If you want your Amish furniture to look as nice as it did when you first purchased it, you’ll to spend some time maintaining and caring for it. While most Amish furniture is made using high-quality materials and techniques, it still requires the occasional maintenance to preserve its integrity and look.
Failing to invest the minimal amount of time and energy necessary to care for your Amish furniture may cause it to look worn, dated and shorten its overall lifespan.
Avoid Harsh Cleaning Chemicals
The number one rule for protecting the integrity of your Amish furniture is to avoid cleaning agents containing harsh chemicals. Many homeowners use the same “all-purpose” cleaners on their furniture as they do on their kitchen counter-tops. You may not realize it, but those same cleaners may strip the protective coating off your Amish furniture, leaving it vulnerable to the effects of moisture in the air.
The reason for this is because wood is naturally porous and absorbs the moisture in the surrounding air. After all, that’s how they grow and thrive in the forests. Unfortunately, moisture can take its toll on dead wood, causing it to rot and decay away. To prevent this from happening, manufacturers of Amish furniture add a coat of protective varnish to the surface of the furniture.
Cleaning Amish Furniture
When you notice your Amish furniture gathering dust, you can either use a feather duster or lint-free dusting cloth to remove it. If you plan on using a dusting cloth, make sure to clean with the wood grain and not against it. Going against the grain may cause your cloth to tear, leaving small pieces of fabric stuck in the furniture.
Sometimes it takes a little bit more than just a dusting cloth to clean your Amish furniture. If there’s residue from sodas or food particles left on the furniture, you can clean it off using a damp towel with a small amount of dish soap. Just remember to dry it thoroughly after you’re finished to prevent any moisture from soaking in.
Dusting
Many people don’t realize just how damaging excess dust can be for furniture. Once it’s sat on the surface of Amish furniture for prolonged lengths of time, it will become embedded into the pores where it affects the finish. Try to get into the habit of dusting your Amish furniture at least once every other week to prevent this from happening. You don’t have to spend half an hour meticulously cleaning every square inch of it, but instead just run over it with a basic feather duster a couple times. This should remove most of the dust, preventing it from damaging the finish on your furniture.
Sunlight
All types of wood furniture, Amish furniture included, will bleach when left in direct sunlight for prolonged lengths of time. If you frequently leave the curtains open during the daytime and the sunlight beams in on your Amish furniture, there’s a good chance that it will change color over time.
Some people actually prefer this bleached color but most people don’t. Unless you want the color of your furniture to slowly fade, try to get into the habit of keeping it away from sun exposure.
Some Amish furniture pieces are given a coat of finish to create an attractive and stylish appearance. While there’s nothing wrong with the natural look of authentic hardwood, a premium coat of finish offers a more eye-catching appeal, which is why it’s oftentimes preferred. Best of all, there are literally dozens of different types of finish, from Burnt Umber Maple to Nutmeg Cherry. However, if you decide to purchase Amish furniture with a finish, you’ll need to know how to properly protect and maintain it.
Failing to protect and maintain the finish on a piece of Amish furniture will likely result in visible wear. It may not happen immediately, but over the course of several years the finish will slowly degrade, resulting in a less attractive appearance. Allowing the finish on your furniture to become damaged mat create spots of discoloration which throws it off completely. Thankfully, however, there are certain things owners can do to protect their furniture and prevent this from happening.
Avoid Moisture
Arguably, the most important thing to remember when owning finished Amish furniture is to keep moisture away from it. You probably aren’t going to leave your new furniture outside under the rain, but moisture can still reach it. For instance, people oftentimes lay their drinks down on coffee or end tables without thinking twice. The problem in doing so is that condensation from the glass will drip down onto the table, at which point it will work its way into the finish. If you must place your drinks down on your new Amish furniture, always use a thick coaster for protection.
In addition, you need to be aware of the humidity levels in your home. Placing your newly finished Amish furniture up against an air vent could result in too much humidity, and this will have the same effect as placing water directly on it.