Vintage-etc Furniture Care Instructions

Care for Custom Handmade Solid Wood Furniture | South Africa

 

At Vintage-etc, we design and manufacture custom handmade furniture in South Africa, crafted from solid wood to bring longevity, character, and beauty into your home. Our furniture is handmade using kiln-dried timbers such as Oak, Birch, Mahogany, and Oregon, responsibly sourced from managed forests. 

Using traditional cabinetmaking techniques, each piece is built for structural strength and long-term durability. Hand finishing allows the natural grain and variation of the timber to be celebrated, ensuring every item is truly one of a kind.

Because no two trees are the same, and no two handcrafted pieces are identical, variations in tone, grain, texture, and finish are a natural and expected part of authentic solid wood furniture. 

This page deals with the care and upkeep of your furniture, if you are looking for a guide on how to design and choose a table for your space, you can read more here.

Top Care Tips for Indoor Solid Wood Furniture

 

1. Control the environment
Position furniture away from direct sunlight, fireplaces, heaters, and air-conditioning vents. Sudden or extreme changes in temperature and humidity can cause drying, cracking, or colour variation.

2. Clean gently and regularly
Dust with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners, ammonia-based products, or excessive water, as these can damage timber and protective finishes. Vintage-etc recommends using a natural beeswax or Pro Nature Cleaning Products for routine cleaning and maintenance.  You can order Pro-Nature Cleaning products here 

Beeswax furniture cleaning  be purchased online via Takealot, Yuppiechef or from hardware stores such as Builders Warehouse or MICA.

You can order Pro-Nature Cleaning products here 

3. Use protective barriers
Always use coasters, placemats, and trivets. Heat, moisture, and spills can permanently mark timber surfaces if left in direct contact.

4. Recondition when required
To refresh your furniture, lightly sand the surface using fine-grit sandpaper (no.1 )  to create slight texture for the new oil to absorb and adhere. Apply a high-quality oil finish. We recommend Pro Nature, all of which meet gold-standard performance levels. Apply evenly using a lint-free cloth. Allow approximately 7 hours curing time between coats and lightly sand between applications. Always place oil-soaked cloths in a bucket of water after use, as some finishing oils are flammable if disposed of dry.  At Vintage-etc, we work exclusively with Pro-Nature products on our furniture, and when it is time to oil your products (once every 12018 months) , the team at Pro-Nature is very helpful and they offer clear guides how to apply their products  in a few easy steps, they also deliver product to your door if ordered online. To re-oil, you can watch guide videos here 

Addressing Cloudy Water Marks on Solid Wood

Cloudy or white water marks are usually caused by moisture becoming trapped in the surface finish rather than damage to the timber itself. These marks are most common on oiled or waxed finishes.

When to try this method
This method may be suitable only for white or cloudy surface marks that appear shortly after contact with moisture, such as from a glass or vase.

When not to attempt this method
Do not attempt this method if the mark is dark, black, deeply coloured, or if the surface shows signs of burning, etching, or finish breakdown. In these cases, moisture has penetrated the wood fibres and reconditioning or professional refinishing is required.

How to try this method safely

1. Always test first on the underside of the table or an inconspicuous area

2. Use a clean cotton cloth or tea towel, lightly dampened but not wet

3. Set an iron to low or medium heat with steam turned off

4. Place the cloth flat over the mark

5. Gently apply the iron for 5 to 10 seconds at a time

6. Lift, check the surface, and allow it to cool before repeating if necessary

The mark may fade gradually rather than disappear immediately. Do not overheat or leave the iron stationary for extended periods.

Any remedial action undertaken by the client is done at their own discretion. Vintage-etc cannot be held liable for damage resulting from self-applied treatments. While this method has proven effective for some cloudy surface marks, results will vary depending on the finish and depth of the mark.

 The Natural Beauty of Solid Wood

 Grain, Shading and Colour Variation
Each piece of solid wood furniture features unique grain patterns and natural tonal variation. Differences in shading, grain direction, or texture are inherent to real wood and contribute to its individuality.

