Caring for oil finish furniture
The warm, dry weather of autumn means you can open the windows in comfort, making this the perfect season for maintaining your furniture.
Do your wooden tables and chairs have a beautiful luster? Wooden furniture breathes and lives. A dry surface is a sign that maintenance is needed. When the surface dries out, it turns whitish, which not only improves the appearance but can also cause deterioration such as cracks and warping, so it is important to moisturize it.
The method we will introduce this time is for maintaining furniture with an oil finish. Please note that it is not suitable for solid wood or urethane finishes.
We will use sample pieces of medium brown and dark brown wood from our original Calm series of furniture. We will also show you the before and after while introducing how to care for them.
Before/After Preparation
The ingredients used are lemon oil and beeswax from Old Village, a long-established American company that has been a favorite of furniture stores around the world since it was manufactured in the 18th century.
*This product is currently not available.
I divided it into three parts with masking tape so that you can see the difference between beeswax wax, no coating, and lemon oil. I used Kimtowel instead of cloth or rags. You can also use old soft cloth, towels, or kitchen paper.
Old Village Lemon Oil
By adding oil to the wood, it prevents drying and warping. In addition to wooden products, it can also be used for a variety of purposes, such as polishing stainless steel and plastic, and protecting leather.
- Removes dirt.
- Apply a small drop of lemon oil directly along the grain of the wood and, using a clean cloth, apply it as if you were waxing the wood.
- Leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes to allow the oil to absorb.
- Wipe the whole surface dry. This will help the oil to penetrate better.
- Leave it to dry for 30 minutes. Do not place anything on the wood during this time. If it is difficult to dry, leave it to dry overnight. If the environment is dry, we recommend applying two coats.
Depending on the degree of dryness and deterioration of the furniture, it is best to use lemon oil once every six months for maintenance. In addition, depending on the environment, such as near an air conditioner, we recommend maintenance every 3 to 4 months.
Old Village Wax Polish - Beeswax
Covering and coating the surface with wax has an antiseptic effect and makes it easier to remove dirt. It also gives the furniture a glossy finish.
- Remove any dirt or dust and wipe dry.
- Shake the bottle well.
- Apply a small amount of wax to a clean cloth.
- Apply lightly and evenly along the grain of the wood.
- Allow the wax to dry for about 15 minutes.
- Wipe the whole thing dry and you're done.
The overall color will be darker and the texture will be moist. Beeswax wax should be maintained once every six months. If the furniture is placed near an air conditioner, we recommend maintenance every 3 to 4 months.
Finished product Before/After
There is almost no difference between the beeswax wax and lemon oil. Both have a darker overall color, clearer wood grain, and a moist, beautiful finish. Compared to the uncoated area, you can see how dry and whitish the uncoated area is.
In terms of skin care, lemon oil is a skin lotion and beeswax is a milky lotion. It's reassuring to have both, but as you can see in the photo, you can feel the difference just by using one of them.
If you look at it from a different angle, you can see that it has a natural shine.
As you can see, maintenance is important not only to protect the surface, but also to revive the charm of the material. If you maintain it yourself, you will feel a deeper attachment to it and be able to enjoy the beautiful aging of the wood and the charm of oil-finished furniture. Please give it a try.
*If you are using it for the first time, try applying it on an inconspicuous area such as the underside of a tabletop.
At ANTRY, we carry Lanapar Leather Treatment , an organic care product made from natural ingredients that has the effects of both oil and wax.
