Protect Your Furniture Against Environmental Factors
So you have just moved into your new home. Decorated it with new Amish furniture, new upholstery, new electronic goods, new hopes and loads of excitement. While the excitement wears down after a few months as you get accustomed to your new surroundings, you certainly do not want your furniture to wear down too. Not in a few months, not in a few years either. While you may take very good care of your furniture pieces and clean them regularly, there are a few environmental factors that tend to take their toll.
Ultraviolet light damages wooden and other organic material furniture. This kind of damage is irreversible. Exposure to less light for a longer period of time or exposure to strong light for a shorter period of time will both cause similar damage and discoloration. The light energy converts to heat energy on contact with furniture surfaces. This rise in temperature chemically causes the polishes or colors to degrade. The wood would then need to be stripped and refinished to restore its previous look.
To avoid all the damage light can cause, avoid keeping furniture in direct sunlight. Draw the curtains, especially in the afternoon hours. Put blinds or drapes on all windows. You could also get your windows coated with UV-filtering film (like you do in cars).
Moisture in air can also cause great damage to furniture. You must have noticed wooden doors becoming tight and getting stuck during the wet days or some green fungus appearing on unpolished wooden pieces. Wood expands or contracts with an increase or decrease in the relative humidity in the air. A 40% - 60% relative humidity is tolerable. Beyond this level, wood starts to expand. At low levels it may shrink and cause a split. The wood and the finish covering it respond differently to the changes in humidity. This may cause the coating to separate from the wooden surface and peel off. High humidity can cause insect infestation and fungus and mold growth as well. To prevent damage, avoid placing furniture in areas of extreme temperature and humidity conditions. If you furniture pieces are really precious, you can also maintain the humidity in their vicinity by using humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
An RH of below 39% will cause the wood to dry out and warp. Applying oil will not really prevent that. The best option is a coating of good paste wax. Wax is very stable and does not change chemically over time and provides protection from moisture and airborne pollutants. Carefully apply the coat on furniture with a pronounced grain pattern such as Amish oak furniture. A thin coat applied once a year is enough. Do not wax furniture that is gilded, painted or lacquered.
Check for any environmental and other damages before buying used furniture from auctions etc. When buying used Amish furniture online, make sure the original quality craftsmanship has been maintained well by the previous owner. A little care on your part will increase the life of your furniture by many years.
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