Bone Inlay Furniture
To clean your bone inlay or mother of pearl inlay furniture, please wipe with a slightly damp cloth. After some time of owning your inlay piece, if the shine comes off slightly then please apply a small amount of coconut oil and white wax and clean it with a dry cloth.
Do not use harsh, abrasive cleaners or modern cleaning products to clean bone inlay products. Harmful chemicals and toxins of these modern cleaners will take away the natural finish of the inlaid bone decorative items.
Furthermore, make it a rule to avoid excessive cleaning with a wet or overly moist cloth. Rather clean with a dry or a slightly damp cloth and do not clean furiously.
If your piece is under direct and constant sunlight, the bone pieces may have the potential to turn a slightly yellow tone over time, and little exposure to sunlight can be useful to help them stay light for a longer duration.
Please be careful that you don’t put your inlay piece under extreme weather, heat or directly under the sun.
Bone Inlay furniture should not be exposed to water or any other liquid spillage for a long period. If anything of such spillage happen, please clean immediately with a clean dry cloth.
Bone and mother of pearl inlay furniture has a porous surface, so items in high-use situations – such as coffee tables – should be sealed prior to use. Grout or polyurethane sealant (available from any hardware store) is suitable for this.
If your inlay products may be used often (tray, drawers for example), the bone pieces may fall from edges during the use. The wood and bone both are naturally contracting and expanding materials but not at the same pace, so during season/weather change this could happen. Please use all-fix or super glue available locally to easily fix yourself if this may happen.
Silver & Brass Furniture
- Regularly wipe down the metal surface with a polishing cloth to keep the piece looking fresh. Keep in mind that you should always follow the motion of the material just like when you’re vacuuming a rug or even patting your furry friends!
- We recommend only using soft polishing cloths to clean and maintain your metal. Abrasive cloths will scuff and dull the surface over time. Additionally, when wiping down the surface use straight back and forth movements instead of circles to help maintain a uniform appearance and shine.
- Do not use aggressive cleaners because they have the potential to destroy your beloved piece.
- With time the surface of your metal piece will age naturally. If you wish to restore the surface to its original lustre, we encourage applying an appropriate metal cleaner, following the instructions carefully as outlined in the product guide.
- For removing and preventing fingerprint marks and smudges on stainless steel we recommend using oil-based products such as baby oil.
- To remove discoloration, use a polish designed specifically for brass/silver. Apply it according to the instructions on the bottle using a soft cleaning cloth
- Before you get started on polishing, always wash the brass before polishing it. All you need is warm water and mild dish soap. Use a soft, damp cloth to apply the soapy water, and clean it until all debris, dust, and dirt are gone.
Leather Furniture
- Always try any cleaning method in a hidden area first to determine how it will affect the material.
- For minor spots and spills, wipe up any excess liquid immediately with a clean absorbent cloth or sponge. If necessary, use a lightly moistened soft cloth with clean lukewarm water, and let it air dry naturally. If water is used, clean the entire area where the spot occurred.
- Do not use cleaning solvents, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, or ammonia water.
- For butter, oil, or grease stains, wipe off excess with a clean dry cloth, then leave it alone. The spot should dissipate into the leather after a short period of time. You can also try sprinkling it with baking soda or corn starch. Let it sit overnight, then wipe or vacuum off. If this doesn’t work, try rubbing alcohol. Apply a leather cleaner-conditioner after removing the spot.
- If the stain persists, it is recommended that a professional leather specialist clean the leather to avoid any potential damage to the leather itself.
- For minor or slight scratches on the surface, use a chamois cloth or clean fingers to gently buff the scratch. If needed, moisten lightly with distilled water to work scratches out.
Wooden Furniture
- Avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight, as sunlight causes fading.
- Avoid extreme changes in temperature by arranging furniture away from radiators, heat and air vents and air conditioning units.
- Avoid placing plastic or rubber materials (lamp bases, notebooks, placemats, etc.) on your furniture, as certain plastics contain ingredients that may damage the finish.
- Periodically rotate accessories on furniture so they do not sit in the same spot all the time.
- Use pads, cloth or felt to protect the furniture surface from plastic, rubber, hot dishes, beverages, bookends, flowerpots and vases.
- Clean up spills immediately. Use a blotting rather than a wiping action. Water left over a long period of time will cause white spots in the finish. Alcohol, perfume, after-shave and medications can cause severe finish damage.
- Use a protective pad when writing with a ballpoint pen on the furniture surface.
- Lift and place objects rather than dragging them across the furniture surface.
- Avoid placing furniture directly under windows.
Antique Furniture
- Clean dust with a feather duster. You can use a vacuum with a special soft nozzle that can be lightly brushed against the timber surfaces.
- It is not advisable to ‘wet clean’ delicate wooden antique furniture as the moisture could affect its delicate finish.
- Using a beeswax clear paste, you can gently apply the paste onto timber surfaces and buff it with a soft, dry cloth. You should always start at a point where a mark would not be noticeable. This is just in case there is a reaction, and you can stop using the product immediately before it ruins a visible area on your item.
- You should never leave wooden antique furniture in direct sunlight, as this can fade the surface, especially if it is exposed on a regular basis. Avoid placing antique furniture near any heat source, or next to an A/C unit, as the extreme temperature could affect the glue on the joints and the delicate finish.
- A change in the moisture level can affect your antique furniture, especially high humidity, which can cause the wood to swell, and drawers might not close properly.
Marble Furniture
- Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices, and place hot dishes on trivets.
- Frequently mop interior floors using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Minimize tracked-in dirt by placing slip-resistant mats or area rugs inside and outside entrances. If using a vacuum cleaner on marble floors, make sure that attachments and wheels are in tiptop shape; worn equipment can scratch marble.
- Immediately blot, don’t wipe, spills with a paper towel (wiping spreads spills.) Flush the area with a mix of water and mild dishwashing soap; rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth. Repeat as necessary.
- Never use abrasive scrubbers or rough-woven cloths that could scratch marble. Take a pass on products containing lemon, vinegar, or other acids that will dull or etch marble surfaces. Stay away from scouring powders or abrasive creams and rust removers containing trace levels of hydrofluoric acid (HF); these will damage marble.
