How to Take Care of Solid Wood Furniture

---

Solid wood furniture is known for its beauty and durability, but even well-crafted pieces need the proper care to stand the test of time.

Whether you have inherited solid wood furniture from a previous generation, or you’ve purchased a new piece, we are here to help you take care of your furniture. Here are some practical tips for caring for your solid wood furnishings.

Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning guide for the pieces you own. Not every piece of solid wood furniture requires the same cleaning methods.

Solid wood is a lot like our skin — different types need different methods of care. Your furniture’s stain or paint finish will determine what type of cleaning routine is needed. When determining the best way to clean your piece, we advise that you consult directly with the manufacturer, as they will know exactly what care is needed for each of their finishes.

If you cannot determine who manufactured your furniture (or if the manufacturer no longer exists), we recommend consulting with a local furniture restoration professional. When you make a purchase here at Reid’s Fine Furnishings, we stay in close communication with our manufacturers to provide you all the necessary care instructions — so you don’t have to go on a wild chase looking for the information you need!

Use coasters, placemats, and tablecloths to protect furniture from stains and scratches.

We believe that furniture should be tough enough to withstand regular use — that is why we focus on carrying solid wood, American-made furniture in our store. While solid wood pieces are strong, there are still a few practices that will help keep them beautiful for generations to come.

First, be sure to keep dishes and glasses off the bare wood surface. Wood is susceptible to scratching and water stains if tableware is placed directly on it. Hot dishes of food can also harm your furniture’s finish. As a general rule, if something is too hot to touch your skin, it is too hot for your furniture’s surface. Simply using tablecloths, placemats, and coasters will protect your furniture from this kind of every-day wear.

Seek help if repairs are ever needed. A skilled professional will be able to preserve the integrity of the piece.

We live in a DIY age, but some things are best left to the professionals! If your furniture has cracks, missing pieces, or other major damages, do NOT try to fix the piece on your own. Repairing solid wood is one of those tasks that should only be performed by someone who is skilled in furniture care and restoration.

If you attempt to fix fine furniture yourself, you run the risk of doing further damage to the piece. If you live in the Roanoke area and ever need furniture repair services, we are happy to provide references for professionals that we trust to do the job right.

We hope these simple tips help you to take care of your solid wood furniture. If you ever have questions regarding furniture care, we are happy to help — we pride ourselves on being fine furniture experts! Give us a call or visit our Roanoke showroom today.

Leather Care 101: How to Keep Your Leather Furniture Beautiful

---

If decorating your home has you scratching your head, you are not alone. We’ve worked with tons of customers who simply don’t know where to begin when it comes to accessorizing their space.

Leather furniture adds a beautiful touch to any room — but how do you keep it looking its best? We’ve received this question from many of our customers, and we are here to help!

Different types of leather require different care

Before we dive in, be aware that not all leathers are created equal. The furniture market is flooded with subpar bonded and split-grain leathers which will break down and tear over time — regardless of how well you care for them. Our store only carries 100% top grain leathers, which are the most durable and beautiful part of the hide. Quality leathers are remarkably cleanable and repairable, making them a great choice for homes with kids and pets.

So what should your care routine look like for your leather upholstery? Leather should be cleaned with a quality leather oil or conditioner approximately every 6 months. This process protects the hide from drying out and helps to remove body oils and any other residue from the surface. Leather contains its own natural moisture, but over time the hide will dry out and start to crack if it is not conditioned regularly.

When you condition the leather, be particularly thorough cleaning the arm rests and head rest, as these are the areas that experience the most wear and exposure to body oils.

Additionally, keep your upholstery away from direct sunlight, as UV light is extremely drying for leather hides. If the layout of your home doesn’t allow you to keep your furniture out of direct sun, then we recommend drawing your curtains or putting throw blankets over the leather during the brightest part of the day.

Cleaning leather is simple, but what can you do if it gets torn or punctured? Thankfully, top-grain leather is very durable and resistant to tearing (if it is properly conditioned). If a tear does occur, however, leather can be repaired. Simply contact your local leather repair professional as soon as the damage occurs and refrain from using your furniture until the repair is finished.

At Reid’s Fine Furnishings, we are here as a resource even after your furniture is in your home. If you are unsure where to turn for leather care supplies and resources, our team is here to help. Our store carries leather cleaners and conditioners, and we can also recommend leather repair professionals if needed. Visit our Roanoke showroom today to learn more about the benefits and beauty of leather furniture.

