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The preservation of furniture depends chiefly on regular dusting and polishing. A good furniture polish applied with vigorous rubbing and a clean, napless cloth will not only make a piece of furniture look attractive but will preserve the wood. Apply the polish sparingly and rub the surfaces well with the cloth. CleaningA table or other piece of furniture which has become grimed cannot be expected to respond to ordinary polishing. Grease and dirt must first be removed by washing with a little warm water containing a small amount of vinegar. The correct proportion is one pint of warm water to a tablespoonful of vinegar. Several washings may be needed, a chamois leather being used for the final removal of the water. When no trace of dampness remains, apply one of the commercial furniture creams and polish the surface. Subsequent polishing should be a weekly routine. Remember to dust the room before polishing.
Pay equal attention to the legs and lower parts of furniture as to the
top, front, and sides. Water stainsIt sometimes happens that a tabletop, too close to an open window, becomes splashed by rain. In this case, moisture should first be mopped up with a clean cloth or chamois, and as soon as the surface is thoroughly dry, furniture cream should be liberally applied, rubbed in, and the surplus wiped off. If water stains occur, they can be erased, when dry, by vigorous rubbing with the polishing cloth. Stains which are not removed by this treatment will generally respond to lighter fluid or petrol applied with a clean cloth. When all signs of the marks have vanished, polishing in the ordinary way should leave the area spotless. If the stains (not ink stains) are deep seated, the following method, used with discretion, may be employed. Wrap a small wad of cotton wool in a square of clean, napless cloth, two inches square. Apply a little denatured alcohol to the pad and lightly rub over the stain, using a regular circular motion. Do not apply an excessive quantity of the alcohol, and if the pad shows signs of sticking, add one drop of linseed oil to the pad. See also the part of this section dealing with polishes and polishing for detailed description of types of polish, ways of preparing them, and the method of application. Table mats should always be used on polished dining room tables to prevent heat from plates and dishes penetrating to the wood and causing unsightly marks. Vigorous rubbing with a soft cloth, after the application of cream, is needed to remove them.
Removing dentsDents in furniture are caused by the wood fibres being compressed out of their natural shape. The best way to bring these fibres back is to remove the polish or finish and apply a few drops of water directly to the damaged wood. This will cause the fibres to swell back to their natural shape. After this has been done, the wood can be touched up and polished. If the dents do not respond to this treatment, wet the wood again and place a damp piece of cloth over the area. Now take a warm-not hot-iron and hold it as close to the cloth as possible without inflicting additional damage to the wood. The heat thus applied should draw out the base of the dent. This treatment may have to be repeated several times before all traces of the dent disappear. Preventing dentsThe lower parts of furniture, such as table legs, bookcases, and sideboards, are often damaged from the careless use of a broom or carpet sweeper. If the corners of these objects are not padded, this omission should be rectified. A piece of soft leather or rubber, nailed or screwed to the corners and edges of the broom or carpet sweeper, will prevent many a knock and scratch. A piece of heavy furniture standing close to a door can be safeguarded from injury with a doorstop screwed to the floor a few inches from the possible point of contact. The doorstop should be faced with rubber or leather. Cane seatsChairs with cane seats can maintain their appearance if the cane is kept free of dirt and dust. An occasional scrubbing of the cane may be necessary, using hot water in which has been dissolved a little salt, a tablespoonful of the latter to each quart of water. The scrubbed cane should then be dried with a clean cloth and the chair placed in the open air to complete the drying. Leather upholsteryThis furniture soon becomes dusty in corners and tucked-in areas. Remove the dust with a stiff brush and wash the leather occasionally with a mixture consisting of a tablespoonful of vinegar to a pint of hot water. The leather must not be made too wet, and should be dried off promptly with a clean cloth. Polish the leather with a cream intended for use on leather upholstery.
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