may become even more prominent. When you invest in timber furniture be sure to check with your supplier about how the wood ages.

4. Use Oil and Wax

When you oil and wax your wood, it will gain a lovely shiny varnish that will protect the surface from damage. This thin coating is extremely attractive, and its importance should not be underestimated. If you can, aim to oil and wax your natural timber furniture every three months and your furniture will look amazing.

5. Be Careful About Temperatures

Any extremely cold or hot items should not be placed on the surface of a natural wood surface without adequate heat protection in place. The surface can easily be warped and distorted with this kind of treatment, and the grain will be damaged. Always use a trivet, coaster or heat pad, if you want to put a hot or cold item down.

If you’re in the market for some high quality Tasmanian oak timber furniture get in touch with us at Jarrimber.

Todd Smith knows how to make dining tables to chairs, all our timber furniture is 100% Australian Made and built with love. We are passionate about providing local solutions for your furniture needs with our custom design service.