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FURNITURE CARE
Quality wood furniture is a significant investment expected to last for generations. To maintain its beauty and help it last, wood furniture needs the right care. Quality furniture products are finished with two to three coats of lacquer for extra depth and long-lasting durability. The sheen, or gloss, of the finish ranges from high to low, depending on the piece or collection. The finish protects the wood and adds to its beauty. No finish is totally indestructible. But with regular care, the finish will last much longer, providing years of enjoyment to you.
How To Protect and Care For Your Furniture
* Do not place your furniture in direct sunlight. Even indirect sunlight will cause fading.
* Extreme changes in temperature can harm your furniture. Try to place your furniture away from radiators, heat and air vents.
* Periodically rotate accessories on furniture so they do not sit in the same spot all the time.
* Use only felt pads to protect the furniture surface from items sitting on the surface.
* Plastic of any kind should not come in contact with the finish. Plasticizer, the chemical that makes plastic pliable, will melt the finish.
* Clean up spills immediately. Use a blotting rather than a wiping action. Water left for even a short time long period of time will cause white spots in the finish. Alcohol, finger nail polish remover, perfume, after-shave can severely damage to the finish.
* Use a protective pad when writing with a ballpoint pen on the furniture surface.
* Lift and place objects rather than dragging them across the furniture surface.
* Hot dishes will damage the finish. Always place them on a protective pad.
Cleaning and Polishing your Furniture
You should dust frequently with a clean, soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Clean the surface using the cloth in the direction of the grain. We recommend polishing your furniture approximately every six months, using a clean, soft, lint-free cloth spreading the polish in the direction of the grain.
There are three basic types of furniture care products, silicone cleaners, waxes and polishes. Silicone cleaners create a high degree of shine They also attract dust and tend to show every finger print. The silicone will also seep into even the highest-quality finishes, creating a barrier that will not accept stain or lacquer. This makes attempts to re-finish or touch-up your furniture virtually impossible.
Regular use of waxes will result in a build-up of wax film on the surface of the furniture. This build-up will actually attract dirt, smoke and other pollutants in the air, resulting in smudges and streaks.
A high quality polish, such as Guardsman Furniture Polish contains detergents, emulsifier, natural and organic oils. The detergents clean dirt from the furniture, the emulsifier give it body to clean and last longer and the oils protect from dirt and moisture that could harm finishes. Guardsman Furniture Polish has no grit to harm the finish, no wax to build up and no silicone to raise the sheen and act as a barrier for touch-up and refinishing.
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