How To Protect Your Pine Furniture

Pine is a soft wood which continuously 'respires' when there are changes in the temperature and the environment. Pine will always feature some small irregularities, such as slight shrinkage and minor defects like small cracks in the wood's surface and knots, although many of these apparent imperfections actually enhance the look of the wood, making furniture unique.

The first thing to remember when caring for your pine furniture is that sunlight can have a dramatic effect on both the colour and surface of the timber. It's a good idea to keep untreated pine out of direct sunlight, although lacquered or waxed pine has much better resistance to cracking and discolouration.

In order to prevent the wood from bowing or cracking, it's a good idea to make sure that it is in an area with a constant temperature, as rapid changes can cause the wood to dry out, expand, and crack. It's also advisable to avoid placing hot or cold items directly onto the wood.

Rubber protectors can prevent moisture
damage, as well as damage to floors

As well as temperature, pine is susceptible to damage from moisture. If you are planning to place your furniture in a room with a tiled or laminate floor, make sure you use rubber protectors placed under the feet to stop the wood from soaking up any accidental spills or condensation, as moisture can cause splitting and discolouration.

Always be gentle when cleaning your pine furniture

When cleaning your pine furniture, it's important not to use soap or detergent, or any polish that contains silicone, as this can affect the appearance of the grain, and may in some cases cause staining. For general cleaning, use a damp duster and gently buff the wood to a shine. If you need to give your furniture a deeper clean, then try looking in your local hardware shop for lemon oil or another soft polishing oil treatment.

If you are using an oil based polish, it's worth testing it out on an out of sight area in order to make sure that it doesn't alter the natural colouring of the wood. If you need a bit more in depth advice on finding the right products for your furniture, check out Ronseal's website, which features some really handy how-to-guides that will help you get the most out of your pine furniture.

Properly cared for, pine can be a beautiful presence

One of the most effective ways to keep your pine furniture looking its best is to use a furniture wax. Much pine furniture will come ready-waxed, although it's worth reapplying the finish every year or two to ensure that the wood remains fully protected, especially if it is a feature piece such as a coffee table or dresser.

Of course, with all the preparation in the world, it's impossible to avoid accidents, so here's a handy tip to deal with minor dents, especially useful for dining tables - boil a kettle, and pour a very small amount of hot water onto the affected area then mop up excess water with a cloth. The moisture should cause the dent to plump out. If the wood swells too much, place a heavy, flat object on top of the bump, and give it a day to dry out.