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FURNITURE CARE teak fabric leather

TEAK

We sell reclaimed and plantation wood teak furniture. Not only is it beautiful, teak furniture is durable, low maintenance and eco friendly.

DURABILITY: Teak wood is unlike any other wood. It is an extremely dense & coarse grained hard wood, high in natural oils. This dense grain texture makes the wood highly resistant to swelling, shrinkage, rotting, and warping. The high oil content means that it has a built in preservative, giving the wood a long life, especially outside. This is why it has been the choice for years for boat decks and ship building. The coarse texture comes from the high amount of silica in the wood, which causes rapid blunting of cutting tools. The high oil content makes it a natural insect repellent, giving the timber a high resistance to attack by termites or other wood boring insects.

LOW MAINTENANCE: Teak has a warm yellow honey color, and is very smooth to the touch. It does not splinter, and has an aromatic smell, similar to leather. The wood grain is straight, even in texture, and has few knots. Freshly cut teak has an oily feel due to the high oil content. Because we have finished our pieces with a natural paste wax, or a low VOC water based finish, all the maintenance required is occasional clean up with a damp rag. Chemicals and store bought furniture cleaners are not necessary. Paste wax should be applied every 2-3 months as an invisible protective layer.

ECO FRIENDLY: Because natural teak wood is so beautiful, we try to preserve the beauty of the wood in our teak furniture, by using a natural wax finish or a low VOC waterbased clearcoat for high wear areas like dining tables. Should you choose a darker color finish, we choose the French Polish technique of layering an all natural tinted shellac to achieve the deep rich color you see, followed by a low VOC waterbased clearcoat and or a wax finish.

A natural wax finish preserves the color of the wood, and gives our furniture a distinctive warm, natural color and feel. We think this is important to the look of our teak furniture. If you wax your wood, we suggest a beeswax polish. This provides a hard, dull finish that is most non-slip and natural. If you want a more polished look then we suggest a commercial furniture wax like Briwax or Minwax Paste Finishing Wax, either of which can be found at Home Depot or Lowes.

PREVENTION/MAINTENANCE:

To help prevent cracking in wood, be sure to keep it away from excessive heat. This means keeping it away from heat sources such as radiators, heat vents, stoves, direct sun and fireplaces. Excessive heat will cause the wood to dry out and crack.

Apply felt pads to the bottom of items to avoid scratching the surface. When dining, we suggest using placemats, coasters and or table runners.

Jasco reusable cloths are great for removing white moisture and heat rings or small scratches. This product is designed to be gentle enough to avoid damaging shellac finishes and can be found at most hardware stores.

If you have small nicks or blemishes in the finish that you wish to cover, you can use a stain marker like the Minwax stain pen (dark walnut for dark finishes, red oak for lighter finishes) . Available at most hardware stores.

Don't forget to periodically wax your surfaces to give it an additional layer of protection. Again, if you wax your wood, we suggest a beeswax polish. This provides a hard, dull finish that is most non-slip and natural. If you want a more polished look then we suggest a commercial furniture wax like Briwax or Minwax Paste Finishing Wax, either of which can be found at Home Depot or Lowes.

FABRIC

The majority of our fabrics available are polyester based microfibers. Why? They offer easy maintenance. Microfiber is the tiniest man made fiber possible with today's technology. It is one hundred times finer than a human hair. It is very popular because fabrics produced from microfiber are soft, lightweight, and easy to care for. Additionally, the fibers leave no lint or dust, so they are highly recommended for allergy sufferers. Microfiber, by its very nature, is stain resistant. As a result, stain products like Scotch Guard or other fabric protection materials are unnecessary. You can wash your covers (see below for instructions) or save time and energy by quickly spot cleaning the stain.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE:

- Avoid Direct Sunlight
- Vaccuuming regularly will prevent your furniture from long-term damage from dirt and debris.
- Fluff & flip your cushions regularly to help them keep their shape. If you normally sit in one area, rotate the cushions to even wear out.
- Always handle spills immediately.
- We suggest you have your microfiber sofa professionally steam cleaned once a year to keep it looking and smelling fresh.

CLEANING:

Because Microfiber is dirt resistant, most stains are easily and quickly removed by spot cleaning them with a clean rag and mild soap like Ivory and water. Do not oversoak.

Make sure you take care of a spill immediately. If the stain is given time to sink into the fabric, it can be much more stubborn to clean.
If a spill occurs, blot the stain lightly with a soft white cloth or towel. Avoid rubbing and smearing the spill, as this will spread the stain. If a stain still has not come out, try a water-based shampoo or water based non bleach foam upholstery cleaner. Do not oversoak. Pile fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance.

AVOID harsh cleaning chemicals that may contain solvents, bleach, or acids.

Odors like urine can be easily eliminated by blotting the stain with white vinegar and distilled water, applying baking soda, then vacuuming.

Ink can be removed with rubbing alcohol, hairspray or Vodka (if in a pinch!). Test in an inconspicuous spot first. Dampen the rag and lightly dampen the ink stain and blot out. Do not rub or you may spread the stain. When removed, take a damp soapy (mild soap) rag and clean the wet spot. Absorb the excess moisture by pressing the spot with a dry rag. If the fabric has pile, you may need to brush the spot when dry to restore it.

To clean lint from your sofa, a simple lint roller (the kind that is sticky) should be the best option. Vacuuming might help in some cases as well.

WASHING:

You can also remove and machine wash your microfiber covers. We highly suggest gentle cycle in cold water with Woolite or Ivory gentle detergents, as regular detergents might be too strong. Do not use fabric softener! Air dry or machine dry on low heat and remove while still damp. You can press the fabric inside out on low heat, or place it back on the cushion and brush it if the fabric has pile to restore the appearance.

Do not overdry or use high heat which may shrink or melt your fibers. To avoid lint, do not wash with other items.

LEATHER

The following simple steps for caring for your leather furniture will affect the life and condition of your investment. With proper care, your leather furniture can last for many years to come and look just like it did the day you purchased it. Leather furniture is easy to maintain and clean, but taking these steps to care for it properly is often overlooked.

- Remember to fluff and roll your cushions back into shape regularly. If you normally sit in one area, rotate the cushions to even wear out.
- It is best to clean spills on your leather furniture with warm water and mild soap.
- Placing your leather furniture in direct and constant sunlight can cause it to fade over time.
- Make sure your leather furniture is kept away from strong heat sources such as furnace vents. Exposure to heat causes your leather furniture to dry out, making it vulnerable to cracks and splits. It is recommended that you keep your leather furniture at least two feet away from potentially harmful heat sources.
- Avoid Air Pollutants. Air pollutants can fade or change the color of your leather furniture.
- Keep your leather furniture debris free by dusting at least once per week. You can do this by wiping your furniture with a soft, dry cloth or gently vaccuming it. Make sure you dust in between crevices and under cushions where dirt and dust may hide. Dusting regularly will prevent your furniture from long-term damage from dirt and debris, and assure your leather furniture remains as fresh and new as possible.
- Avoid sharp objects that may scratch or puncture your leather furniture including pens, needles, and animal claws. Although small scratches are fairly simple to repair, large rips and tears cause lifelong damage to the furniture
- It is also wise to avoid leaving magazines and newspapers on your leather furniture as the ink tends to bleed and may leave ink marks on the leather.