Skip to content

Furniture Care Guide

Care & Maintenance Guide for Your Fine Furniture Finish

Generally a soft damp cloth followed by a dry cloth will be all you need to clean the finish. If a cleaner is required, use only a very mild soap and wipe dry. A high quality polish may be used occasionally. Apply polish with a soft cloth following manufacturer's instructions.

Follow these steps and you will be assured that your finished piece will continue to look beautiful for many generations:

Cleaning: Fingerprints, cooking residues, tobacco smoke, etc. will accumulate on the finished surface. They will not damage the finish, but should be removed occasionally to restore the finish to its original luster. Wipe the finish with a damp cloth using a non-wax polish or mild soap.

Dust Removal: Dust build-up is simply airborne particles of dust collecting on the finish. If not properly removed, this build-up may dull or even scratch the finish. Simply wipe the finish with a cloth dampened with a mild soap and warm water or feather duster. 

Spills: Your finish is resistant to most household spills. If a spill should occur, it should be wiped up immediately to avoid any potential damage.

Excessive Exposure: Heat, high humidity, direct sunlight or liquids can damage both the finish and the wood. Take care to avoid these conditions.

Avoid the following:

  1. Do not apply wax to surface.
  2. Cleaners containing bleach.
  3. Cleaners with abrasives that may scratch the finish.
  4. Cleaners containing ammonia or silicone.
  5. Dyes and inks from newsprint and plastic bags may penetrate into the finish when moist.

Fabric Cleaning Codes

Code “S” Care Method: To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean using a mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Clean only in a well ventilated room and avoid any product containing carbon tetrachloride which is highly toxic. Pretest small area before proceeding. Cleaning by a professional furniture cleaning service only is recommended.

Code “W” Care Method: Use water based upholstery cleaner only.

Code “WS” Care Method: To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or the foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or dry cleaning product, follow instructions carefully and clean only in a well ventilated room. Avoid any product which is highly toxic. With either method, pretest a small area before proceeding. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.

Code “XS” Care Method: Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust or grime. Water-based foam cleaners or solvent-based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, staining or distortion of the surface pile and, therefore; should not be used. A word of caution on cleaning: never remove cushion covers or arm caps for separate cleaning. It may destroy the backing, cause shrinking and color changes.

Code “SW” Care Method: Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or mild dry cleaning solvent. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do not saturate. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to restore appearance. Hot water extraction or steam cleaning is not a recommended cleaning method. Cushion casings should not be removed and laundered or dry cleaned. To prevent overall soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Clean spots or stains from the outside to the middle of affected area to prevent circling. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.

The Fundamentals of Fine Finish

Curing and Durability: When you receive your furniture the finish is 80% cured. This is similar to cement, it is hard, protective and ready for use right away, however, it takes an additional 3-4 weeks for the final hardening of the surface.

Humidity: For the first 3-4 weeks in your home avoid heat and moisture to the surface. There will be natural movement of wood. Example, a table top will show a small gap certain times of the year, and then it will close back up. This is a natural product, it is not plastic.

Abrasion & Scratching: Catalyzed varnish is tough, but not bullet proof. There will be scratches and dents along the way if you use your furniture. There are ways to avoid this. Do not slide items across furniture, make sure to lift and move. Sliding dishes or cups that have rough bottoms will scratch the surface. Make sure you put soft protective pads underneath vases and decorative items. Keep your furniture free of dust.  Dust particles, while small, can be abrasive. Remember, this is a durable varnish, but even the toughest automobile finish will scratch with abrasion.

Spills & Water Rings: Blot up spills immediately. The surface finish provides a tight web of protection that makes most spills that would ruin a normal lacquer finish not a problem. However, moisture for an extended period of time can cause slight discoloration that, with time, will in most cases disappear. Try to avoid this by blotting up any spills as they happen.

Extreme Heat: Avoid placing extremely hot items on the surface, especially in the first 3-4 weeks in your home. At any time you should never take anything directly out of the microwave or oven and place directly on your furniture. The average heat out of a microwave is 211°F. Catalyzed varnish is tested to withstand temperatures up to 140°F.

Natural Darkening: Especially so with a natural or light color. Make sure to rotate place mats and accessories to prevent uneven aging when exposed to natural sunlight. Remember to rotate table leaves, as well. Table leaves that are always stored away from sunlight will not age the same as the rest of your table.

Cleaning & Polishing: Care for your heirloom furniture with Essentials ®Fine Furniture Polish & Spotless Cleanser. It is formulated, specifically, to maintain the beauty and luster of furniture that has been finished with catalyzed varnish, but works on all finishes and wood species. Clean your furniture regularly with H.E. Spotless Furniture and Glass Cleaner to remove fingerprints, dust, grease and food residue. Spotless can be used on wood, glass, vinyl and many other hard surfaces. Polish once a week, or as often as you’d like with H.E. Fine Furniture Polish to maintain the rich luster of your furniture. Available in wide variety of fragrances.

Products to Avoid: Please do not clean or polish your wood furniture, cabinetry or flooring with products containing silicone, wax or ammonia. These additives will damage varnish with repeated use. Wax buildup on varnished wood will react to moisture, heat and solvents causing hazing or blushing that would not typically occur on a clean surface. Silicone will prevent varnished wood from ever being refinished in the future. Ammonia will soften any finish, with repeated use, making it soft and sticky.