Wood care: a floor-to-ceiling primer

By Rosemary Sadez Friedmann , Scripps Howard News Service

Published March 1, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Need some tips on caring for wood floors, door paneling, casing, crown moldings and chair rails? Read on.

Whether the wood is vertical or horizontal, vacuuming is the easiest way to remove surface dirt. Pollutants that stick to the surface, such as smoke, are best-removed by rubbing the surface gently with a soft, damp cloth.

The cloth can be dampened with water or with a commercial furniture cleaner, but before jumping into the task headfirst, test a small corner of the wood with whatever product you'll be using to be sure it doesn't do any damage.

Most commercial cleaners are water-based and contain degreasers as well as cleansers. These can be G-rated, since they're safe for all wood furniture and for the people using them.

Next is the oil-based cleaner. We'll give this a PG-13 rating because it's flammable. If the oil- based cleaner is used, make sure to soak the rags in water and keep them outside in a metal container once the job is done.

Any cleaner that contains silicone is R-rated. Even though the silicone adds a smooth finish, it inhibits any future refinishing possibilities even after the original coating has been stripped. Most lemon oil cleaners get an "R" rating as well because they show fingerprints and the shine has a tendency to smudge, but most important, these cleaners contain kerosene that's harmful to most finishes and most people.

Wood furniture exposed to large amounts of ultraviolet rays from the sun will be damaged with time. Lighter colors will darken, darker colors will lighten and the wood will dry and split. Two easy solutions: don't put the wood where the sun will hit it directly or tint the windows to prevent the UV rays from coming into the house.

If waxing is required, a thin coat will do. Too thick a coat won't dry evenly, leaving a spotty finish.

When waxing the floor, a hard, waterproof wax is recommended. Have you ever seen a white ring where a wet bucket once stood on the wood floor? This is caused when the moisture penetrates below the wax and breaks its bond with the wood surface. The waterproof wax will prevent that. Soft wax is recommended for wall panels.

* More on wax: Wax floors and walls only every 12 months or so and apply the wax sparingly because wax buildup is a mess to remove. An area receiving heavy traffic, such as an entryway, may need waxing every six months.

Choose paste rather than liquid wax because it contains more wax. If the wood is carved intricately and has hard-to-reach places, the liquid form could be used for easier application.

* Quick maintenance tips: Dust the wood weekly, wipe spills immediately, don't place metal objects on wood surfaces and don't place heated objects on wood surfaces.

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