Knots and Hairline Cracks
Solid wood is a living material that continues to respond to its environment. Knots are a natural characteristic of timber and do not compromise structural integrity.

Minor hairline cracks or small surface splits may develop over time as timber acclimatises to changes in temperature and humidity. These characteristics are expected and are not manufacturing defects.

Environmental timber movement, including knots, hairline cracks, surface splits, drying, or  colour variation caused by sunlight, heat sources, or humidity changes, is cosmetic in nature. These effects fall outside of manufacturing warranty and do not constitute defects, faults, or workmanship failures.

Wood Movement and Environmental Considerations

All timber expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. This may occasionally result in slight movement in table tops , at joins or on drawers or doors. This is a normal adjustment process, not a defect.

To maintain alignment:

Avoid damp or highly fluctuating environments
Ensure furniture is placed on a level surface, un-level floors will cause doors to drop
Allow carpet fibres to compress before rechecking balance
Use discreet spacers or shims if required

Sunlight and Heat Exposure

Indoors and outdoor tables exposed to bright, consistent sunlight through windows, conservatories, or glass doors can damage natural wood over time.  Tables near fireplaces and indoor or outdoor pizza ovens will also dry out and lose moisture content in the wood, this will cause the wood to develop hairline cracks at the joins and corners.  This is not a manufacture defect, it is the inherent behaviour of wood near heat or in sun.   It would not be reasonable to complain that tables develop cracks if you site a table near a heat or sun source, even when indoors. 

While this is unavoidable - we understand homes are meant to be designed to be well lived-in places , clients need to accept that wood behaves in response to it's environment and care, and in the first 6 months of a new table's life, one can expect minor settling movement as the wood adjusts to its new environment.  This adds to the character and beauty of natural solid timber. 

Important guidance:  Woods such as Oak, Oregon, Beech, Maple, and Walnut are not suitable for sustained direct sun exposure, UV  and sustained heat exposure - this may cause fading, drying, or small splits.

In sunrooms or glass-walled spaces, select stable hardwoods (such as Teak, Iroko, Garapa, Meranti ) and allow for expansion gaps (a small expansion gap on the table top), or consider stone or glass tops if sited near fireplaces, pizza ovens, or stoves or if directly under sky lights to prevent your wood drying out and splitting. 

Daily Cleaning and Maintenance

• Dust regularly using a soft, dry cloth
• Use natural beeswax sparingly. Avoid silicone-based spray-on commercial polishes
• Wipe spills immediately with a slightly damp cloth and dry thoroughly
• Use mild diluted detergent only when necessary
• Do not place hot items directly on wooden surfaces
• Rotate decorative items periodically to prevent uneven fading (e.g. coasters/vases)
• Use felt pads under objects that may leach chemicals

Open-Grain and Natural Finishes

Open-grain and natural finishes allow timber to breathe and age beautifully but are more sensitive to moisture and spills.

Avoid standing liquids, harsh cleaners, or unapproved polishes. Protect surfaces from wine, oils, and moisture wherever possible.

A Final Note

When you purchase custom handmade furniture from Vintage-etc, you are investing in
handmade item, no two pieces are exactly the same, hence the name Vintage-etc. You are not buying perfection, each piece of furniture, the grain and finish  tells the story of real materials shaped by hand, that will age naturally with age. 

If you require guidance specific to finishes, environments, placement, or suitability for homes and hospitality spaces in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, or elsewhere in South Africa, our team is always happy to assist and can provide a paid consulting advice tailored to your project.

Kindly note that unless Vintage-etc has been formally retained in a consulting or design advisory capacity, the final selection of wood types, finishes, dimensions, and furniture designs remains the client’s decision. As every space and environment is unique, responsibility for these final selections rests with the client, and we hope that this information provides a useful guide on how to care for your furniture.  

Here is a more in depth article on how to design a table suitable to your space

This care guide is issued as a helpful guide, and is written on a without prejudice basis.

Contact us at info@vintage-etc.com, admin@vintage-etc.com or visit our FAQ page.