July 29, 2010 · Home Appliances

Wood furniture adds an element of warmth and charm to any décor. Unfortunately, it’s also susceptible to stains. Whether you’ve got a beloved piece of wood furniture handed down from your grandparents or a brand new addition to your home, you might be disappointed the first time you notice a ring-shaped water stain on the wooden surface. But don’t despair; even tough water stains can be removed. You won’t need to replace your wood furniture if you follow these quick tips for removing water stains.

First, it’s important to treat the stain as soon as possible. If you can catch the stain right after its formation, you have the best chance of removing it. But what if your wood furniture is older, and it came with stains already in place? There’s still hope. Do-it-yourself experts recommend taking mayonnaise, oil, or the meat of walnuts or pecans and rubbing it into the water mark. The fatty substances will penetrate the wood and leave the stained area darker and harder to see.

Use your finger to rub the oils into the wood, then let the furniture sit for several minutes before repeating the treatment. Older water marks might need to sit overnight.

When the wood furniture has finished soaking up the treatment, use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away the residue. You might need to repeat this a few times to get stubborn stains out of the wood finish.

Other experts suggest using toothpaste. Simply take a non-gel toothpaste and rub it over the water stain with a damp cloth. Then take a dry cloth and wipe off the toothpaste. Polish your furniture afterward, and it should look as good as new.

Furniture with a good finish can be wiped down with a mixture of baking soda and toothpaste. For antiques, try a very fine grade of steel wool followed by a soft wax polish. For especially stubborn white marks on dark furniture, take a small amount of brown shoe polish and work it into the area before wiping it clean. It should camouflage any discoloration. Always follow your water stain treatments with a good coat of furniture polish.

If a water stain is just too persistent, you can always hire a professional to refinish the furniture, or do it yourself. Remember, the key ingredient for water stain removal is elbow grease – and lots of it. Gentle, prolonged polishing works better than quick, rough strokes. Harsh treatment can harm the wood’s finish. Be gentle, firm, and patient. If all else fails, you can either replace the furniture or use strategically-placed table runners and cloths to simply hide the stain.

Prevention is the best way to handle water stains. If you’ve got a new piece of wood furniture that you want to keep in great shape, always use a coaster for your drinks and insist that your guests do so as well. After all, it’s easier to avoid stains altogether than to try and remove them after the damage has been done.

May 31, 2009 · Home Appliances

We all like to buy brand new things. Unlike a lot of things, though, wood furniture sometimes is better when it’s older. Whether you’re looking to buy brand new or antique wood furniture, here are some tips to help make sure you get your money’s worth.

Tips for Purchasing Wood Furniture

This can’t be stressed enough. The furniture that you are looking at might look good from afar, but you’ll want to take a close look if you are interested in purchasing it. If the item has drawers or doors, you’ll want to make sure they open (and close) easily. Beyond that, look over the wood to see if there are any big scratches or nicks.

Even if the furniture doesn’t look the greatest, if you’ve found it second hand for example, a close look will tell you if it will be easy to bring the wood furniture back to life with a little soap and elbow grease.

Sometimes great antique wood furniture can be found for a very low price because of the way it looks. When it comes to wood furniture, though, you never want to judge a book solely by its cover. Get close and see if that ugly green paint is hiding a great oak chest or wardrobe.

While you’re up close, there are some other things you can do to check out the quality of the wood furniture. One is to pick up the item. Genuine all wood furniture will typically be a lot heavier than cheap plywood or plaster board counterparts. Picking up the item will give you a good idea if you’re dealing with good wood furniture or a cheap knock-off.

Another thing to do is run your hand over the surface. Is it flat and smooth? Are there bubbles in the varnish? Can it be fixed by sanding it down and giving it a new coat of varnish? These are questions you can answer only by getting close and feeling the furniture.

You can also look underneath the furniture for any markings or indicators of who originally made the furniture. This comes into play especially if you’re looking for antique wood furniture. Sometimes, even if the furniture is in poor condition, if it was made by a big name or company from the past, it may be worth its weight in gold.

Whatever your reason for wanting to buy wood furniture, these simple tips should help you make sure you’re not ripped off. They might also help you find a treasure in a trash pile by knowing good craftsmanship when you see it. Remember not to judge a book by its cover (or furniture by its appearance) and take your time to find the perfect wood furniture for your needs.

April 14, 2009 · Home Appliances

iture has something very organic about it. There is this sense of warmth, of nature and of elegance that can be be found in wood furniture. Wood is born from the earth. It feeds the fire, disintegrates in to ashes and blows away. It is very close to the human existence on earth. May be that is why it resonates so much with us. May be that is why you still get that warm feeling when you touch a rich mahogany desk.

You cannot deny the elegance that wood can have. Some would say metal is elegant as well but the fact remains that nothing can be as delicate looking and yet as elegant as wood. Wood has both these features and it is one of the strongest materials that are used for making furniture. Wood has been the chosen material for centuries when it comes to making sophisticated furniture. It has the flexibility to allow the maker work his will upon it. This is why wood is the chosen medium for designers who want to create furniture that people can connect to.

Wood can be perfect for absolutely any kind of home. It can be as spartan as you want or as luxurious as you want. It can be a bold defining statement or it can be a subtle nuance within the d?r. No matter what your idea of the perfect home d?r is – there is wood furniture out there that can make your ideas come to life.

If you are decorating a new home on a small budget – you can try out the chic new teak furniture that is moderately priced but compliments modern decor very well. With clean lines, elegant curves and fantastic over all design – it can be the best home d?r investment you ever make. Wood is very much the new chic in furniture and different designers are trying out their own ideas on wood. It has produced some great pieces of contemtporary wood furniture that are stunningly modern.

For those with a higher budget, there are elegant and sophisticated wood furniture made out of exquisite timber like Mahogany and Ebony. Their designs range from the neo-baroque to the ultra-chic and beyond. You can also choose from antique furniture to compliment a room that has a period decor. These antique pieces have been crafted by masterful hands of the past and their heritage make them priceless.

For those with a taste in the finer things in life, wood furniture is the very best of finesse and elegance. It will instantly make your room exude a comforting and inviting vibe. Cold steel and glass only dampen the atmosphere of the room they are kept in. It feels cold and alien when you enter it. Whereas wood helps you make the room a vibrant place where all are welcome. Thus if you are planning and shopping for furniture for your home – wood furniture will give you the best results.