Caring for and preserving your fine wood furniture is not as difficult as it may seem. By following the recommendations below you can maintain your furniture for years to come. Select any of the links below to go directly to a section, and use the Back to Top link to return to the list.

TIPS

Climate Control

The ideal environment

Sticky Drawers

Storage

Direct Sunlight

Simple Precautions

Avoid plastics/rubber/nylon

Allow the wood to breathe

Performance Finishes

Maintaining your furniture

Minor touch ups and repairs

Spills and stains

Moving furniture

Climate Control

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The wood in furniture continues to exchange moisture with the air as it responds to climate changes in your home. Like your skin, wood is porous. It responds to extremely dry air by losing moisture and shrinking a bit. For example, the halves of an extension table may part slightly, especially at the edges of the table. This will correct itself as the relative humidity rises and the wood absorbs enough moisture to expand slightly. These natural changes, however, do not affect the furniture’s quality or sturdiness

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The Ideal Environment

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Wood furniture is best maintained between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity between 35 and 40 percent. Avoid placing fine wood furniture near heat or air-conditioning outlets. Exposure to extreme temperature variations can damage any fine wood pieces, including variations caused by humidifiers, fireplaces, or space heaters.

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Sticking Drawers

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During humid weather, wood drawer fronts may occasionally swell and become difficult to open and close. Although the tolerances around the drawer openings are designed to allow for normal expansion, extreme conditions may cause drawers to stick.

An easy remedy is to rub candle wax or paraffin on the drawer sides and bottom runners. However, if the humidity remains high over a long period, consider using a dehumidifier. When the air becomes drier, drawers will naturally stop sticking.

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Storage

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Do not store furniture in damp basements or hot attics. Allow for plenty of air movement around the furniture, and do not stack pieces of furniture on top of each other.

Do not stand pieces on their sides or ends. Store leaves so they will adjust to the same relative humidity as the table. You could place the leaves under a bed, for example.

To protect leaves from scratches, wrap them in a breathable covering, such as table leaf storage bags. Or, store them in their original shipping cartons.

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Direct Sunlight

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Do not expose furniture to continuous direct sunlight. With extended exposure, ultraviolet rays can create hairline cracks in the finish or cause fading or darkening. We recommend arranging furniture away from direct sunlight and using window treatments to block the sun’s rays.

Please note that some wood species darken naturally with age. Such darkening is not considered a quality defect. This effect is particularly noticeable on light or painted finishes.

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Take Simple Precautions

Our finishes are designed to enhance the beauty of the wood and to offer some protection. However, your furniture is still a natural wood product and, even in the most casual lifestyle, will require certain precautions to prolong its beauty.

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• Don’t lean back in chairs. Avoid using chair stretchers or table pedestals as footrests.

• Don’t stand on rush or woven seats.

• Don’t put anything hot directly on furniture. If your furniture becomes scorched, seek the help of a furniture repair specialist.

• Don’t place handbags on wood surfaces for extended periods of time, whether natural leather or man-made materials.

• Protect dining tabletops with non-plastic mats or pads. We recommend Ethan Allen custom table pads. Contact your local Ethan Allen retailer for details.

• Use non-synthetic doilies or felt pads under lamps and accessories. Use a protective pad when writing with a ballpoint pen. Use coasters under hot and cold beverages

• Protect the surface when working with items that could stain or damage the wood, such as crayons, markers, and glue. Note that potpourri and scented accessories may contain oils that can, on contact, cause damage to finishes.

• Avoid excessive scratching by lifting objects instead of dragging them across wood surfaces. This is especially important with ceramics that have rough surfaces on the underside.

• Be careful to avoid rubbing on matte or low-sheen finishes. For example, repeatedly placing your stocking feet on a coffee table that has a matte

finish can create a shiny spot. Through normal use, matte and low-sheen finishes tend to develop an overall increased sheen level: This is not considered a quality defect.

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Avoid Plastics/Rubber/Nylon

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(Note: These precautions do not apply to items with performance finishes. See "allow wood to breathe" for more information.)

Avoid leaving plastic tablecloths and placemats on wood surfaces for extended periods of time. Chemicals in the synthetic components can damage finishes.

Affix felt discs on the contact points of computer equipment, alarm clocks, lamps, telephones, and other desktop items. The plastic, rubber, or nylon feet on these items may contain chemicals that can migrate into the finish, causing indentations, softening and discoloration. Even plastic toys left on unprotected shelves for extended periods can cause damage to the finish.

If damage occurs, seek the expertise of a furniture repair specialist.

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Allow the Wood to Breathe

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The fine finish on your wood furniture needs to “breathe” to maintain its appearance and durability. It should have exposure to the air, rather than being covered for extended periods of time. Please take the

following precautions:

• Periodically move desktop components such as computer equipment, audio/video components, clocks, staplers, etc.

