Care Guides

Caring for your furniture

Having invested furniture you will want to keep your products looking great.

Following our information, care and maintenance guides is the first step in that process,

Make sure the air in your room is not too humid or too dry; keep the room temperature regulated.

Wooden furniture exchanges moisture with the air and will shrink and expand depending on air humidity.

Avoid placing your dining furniture in direct sun, near a radiator or close to a direct source of heat as wood is not heat-resistant or heat-proof.

Wood furniture can change colour if it’s exposed to continuous light, so keep your dining furniture in low light areas, if possible, and make sure that any lamps or ornaments don’t sit in one place for too long.

You may want to keep the curtains drawn when the room is not in use.

 Avoid rooms that may cause extreme temperature change such as conservatories, as this may cause excessive timber movement and cracking.

• Always leave a gap behind units to allow air to circulate.

• Protect furniture from strong or prolonged sunlight. 

• The colour of real wood matures with exposure to light, so it is important to move ornaments regularly and expose table leaves to avoid noticeable colour differences occurring.

Protect surfaces from heat and spills

We recommend using coasters and placemats at all times.

Never put hot plates, dishes and cups from the oven or microwave straight onto your wooden dining table or cabinet.

Let them cool down and then place on trivets, tablecloths or mats. 

Assume that all furniture will not resist water, chemicals or heat.

• Natural wax finishes are porous and stain easily.

• Avoid wiping oil or wax finishes with a wet cloth as this may raise the grain.

Leave extending tables extended

If you can, leave your dining table fully extended or make sure that its extending leaves are exposed to similar light levels to avoid colour differences between them and the rest of the table top.

In fact, extending dining tables should be left extended for the first few months to avoid an uneven appearance.   Don’t over strain drop flap stays and hinges or place heavy items onto glass shelves.

Never move or carry an extending table while the extension leaves are in use – always return the table to its unextended position first.

And remember that inserting or removing the extra leaves of an extending table is a two-person job.

The colour of real wood matures with exposure to light, so it is important to move ornaments regularly and expose table leaves to avoid noticeable colour differences occurring.

• Avoid wiping oil or wax finishes with a wet cloth as this may raise the grain 

 Avoid marking furniture with sharp objects.

• Carefully lift your furniture, never drag or push it.

• Never lift glass tables up by their tops.

• Heavy furniture will leave indentations in carpets and may mark hard flooring if it is dragged across.

• Do not rock backwards on dining chairs.

• Always follow fitting instructions for wall-fixing, glass surfaces and shelves.

• Tall cabinets may need fixing to the wall and most items are marked accordingly. 

 Uneven floors could give the impression that doors of wall units and wardrobes are out of alignment, so be aware of this and compensate if necessary by adjusting the hinges or packing a corner to level the item.

Easy and regular care maintenance

As  wood is absorbent, it’s important to dust your wood furniture often to prevent particles from building up and becoming ingrained in the surface layer.

Blot up any spills immediately.

Furniture should be wiped clean with a damp cloth then dried using a soft, lint-free cloth.

Avoid sprays and silicone wipes and polishes as these can leave marks and residues, and abrasive cleaners as these may scratch your wood furniture.  

Feather and down filled cushions and upholstery ,

Down feathers offer a lush softness that's hard to duplicate with synthetic fillings, but all of that luxury comes at a price. The pin feathers used to make down pillows are extremely sharp at the end, and these pointed quills can poke right through most kinds of upholstery. They can also escape through holes if you don't have feather proof cushion protectors.

Cleaning waxed wood

Polish waxed wood furniture, following the direction of the grain, every three months with good quality natural beeswax. Use a soft duster to buff up and retain the natural look of your furniture, and avoid abrasive cleaners, wipes and sprays.

Cleaning oiled finish 

Oiled and Waxed - Furniture treated with a fine coating of oil or wax offering a light protection, re-application of finish must be applied on a regular basis to maintain the protection and aesthetic look.  

Cleaning Lacquered finish 

Lacquered - Sealed finish using lacquer coatings offering a more resilient finish to scratches, heat and moisture, should the finish be damaged in any way a professional repair is required.  

As wood is a natural product, it is normal to have knots that may be filled.

No two pieces of veneer or solid timber are the same and will vary in shade.

All timber surfaces will change colour and mellow over time.

New furniture will initially vary in shade from any items 

Willis And Gambier

Willis & Gambier furniture is made from high quality carefully selected timbers and veneers.

Highly meticulous machining, skilled hand assembly and top quality finishing ensures that you have

received a piece of furniture to be proud of.

Furniture is made to be used and enjoyed, so it will benefit from a little care and attention.

Taking good care of your furniture ensures its longevity.

Painted finish

The distressed paint finish on this range is achieved by our highly skilled craftsman through the

application of several layers of paint which are then gently aged in places. The hand finishing of each

individual item results in a subtle variation in finish between pieces and gives the range its unique

character. Over time hairline cracks may appear in the paint finish. This is a natural part of the ageing

process which occurs on all painted furniture.

General Care

Dust frequently with a cloth that attracts rather than scatters dust.

Dining Tables should be left extended for the first few months to avoid uneven shading.

Any objects on the surface need to be moved regularly to avoid shading. I.e. Lamps etc...

Never leave spillages. Remove them immediately with a blotting action.

For protection against marking, quality table mats and cloths should always be used when placing items

onto tops of units. This is of particular importance when items with rubber feet are to be placed on your

unit.

When writing, a protective mat should be used to protect the surface from marking.

Furniture will endure most temperatures in the modern home. However it should be positioned as far

away from radiators, direct sunlight or other forms of direct heat sources, as possible.

Avoid extremes in humidity. This can cause wood to warp and loosen glues. Keep furniture away from

air conditioning units.

Small tables should not be used for sitting or standing on.

It is always advisable to level furniture when placing it. This will ensure wardrobe doors are level and

removes undue pressures on joints.

Never drag furniture - always lift it.

Metal Handles and Fittings.

Metal polish should not be used as the handles have their own protective lacquer to prevent tarnishing.

Lacquered Wood.

A gentle wipe with a lint free cleaning cloth, in the direction of the grain, is all that is required to

maintain the appearance of the lacquered wood.