MAINTENANCE & CARE GUIDE
SOLID WOOD FURNITURE FROM LOUW ROETS.
Furniture from Louw Roets is designed and manufactured to last for generations. To ensure the greatest possible enjoyment from your furniture and the longest lifespan, it is important that it is properly looked after. When solid wood furniture is correctly maintained and exposed to daylight, over the years the wood will acquire a beautiful patina. As wood is a living natural product, color variations and knots as well as lines in the finished furniture may occur.
Solid wood is a living material that is affected by daylight, temperature and humidity. The ideal relative humidity for solid wood tables is between 30% and 60%.
Solid wood furniture should not be placed too close to heat sources such as wood-burning stoves or radiators. Solid wood is also affected and dried by direct sunlight and contributes to very low relative humidity which may cause cracks & the wood to warp. Placing indoor and outdoor furniture in direct sunlight should therefore be avoided. Care should be taken to place outdoor furniture undercover in order to protect the structural integrity and longevity of the furniture. As daylight matures the wood, please keep in mind that permanently placed items on solid wood, such as vases and candlesticks can cause undesirable color differences which will subsequently be difficult to remove.
OIL-TREATED FURNITURE
Regular care and maintenance of oil-treated wood furniture is easy and very effective in the long term. For best results, we recommend you to treat your furniture with oil two to four times a year or according to need depending on its positioning and use.
Oil and sanding sponges can be purchased from your nearest hardware store.
OIL TREATMENT SHOULD BE PERFORMED AS FOLLOWS:
Clean the entire furniture thoroughly with a clean cloth tightly wrung out with clean hot water. Then leave the furniture to dry.
Before applying the oil, lightly sand the wood surface with a sanding sponge or fine sandpaper (grade 180 or 240). Apply the oil using a clean white cloth or a sponge. Do not pour the oil directly onto the wood.
Apply the oil in the direction of the grains in a thin, even layer. It is important to treat the entire surface of the furniture.
During the dry season (summer), cross-cut edge ends should be treated more frequently to avoid drying and subsequent cracking.
Allow the oil to dry for about two hours, and then remove any excess oil with a clean dry cloth.
If the furniture has any scratches, these can be removed by gently sanding the wood. It is important to sand the wood in the direction of the grains using a sanding sponge or fine sandpaper (grade 240). After sanding, always wipe the furniture with a clean, dry cloth to remove residual dust. Then oil the wood as described above.
The uneven release of moisture from the wood may cause unnecessary cracks and warping of the furniture, which is why we recommend the same treatment for both the top and underside of the furniture. For everyday cleaning, use a soft cloth wrung out with clean hot water. Do not use any cleaning agents or chemicals on the furniture.
CAUTION! Please note that cloths or sponges which have been used to oil the furniture can ignite spontaneously, which is why they must always be kept in an airtight metal or glass container. This also applies if the cloth is being disposed of.
LACQUERED FURNITURE
Regularly maintaining lacquered surfaces is easy and straightforward. For everyday cleaning, wipe the surfaces with a soft cloth wrung out with clean lukewarm water. As the lacquer seals the surface of the wood, the furniture will not be affected by daylight as soap or oil-treated furniture.
However, the furniture will still darken with time, and we recommend that you exercise care when positioning dishes, candlesticks, etc. on the surface.
We advise against the use of cleaning agents or other forms of chemicals on the wood.
GLASS
Everyday cleaning of glass requires no more than wiping the surface with clean water. It is recommended that you use a sponge or a soft, fluff-free cloth. Most dirt can be removed by slightly wiping the surface. Make sure to clean the entire surface, not just selected areas.
Ordinary glass cleaner can be used to remove any grease marks (fingerprints, etc.). Do not use scouring agents, corrosive, acidic or alkaline cleaning agents, as these can attack the surface of the glass and cause scratches.
Excess water can be removed with a sponge or cloth. The glass can then be polished dry with a microfiber cloth.
If the glass surface is allowed to remain wet for longer periods of time, limescale residues may form. Therefore, it is best to wipe up any liquids as quickly as possible.
TEXTILES
Cleaning and maintaining upholstered furniture regularly is important to retain the appearance of the fabric and to prolong its lifespan. Over time, dust and dirt can cause furnishing fabrics to change color and exacerbate wear.
An accumulation of dust and dirt also contributes to a poor indoor climate, while impairing the fire-retardant properties of the upholstery material. It is therefore important to regularly maintain and clean your upholstered furniture.