Decluttering and Organizing Your Home — The KonMari Method

---

Now that Spring has finally arrived, you’re probably chomping at the bit to declutter and organize your home. But where to start? And how to decide what to part with?

The KonMari Method is trending, largely because of its focus on parting with anything that doesn’t “spark joy.” The real beauty of the KonMari Method is that it forces you to consider what you truly love and want, and stop collecting things you only think you need. Quality over quantity, if you will. This way of thinking also trickles over into your shopping habits, which will help you chose items of higher quality that stand the test of time and offer a better return on investment.

It might be difficult to decide what “sparks joy” when you first start the KonMari process, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be putting everything that doesn’t put a huge smile on your face or recall a pleasant memory in the donate bin.

Getting Started

If you’re like most people, you have a lot of stuff, so it can be difficult to decide how to start your decluttering process. The KonMari Method recommends working by category, such as shoes, clothes, or reading material, rather than in a particular room.

Clothes

Empty your closet and drawers. (You can do this by room/person to make it easier to manage.) Examine each item, one at a time. Keep basic items that are in good condition, such as solid t-shirts or layering tanks. If you pick up an item and you can’t recall when you last wore it, put it in the donate pile. Make an exception for timeless, high-end, or special occasion items, but part with anything that doesn’t fit, flatter, or “spark joy.”

This can take a while, especially if your closet is overflowing, so enlist the help of a friend and a nice bottle of wine.

Shoes

If your shoe collection rivals Imelda Marcos’, this is going to be a challenge. Line up every pair and look them over carefully. If you haven’t worn them in years, donate them. If they’re badly worn or beyond the services of a good cobbler, toss them. Try on all the remaining pairs and walk around in them. If they’re uncomfortable, they go. Again, make an exception for timeless and special occasion styles, but only if you really love them and will actually wear them.

Paperwork and Reading Material

Your home office is probably chock-full of paperwork you never reference. Create a digital filing system and scan anything you need to keep for your records. Then shred and recycle the originals. Review your magazines and books. Anything you don’t regularly reference or re-read can be donated to a local literacy group. First or special editions and signed copies can stay, of course, if they “spark joy.” 

Furniture, Art, and Accessories

You can apply the KonMari method to your home furnishings, art, and accessories, too! Examine your furniture for wear and tear. Reupholster quality pieces. Discard tired, flat pillows or those that Fluffy turned into a chew toy. Clean or replace stained or worn rugs. Consider your artwork — do you love it? Does it complement your décor?

Donate anything you don’t love but will be useful for someone else.

Marie Kondo, who developed the KonMari method, even has tips for organizing and decluttering your kitchen, bathrooms and children’s rooms. Check out her books The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy for more advice.

Furniture Care Tips

---

Purchasing fine furniture is not only a privilege but an opportunity. An opportunity to be the first owner of what may become a treasured heirloom.

The precautions listed here are typical of high-end, fine quality furniture manufacturers. View them as an aid to ownership, not a burden. Ultimately, the value of a fine piece of quality made furniture will increase with the care you give it as the first owner.

Wood

Wood is a natural material. Solid wood furniture bears natural characteristics, marks, and grain patterns that are consistent with the overall appearance of the wood. Wood changes color over time. Uniform aging is quite pleasant and desirable. An owner must be responsible for being sure a piece of furniture ages uniformly. Furniture makers understand these characteristics and their standards will be exhibited in samples from the maker on a showroom floor. Do not expect more from the wood than what nature has given.

Sun

Avoid exposure to strong sunlight. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can discolor wood, furniture finishes, fabrics, leather, and carpet. Be aware that Low-E glass does not filter out ALL damaging sunlight. Consumers should examine showroom pieces before buying to determine the standards set by the furniture makers.

Conditions

Keep furniture from being exposed to extreme hot and cold or prolonged moisture. For hot and cold items, the rule of thumb is: “if you can hold it comfortably in your hand, the finish should withstand it.”

Polish

Pour polishes onto a clean cloth and never pour liquid polish directly on a furniture finish. Always wax, polish, or dust with the grain. Allow polishes to dry completely before replacing objects. Furniture care products should never be used in combination. In general, a care product such as wax or dressing should only be applied sparingly a few times a year. General dusting can be accomplished with water on a soft cloth followed by thorough drying.

Storage

Store table leaves flat, apron side up, in a controlled environment to prevent warping or cracking. Invest in table leaf storage bags.