Taking Good Care of Wood Furniture

Shoe polish and felt tip pens work well in hiding small scratches in furniture. Shoe polish applicator bottles work well for furniture touch-ups, when filled with stain.
Color rings left on tables by cups and glasses by roughing slightly with an abrasive pad or paper and then rubbing with cigarette ashes mixed with cooking oil.
Have furniture deluxed (buffed and polished) by a professional once or twice a year.
Keep the finish rejuvenated by cleaning it with a mild soap (like you would wash your hands with) that has been diluted.
Avoid using a household cleaner that contains ammonia.
Polishing your furniture once a week with a quality polish will also help protect a finish from damage.
Be careful not to use a polish that contains silicone or alcohol. Alcohol is a basic ingredient in some strippers and if included in a polish can actually damage the finish.
To protect the finish of your dining room table, place a table pad on top of the table when it is not in use. Table pads are relatively inexpensive and can be ordered in any shape and size.
When serving plates and dishes that are hot, use a tablecloth.
Position furniture so that it isn't exposed to direct sunlight. Sun dries out wood.
To prevent water rings, always make coaster easily accessible. One of the best coasters to use is one made of wood that has felt underneath and an absorbent material to rest the glass on. Metal coasters tend to sweat onto the table, and the chemicals in a plastic coaster may react with the high-tech finishes used on today's furniture. It is also helpful if the coaster has a slight outer ridge to capture any condensation coming from the glass.
Water spots should be left to dry out completely. Then place regular mayonnaise, not sandwich spread, onto a soft cloth and rub it on the water mark. In most cases it will disappear.
When burning candles, use a large felt protector with a plastic top. Candle wax doesn't run as much when it hits plastic. If wax does drip onto a table, wait until the wax has cooled and hardened. Then apply an ice cube directly to the wax and give it time to make the wax hard and brittle. Take a plastic spatula and gently scrape off the cold wax. Then polish the table with a clean cloth and a good cream furniture polish. Buff away any remaining residue.
Minor scratches can often be disguised by using a scratch cover product. Just apply the product to a clean cloth and rub lightly over the scratch.
Make furniture polish by mixing lemon oil with 3 parts olive oil

Furniture Restoration

These tips will help you restore antiques after fire or water damage.

Water Damage

Dry the piece out completely by putting it in a slightly warm area with a constant temperature of approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit and steady air circulation.
NOTE: If the location is too hot, the wood will dry out too quickly and crack. If it's too cold, it will dry out too slowly and allow mold to grow in the wood.
Begin the drying process immediately or water will continue to seep into the wood and cause further damage.

Removing White Spots

Rub with a damp cotton cloth and a buffing solution composed of a 50/50 toothpaste and baking soda mixture.
Buff the area with another cloth.
If this doesn't remove the spots, a professional process will have to be used. (Hyperlink to restoration services)

Removing Black Spots

Black spots indicate that the water has eaten through the finish and into the wood where mildew is growing. The finish must be completely removed and the wood must be treated with bleach to kill the mildew before a new finish is applied. You may need professional help to remove black spots.

Repairing Buckled Veneer

Using a hypodermic syringe needle, inject a water-based blue thinned with 10 percent water between the furniture base and the buckled veneer.
Clamp the veneer to the piece using a sheet of plastic and a block of wood on top of the veneer.
Let dry well before removing.

Fire Damage

If your antique has suffered extensive scorching and singing it must be stripped and entirely refinished. For small facelifts, follow these steps:

Small Localized Burns

Apply a professional refinisher to the spot with a cotton swab.
Scrape the charred section off the piece with a penknife.
Apply a clear finish or paint to the site in small doses until the spot matches the appearance of the piece.

Getting Rid of Smoke Odors

To get rid of smoke odors in interior cabinet or drawers, put small air fresheners inside the furniture and the wood will absorb the freshener's scent.

Purchasing a New Mattress

When shopping for a mattress wear shoes you can get in and out of easily.
Test the mattress by laying full-length out on the bed. Try it out like you're going to use it, and spend some time on it to see how it really feels. If you feel silly, just think how silly you're going to feel when you don't sleep comfortably after spending all that money!
Note the gauge of the wire as well as the coil count. The smaller the #, the heavier the wire is.
Always buy box springs at the same time. They are made to be a set.
Use a heavy-duty bed frame with good center support.
Stick with a name brand.
Don't assume that a higher price means a better mattress.
Stay away from department stores - they're always higher and sometimes the name-brand companies make mattresses to fit the store's specifications. You might not be getting the mattress you think you are. Look for a mattress warehouse or factory.
Remember that all "pillow top" mattresses will get body impressions (except latex toppers.)
Make sure your mattress has a non pro rata warranty of 10 years.
Shop around, compare delivery prices, and find out if the company will remove your old mattress for you.
Buy a mattress with a minimum of 312 coils (fine for children), with 540 being the absolute best. Full-size should have at least 300, queen-size at least 375 and king-size at least 450.
Check factory specifications closely.
For the bed to be right, it should yield enough for you to sink slightly, but not too much, into the bed. LIE DOWN on the mattress, preferably with your sleeping partner, before you buy. You're not going to be bouncing up and down on the edge of the mattress with you get home!
For a dry bed, choose a mattress with comfort layers made of latex and insulating pat made of coconut fiber. Stay away from wool because wool can grow mold when damp that could trigger asthma problems.
A mattress should be an innerspring at least nine inches thick. Don't buy budget when you're buying a mattress. A good mattress will last you 10 to 15 years and will end up costing only pennies a night even at the high-end prices. Shop smart, but don't scrimp.

Mattress Terms

Foundation - absorbs the shock of daily wear and provides support and durability.
Core - provides support for the body and can be spring, air, foam or water.
Upholstery - Adds comfort and cushioning.
Coil Count - the number of coils in the mattress. High coil count gives better contouring while lower coil count if firmer.
Contour - how the mattress coils conform to the body for comfort.
Box Spring - supports and cushions the mattress.
Innerspring - the inner support of the mattress composed of hundreds of wire coils held together by wire or cloth.
Wire gauge - thickness of the wire coils. The thicker the wire, the less flexible the coils.
Comfort level - can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer with Plush being soft and fluffy, Firm being standard cushioning and Pillowtop being a mattress with extra layers of cushioning.
Non pro-rated warranty - a manufacturer's warranty against defects.
Pro-rated warranty - offers less coverage based on the number of years in the warranty.

Do you Need a New Mattress?

If you aren't getting a good night's sleep, it could be due to a worn out mattress. You're probably ready for a new mattress and box springs if: