Saturday, May 30, 2009

Curio Cabinet Care & Maintenance

A curio cabinet requires a small amount of care and maintenance to maintain its beauty over the years. Just a little attention will go a long way to preserving your family heirlooms and you will appreciate the time you took to do it.

Light is a main threat to wood furniture. Direct sunlight with its ultraviolet rays are the most damaging. Even your interior lighting may break down your finishes due to the heat they produce. You will want to make sure your curio cabinet is out of direct sunlight and be sure to turn off interior lights when not in use.

No matter how thoroughly the wood is dried, it still will retain a certain amount of water., which makes it vulnerable to temperature changes and humidity. using your air conditioner will not only keep you comfortable, but it will also sustain your curio cabinet and other wood furniture you may have. In the winter of course you will want to keep your wood furniture away from fireplaces, heat registers and vents.

Preserving the beauty of your woodwork is not a demanding task. There are many products available for dusting and polishing wood, but be careful. Some of these carry hazardous chemicals. To be safe, olive or boiled linseed oil mixed with vinegar works wonders. Whichever cleaner you use the important thing is that you use a soft, lint-free cloth and follow the grain of the wood during the application. Make sure to lightly moisten the wood surface before cleaning as a dry fabric and abrasive dust can leave behind fine scratches on the surface. Immediately after dusting use a separate cloth to remove excess moisture.

It doesn't take a great deal of time or effort, but these simple precautions will make certain that your curio cabinet remains in great shape for generations to come.

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