How to Care for Solid Wood Furniture at Home

Solid wood furniture isn't a product that gets "used up" — it's an investment meant to stay in the family. With minimal but consistent care, a well-built piece lasts decades without losing its character or structure.

Everyday cleaning

The most important thing you can do for wood furniture is avoid excess water. A soft, slightly damp cloth is enough for ordinary dust. Always wipe with the grain and dry immediately afterward.

Avoid:

Harsh detergents or ammonia-based sprays
Abrasive cloths or dish sponges
Excess water — especially near joints
Silicone-based products, which form a film that interferes with future refinishing

Renewing with oil or wax (once a year)

If your piece has an oil or natural wax finish — the most common choice at ZAOR — it needs an annual refresh. The process takes 30–60 minutes and is simple:

Clean the surface with a dry cloth.
Apply a thin coat of oil or natural wax (the same product the piece was originally finished with).
Let it soak in for 15–20 minutes.
Wipe off the excess with a clean cloth, following the grain.
Let it dry completely (24 hours) before using the surface.

If you don't know which product your ZAOR piece was finished with, call us — we keep records of every project.

Scratches and surface marks

One advantage of natural finishes is that they can be spot-treated without refinishing the whole piece. A surface scratch usually disappears after a local application of oil with a fine cloth. Let it absorb, wipe off the excess, and repeat if needed.

For water ring marks or light stains: apply a small amount of mayonnaise (its oil content is surprisingly effective) or walnut oil directly on the mark, leave for 5–10 minutes, and wipe off.

Humidity and temperature

Solid wood is a living material — it expands when damp and contracts when dry. Large, fast swings are the main enemy of joints.

We recommend:

Relative humidity between 45–65% in the room
Avoid placing pieces directly next to heat sources (radiators, stoves, fireplaces)
Don't leave a window open above a table or desk on rainy nights
A room humidifier in winter prevents surface cracking

Tabletops and work surfaces

Solid wood tabletops (kitchen tables, desks) need a bit of extra attention:

Always use a cutting board and trivets for hot pots
Wipe up spills immediately
Every two years or so, an oak kitchen tabletop benefits from a more thorough refresh: light sanding with fine abrasive paper (220 grit) followed by two coats of oil

When to contact us

If a piece suffers more serious damage — a crack, a loosened joint, or a surface that needs repair — don't improvise. Contact us directly. We work with the same materials the piece was made from and can restore it to its original condition with no visible trace.

ZAOR pieces come with a 2-year warranty on workmanship. Please call us for any issue that arises during this period.