• Rotate accessories or other items placed on the furniture. This includes items placed on desks, sofa tables, night tables, bookshelves, curio cabinets, hutches, entertainment units, dining tables—anyplace where items are sta-tionary for extended periods of time. Placing felt discs on the bottom of accessory items can help to prevent indentations as well.

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Performance Finishes

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Today’s active and casual lifestyles increase the need for furniture surfaces that require less pampering and can withstand daily use more effectively than our traditional finishes*.

Ethan Allen is using new technologies and materials to apply protective top coats on select products to provide greater resistance to spills, heat, scuffs, moisture, and plastics, while still allowing the beauty of a fine wood finish. Many dining tables, modular work surfaces and children’s items feature these performance finishes, offering the following benefits:

• Resistance to chemicals and solvents (markers, crayons, nail polish remover, household cleaners).

• Protection from food and beverage stains.

• Resistance to heat marks including rings from coffee cups and warm serviceware.

• Resistance to moisture marks from glasses and spills.

• Resistance to plasticizer migration – the condition when the synthetic materials in the plastic feet of items like computer equipment migrate into a lacquer finish and chemically soften and damage the lacquer. This will not occur with our performance finishes.

• Resistance to damage from extended use of plastic placemats and tablecloths.

IMPORTANT: While the performance finishes offer some mar resistance, they do not offer increased resistance to nicks and dents from impact and abrasion, or scratches and gouging from sharp or rough objects.

Please confirm with your Ethan Allen design consultant whether your item has a performance finish.

*The traditional top coat on the majority of Ethan Allen wood furniture items is nitrocellulose lacquer, which offers exceptional clarity, depth and the ability to be rubbed to a desired sheen level. The nitrocellulose top coat remains pliable and easy to repair, and provides limited protective characteristics.

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To maintain the appearance of your fine wood furniture, Bazensky’s offers a full line of furniture care products .

Dusting

Dust often to remove everyday abrasive particles from wood surfaces. If you prefer, you can dust with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, such as an old white cotton T-shirt or cotton baby diaper.

Moisten the cloth slightly with water, since a damp cloth cuts down on friction, is less likely to create scratches, and holds dust. It also helps to reduce static electricity, which attracts dust. Do not let any moisture remain on the wood surface.

When dusting, always pick up and replace your accessories gently.

Do not use a sponge or dishcloth on your fine furniture.

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Cleaning, Polishing, Conditioning

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For use four times a year, or as needed, we offer the following products:

• Furniture Cleaner: Quickly cleans the finish, removing accumulated oils, dirt, and air pollutants. If you have used other products on your furniture, the cleaner is good for removing them and preparing for polishing. We recommend using the Foam Applicator Pads to spread the cleaner on the surface, and using the Microfiber Deluxing Cloth to remove it.

• Furniture Polish & Conditioner: This luxurious treatment enhances the beauty of your fine wood furniture while conditioning the finish with natural ingredients. It provides long lasting protection without the use of wax or silicones. Safe for all Ethan Allen wood finishes. Apply after using the Ethan Allen Furniture Cleaner. This product provides some mar resistance. It does raise the sheen somewhat, as does any product when rubbed on a low sheen surface.

• Foam Applicator Pads: Ultra soft, open-cell foam applicator pads used to apply an even coating of product. Gentle and safe for all fine wood finishes. Machine washable for reuse. We recommend using these pads to apply the Ethan Allen Furniture Polish & Conditioner and Ethan Allen Furniture Cleaner.

Please refer to specific instructions for use on the product packages.

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General Guidelines for Using Furniture Care Products:

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• Before using any cleaning product on your furniture, test a small, inconspicuous area to make sure that your finish has not deteriorated or softened.

• Always wipe polish or cleaners in the direction of the grain.

• Avoid excessive rubbing, as it can cause uneven shine.

• Avoid over-polishing. We recommend no more than four times a year.

• Avoid any products that contain silicone. Silicone can damage the finish by softening it, and it clogs the wood’s pores, making repairs difficult. Spray polishes should be avoided.

• Do not use wax on Bazensky’s wood furniture. Today’s fine finishes do not benefit from waxing, and wax buildup can gray the wood finish.

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Care for Performance Finishes

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As described in the section, "Protecting Your Furniture" (pg. 4), some Ethan Allen items have performance finishes that withstand daily use better than traditional lacquer finishes.

For performance finishes, you can follow the basic care procedures described above, with the following exceptions and additions:

• To clean a surface with a "UV" topcoat (one that has been cured with ultraviolet light – primarily dining tables), you can use a small amount of a mild dishwashing detergent mixed with water. Mix the water and detergent in a container, and dip in a soft, cotton terry cloth towel, or the Microfiber Deluxing Cloth. Wring out excess water. Wipe the surface thoroughly with this damp cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Then use a separate, slightly damp cloth to dry the surface, again working in the direction of the grain.

• It is not necessary to use furniture polish on performance finishes. The polish does not absorb into the wood due to the inert top coat.

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Minor damage to wood furniture can be repaired with the right materials and attention to detail. Although some repairs can be easily accomplished, please do not hesitate to contact a professional for even minor repairs.

Scratches and Nicks

When a minor scratch or nick exposes the natural wood underneath, you can use an Ethan Allen Touch-Up Marker to color in the area so that it is less noticeable. These felt-tip markers are ideal for touching up minor surface scratches or worn edges that may occur in the home.

Ethan Allen offers a focused selection of markers, ranging from light brown to extra dark brown, designed to blend with most of our wood finish colors. Check with your Ethan Allen design consultant or service department for the appropriate marker for your collection.

Painted finishes, such as greens, whites, blue, etc., require the use of touch up materials designed for professional use only. If you need assistance with repairing these finishes, contact your Ethan Allen retailer.

If the scratch or dent penetrates into the surface, seek the expertise of a furniture repair specialist.

Water Marks

Water marks will often dissipate over time. If after a month the mark is still there, apply a small amount of salad oil or mayonnaise to a clean, white cloth and rub on the mark, rubbing with the grain. Wipe dry and polish if needed.

Heat Marks

To minimize the appearance of heat marks, rub very gently along the grain, using a dry, extra-fine (0000) steel wool pad * or coat the area with salad oil or mayonnaise, and wipe clean with a soft, clean cloth. Follow with polish.

Sticking Paper

To remove sticking paper, dampen the paper thoroughly with salad oil, wait a few minutes and rub gently along the grain with extra-fine (0000) steel wool.* Wipe dry and polish.

*Extra-fine steel wool (0000) is available at hardware stores. Do not use steel wool pads designed for scrubbing pots and pans.

Note: These are suggested methods. Individual results may vary. Always test your remedy on an inconspicuous area to make sure it does not damage the finish.

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As careful as you may be, accidents do happen. Some spills may be blotted up quickly and easily, others may penetrate the wood in seconds. For most spills, quick action can reduce the possibility of damage. Here is a guide to immediate care of spills and stains:

Food Stains: Butter, mayonnaise, ketchup, and a variety of juices can leave a slight penetrating stain. Food coloring found in cake frosting can also leave a stain. Wipe up the spill immediately and polish with a soft, clean cloth.

Candle Wax or Gum: Harden fresh candle drip-pings with an ice cube wrapped in plastic, then gently pop up the wax with a non-stick spatula or credit card. Remove any residue with furniture cleaner, allow the surface to dry, and then follow up with polish.

Alcohol: Many liquids containing alcohol— cocktails, colognes, medicine, and other house- hold fluids—will dissolve the finish on contact. Let all such spills air dry. If damage results, seek the help of a furniture repair specialist.

Paint: Water-based paints should be wiped up immediately with a damp, clean cloth. Oil-based paint should be allowed to dry and then pushed away gently with a non-stick spatula or credit card.

Nail Polish and Polish Remover: These are dangerous solvents. If a spill occurs, do not rub or wipe it, but blot immediately and let the surface dry. If damage has occurred, seek the help of a furniture repair specialist.

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Whether it’s going across the country or only across the room, special care must be taken when moving fine furniture.

Here are the procedures we recommend:

1. Remove all knobs and casters. Tape them inside a drawer or within an envelope so they’ll be close at hand when unpacking.

2. Remove any adjustable wood shelves and wrap them separately or replace the shipping screws to secure the shelves in place. Do not move furniture with glass shelves unless shelves are removed.

3. Close and secure all drawers and doors by covering with a mover’s pad or blanket and tying loosely.

4. Protect corners, projecting details, and handles with padding or foam.

5. Screw levelers all the way in before moving.

6. Lift all furniture—sliding and dragging can bend or break legs.

7. Prior to relocating, disassemble larger cabinets such as armories and home entertainment centers.

8. Be aware that moving to a different climate can have an effect on the furniture. See Climate Control

The preceding information is provided as a service and does not constitute a warranty, implied or otherwise. The only warranty provided is set forth in the Bazensky’s Limited Warranty, which you received with your purchase.

This guide was developed by furniture specialists. Because of the various ways furniture can be stained or damaged, there is no guarantee that the results will be completely successful. Individual results may vary.

Thank you again for purchasing Bazensky’s home furnishings. We want you to enjoy your Bazensky’s wood furniture; taking good care of it will prolong its beauty and ensure its longevity.

If you have any questions regarding proper care for your wood furniture, please give us a call .

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