As we have just re introduces a bespoke pine range to our showroom, we thought we'd re visit a old topic, one that is close to our heart.

A solid pine piece of furniture has the potential to be one of your most rewarding furniture choices. Pine can be relied upon as an especially adaptable, relatively inexpensive and reassuringly sturdy material for the home.

Being of a generally light, neutral tone, it blends well with most wall and furniture colour schemes, and matches other wood items in the home easily.

And, with a little bit of care and know how, there’s no reason why your elegant pine wardrobe, bookcase or coffee table shouldn’t serve you for many more years to come.

Here are our simple top 5 tips for maintaining and protecting pine furniture.

1. Cleaning

Giving your pine furniture a regular clean is very important. Don’t worry too much about the necessity of expensive specialist sprays and cleaning solutions.

Instead, use a basic soft dust cloth to wipe the surface of the furniture around once a week, and otherwise simply try to avoid using harsher aerosol sprays or oil-based polishes.

These types of product have been known to remove the distinctive natural character of the pine, as well as leaving a sticky residue. Always make sure to read the product directions.

2. Waxing

To really give your pine furniture that extra bit of tender loving care, invest in a basic, wax paste polish to re-treat the surface of the pine. Don’t worry about the extra fuss involved – all that is required is to rub the surface of the pine with the wax every two or three months.

For an added dose of protection, apply the wax to the whole of the furniture just once a year, and your pine furniture will thank you.

Always check that your furniture is waxed, as waxing a lacquer finish is of no use and in fact as the wax can not bond with the finish it will  leave a messy and unsightly residue that will only come off onto clothing.

3. Location

While pine furniture is loved for its versatility, if you want to prolong the beauty of your furniture, it’s a good idea to consider the location of your furniture in relation to structural room elements.

For example, avoid positioning your pine next to strong heat and light sources, such as radiators, functional fireplaces and windows giving off direct sunlight. Excessive heat exposure causes the wood to contract, and – horror of horrors – eventually crack.

The same physics is at play when it comes to placing overly hot or cold items directly onto the wood surface, too, so use a place mat or coaster.

By taking these small but smart preventative measures, you can prolong the look and strength of your pine exponentially.

4. Table Tops

A special are of your furniture that has extra wear and tear due to the riggers of daily family life, hot and cold, wet and even the danger of stains from those spicy meals, here at The Rocking Chair we seal all our pine table tops with Danish Oil, and from time to time, re-application of a coat of oil is always a good idea.

Its easy to do all you need is a cloth and a good quality Danish Oil  or Teak Oil, readily available from all DIY stores. There is a bit of a technique to applying it ...you only apply the oil in one direction or you will get stripes like a mowed lawn.

Stick to the one direction rule and make sure its a thin coat and you cant go wrong, when dry (48 Hrs) polish with a Wax Paste Polish for that smooth lustre finish.

5. Control Your Pets

We often get furniture returned due to pet damage, cats dogs and even ferrets have caused costly damage to our customers furniture. Products are on the market that omit a odour and taste that animals find repulsive, this may not be acceptable to all as your pets are like a extended family.

Older pets we find do not do so much or even any damage to furniture so the best advice is to train your pets as they grow to have respect for your furniture, and the use of chew toys are always a bonus.

Never leave you pets in a room with furniture they can damage for long periods when you are in work, this may be common sense but this is when 80% of all the repairs we get are caused!

Furniture care is not difficult but does require time and a bit of effort to ensure your sometimes expensive purchase gives you enjoyment for many years.

If you would like any advice on furniture care, don't hesitate to contact us on 01792 77300.

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