GENERAL CLEANING
We recommend that you vacuum upholstered furniture often (possibly at half power), ideally every week.
Upholstery fabrics made of polyurethane should be wiped with a clean dry or damp cloth or vacuumed with a soft brush.
STAIN REMOVAL
Marks from thick or solid substances (for example wax and chewing gum) should be scraped off as much as possible with a blunt knife or spatula before further treatment. A dried stain can be vacuumed for loose particles before further treatment.
In the case of spills, blot the liquid with an absorbent clean cloth before further cleaning.
Marks which do not contain fat should initially be removed by carefully dabbing them with a clean, non-fluffy cloth or a sponge wrung out with clean warm water. Remove the stain working from the outer edge and in towards the center. Grease stains can be removed with suitable stain removers. We always recommend that you test your upholstery fabric cleaner on an inconspicuous area before using it on the main part of the upholstery.
Do not use excessive force when rubbing the fabric, as this can damage the fabric and cause loss of color.
To avoid discolorations to the microfibers in the upholstery fabric, it is recommended that you dry the material with a hair-dryer after cleaning. It is important that the upholstery fabric is completely dry before you start using the furniture again.
Be careful with the use of solvents, as these can dissolve underlying upholstery materials. Furthermore, do not use undiluted detergents, bleaching agents, ammonia and soaps intended for hard surfaces on upholstery fabrics.
CARING FOR LOOSE CUSHIONS
If your furniture has loose cushions, it is a good idea to turn the cushions around periodically to ensure they are exposed to uniform wear.
Down-filled cushions should be fluffed and plumped up regularly (depending on usage) to ensure that the down is equally distributed inside the cushion to maintain the shape of the cushion.
CLEANING AND IMPREGNATION
In general, furniture exposed to normal commercial use should be cleaned two or three times a year. Furniture in private homes do not need to be cleaned as often.
Upholstery fabrics made of cotton are often impregnated. However, the impregnation is not permanent and wears off as the furniture is used and during cleaning, which is why it is recommended to re-impregnate the fabric after the furniture is cleaned.
We do not recommend that wool upholstery fabrics be impregnated as wool is naturally dirt-resistant.
Active and regular care removes dirt before it accumulates in the upholstery fabric and damages the fibers. Proper maintenance and regular cleaning can significantly extend the lifespan of your furniture.
LEATHER
If possible, we recommend that you do not place leather furniture in direct sunlight or close to heat sources such as radiators or wood-burning stoves. Regularly vacuum your leather furniture with a soft brush and avoid using detergents and sharp implements.
Louw Roets uses the following leathers: Aniline, Semi-aniline, corrected grain and saddle leather. Read more about maintaining and cleaning the different types of leather below.
Aniline leather is made of raw hides of the highest quality. The leather has a completely natural bare surface, where all the natural markings are visible, for example insect marks, scratches & branding iron. These markings are not considered as defects.
This highlights the unique character of the leather while giving this exclusive material a rustic charm. The leather’s natural grain structure is preserved, which means that it ‘breathes’ and therefore provides optimum sitting comfort. Over time, daylight and usage gives the leather its own unique character and a beautiful patina.
Semi-aniline leather has been given a light protective top coat. The treatment makes the leather more robust, easier to maintain and ensures good wearing qualities.
The leather has the same natural look as aniline leather and is very comfortable.
CLEANING ANILINE AND SEMI-ANILINE LEATHERS
If thorough cleaning is necessary, we recommend using a solution of boiled water and mild natural good-quality soap flakes for furniture.
- Use 50 ml of soap flakes for each liter of water. Whisk the soap flakes in hot water until they are completely dissolved.
- Once the water reach room temperature work the lather into the leather with a soft cloth. It is important that you only use the lather from the solution and that you do not soak the leather.
- Once the furniture is dry, polish the leather with a soft cotton cloth.
Saddle leather has the same properties as SIF and is maintained in the same way.
Corrected-grain pigmented leather with a uniform surface has been treated to make the leather extremely hard-wearing. Pigmented leather is soft and comfortable and has only a few visible natural markings. It is easy to maintain, practical and strong as long as it is treated properly.
For everyday care and cleaning, we recommend using a clean soft cloth wrung out with lukewarm water.
METAL/STAINLESS STEEL/CHROME/POWDER-COATED STEEL
CLEANING:
Items made of stainless steel, chrome or lacquered steel must be wiped/cleaned with soapy water and a tightly wrung-out cloth.