Mulberry Blog

How to protect your wooden furniture

Written by Justin Smith | May 16, 2023 4:00:00 PM

Ready to refresh your home’s furniture? While laminate and veneer have become popular options in the past few decades, there’s nothing quite like the coziness and character that real wood furniture brings to a space. Although real wood furniture requires a higher upfront cost, if properly taken care of, these furniture pieces can become heirlooms that you enjoy for a lifetime.

And if you're hoping to protect your furniture with more than just good care, look no further than a product protection plan. When you subscribe to Mulberry Unlimited, you can get coverage for all your furniture pieces under the same product protection plan. That means everything from spills and breaks to tears and accidents are covered.

How can you protect your wooden furniture?

Wondering how to protect your wooden furniture? Here are some tips that can help:

Use coasters

A simple way to protect your real wood furniture is by using coasters. A cold, wet drink or a hot bowl of soup can cause damage if left to sit on your wooden furniture for too long, resulting in stains, discoloration, or warping. Using a coaster is a great way to protect your wooden furniture while still maintaining its functionality.

Keep it dusted

Did you know that dust can damage your furniture? While you might think of dust as simply a harmless annoyance, it can actually build up on your furniture’s surface over time, creating a difficult to remove layer that can cause scratches and unnecessary wear. This is why it’s important to dust your furniture regularly.

Clean it

Although regular dusting will take care of most of the need to clean your wooden furniture, every once in a while, a deep clean is necessary for maintaining your furniture. If you have real wood furniture, it’s important to be selective about what cleaners you use.

While all-purpose cleaners work well for your kitchen sink, granite countertops, and other surfaces, when it comes to cleaning your wooden furniture, steer clear of the harsh chemicals and opt instead for a gentle soap and water mixture. Soap and water will clean your wooden furniture pieces without causing stains, discoloration, or warping.

Avoid extreme temperatures

Another important tip is to avoid exposing your furniture to high heat or other severe temperature fluctuations. Real wood furniture does best in stable, temperature-controlled environments, so avoid placing your wooden furniture in direct sunlight, next to the fireplace, or anywhere else that could introduce variable temperatures.

If you have wooden outdoor furniture, however, keep in mind that these pieces are made to weather the elements and require different care and maintenance, including seasonal cleaning and weather treatments.

Paint it

If your wooden furniture is looking a little worn out, one of the best ways to protect it (and give it new life) is by painting it. A fresh coat of paint can not only conceal scratches and stains on your wooden furniture, but it’s also a great way to add a fresh pop of color and an extra layer of protection to the surface of your furniture. Wondering how to paint wood furniture? The process requires only a few simple steps:

  • Remove hardware. First, remove any hardware from your furniture.
  • Sand. Next, thoroughly sand your furniture to remove any polishes, finishes, or paint that was previously applied.
  • Prime. Add several coats of prime to ensure that the surface of your furniture is completely coated.
  • Paint. Now it’s time to paint. This can be done with either a spray gun or paint brush.
  • Seal. Finally, finish by applying a seal to your painted and dried furniture. Make sure to choose a seal that has the same type of finish as your paint.

Professional repair

Another tip for protecting your wooden furniture is keeping up with needed repairs. Unfortunately, some wear and tear is inevitable, even if you’re careful with your furniture. In some cases, a professional furniture repair shop can provide needed maintenance to keep your furniture in the best condition possible. Looking for a furniture repair shop near you? Simply type “wood furniture repair near me” into Google.

Purchase product protection

Finally, one of the best ways to protect your wooden furniture is by purchasing a furniture protection plan. While we do our best to take care of our furniture, the reality is that accidents happen. Purchasing a product protection plan is a great way to ensure you get your money’s worth out of your purchase.

If you’re hoping to purchase protection but aren't excited about the extra cost, the reality is that a product protection plan doesn’t have to be expensive. With Mulberry Unlimited, you can get great protection for an unbeatable price.