Once you have purchased your furniture, we want you to enjoy it in it’s best condition. The following care and maintenance advice will help to extend the life of your office furniture.

Care of Furniture 

1a.    Wood and lacquered surfaces, especially tops

• If finished with an acid-catalysed lacquer, properly applied.
• Modern furniture will be resistant (but not proof against) moderate heat and limited exposure to alcohol.
• The only cleaning necessary is a wipe with a slightly damp cloth, followed by a soft, dry duster.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners; they will scratch the surface.
• Table tops should be protected from hot, damp items (such as the unglazed bottoms of coffee cups); spillages, especially of alcohol, should be wiped immediately with a damp cloth and should never be left for long periods or overnight.
• For more stubborn marks (in the lacquer and which have not affected the timber below), rub in the direction of the wood grain with a soft cloth and small quantities of either hot water and vinegar, soap and warm wateror industrial alcohol. Another polishers’ trick is to use ‘000’ wire-wool (but nothing more coarse than this). Alcohol is a solvent; it must only remain on the surface of the furniture for verf brief periods.
  
• Prolonged contact with vinyl compounds (such as a polythene-covered ring binder left in the sun on a table-top or bookshelf) may also react with the lacquer
• BEWARE silicon spray polishes, such as "Mr Sheen"! These build up an unsightly film and will react with the lacquer and cause irreparable damage; the only remedial action is to strip the whole top and respray – even then, the results are unpredictable
• Keep furniture out of direct sunlight; the colours of all timbers will mellow with time and exposure to ultra violet light. It is wise periodically to move desk accessories to even out exposure.

1b.    Metal finishes

• For brass and other non-ferrous metals, a proprietary cleaner is ideal but avoid contact with the wood or lacquered surface; apart from the occasional wipe with a duster, stainless steel needs no cleaning, nor does anodized aluminium or powder-coated mild steel.

1c.    Glass 

• Proprietary glass cleaning fluids are most suitable but avoid contact with the wood or lacquered surface. 

1d.    Moving

Damage to furniture frequently occurs when it is moved, so:

• Beware of dragging furniture; it should be lifted clear of the floor.
• Disconnect the sections of large tables and lift the tops clear of their bases.
• Folding-leg tables are best handled by two people and should be turned upside down on a carpeted floor or protective blanket before dismantling.
• Avoid dropping the corners of tables onto the floor and beware door architraves when moving furniture from room to room.
• Purpose made trolleys and storage racks greatly help extend the life of furniture that is moved regularly. 

1e    Levelling 

• If doors or drawers do not align, the unit is probably not level; the hinges can be adjusted but an easier way is to use levelling wedges to compensate for uneven floors. 

1f    Leather 

•  Virtually all consumer complaints with upholstery leather arise through well intentioned but improper, over-enthusiastic, cleaning
• The principal cause of deterioration is dust worked into the pores
• For regular cleaning, simply vacuum and take a soft cloth, wring it out in a warm, mild, soap solution (but not detergent); wipe the leather using a light circular motion taking care not to soak the leather; repeat using clean water.
• Do not attempt to ‘feed’ upholstery leather in any way; spray polishes, saddle soaps, waxes and so-called ‘hide foods’ may create a sticky surface attracting dirt and causing irreversible damage. 

1g    Wool fabrics

As a rough guide

• Weekly vacuuming greatly extends the life of wool fabric.
• Annual cleaning can also help; in the absence of professional help, use only reputable brands of upholstery shampoo and be sure to test the solution on an inconspicuous part; never use soap, ammonia, bleach or other cleaners intended for hard surfaces.
• Spots and stains:

• Act quickly! Most will vanish if they are treated immediately and not allowed to dry in
• Mop up excess liquid with white absorbent tissues or a clean cloth; scoop up solids with a spoon or blade of a knife
• Use small amounts of cleaning fluid at a time and blot between each application, avoid pressing liquid through the fabric.
• If possible, place a wad of white tissues between the fabric and filling
• Never rush!  Work patiently and thoroughly.
• If the first stop does not work, leave to dry and then try the second and, if necessary, third method.

 Download the Wool and Fabric ( spot and stain removal guide ) PDF