<p>With the arrival of the rains, it becomes important to take extra care of our wooden furniture at home, writes Nandini Vishwanath</p>.<p>It’s that time of the year when the skies open up and the weather is perfect for you to sink into your favourite corner with a book and some chai. While it does make for a beautiful sight, you might want to pay more attention to your solid wood furniture. As when the air is humid, even the most seasoned solid wood furniture may expand and call for help!<br /><br />Few enemies of solid wood which need immediate attention could be expansion of wood which leads to jamming or opening up of joints. Furniture also tends to develop an odd glue line which may look like a crack or even accumulate powder caused by borer attacks during the monsoon. All of these seem pretty tough to get clear of, but as they say prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips on how you can care for your furniture this season:<br /><br />Mind the damp spaces: Always ensure that your furniture is kept away from <br />windows, balconies and spaces that could let moisture in. The wood fibres swell as they absorb moisture and shrink as they release it, causing the wood to expand and contract. The fresh breeze with a sprinkle might feel great to you, but is absolutely dangerous for your furniture. <br /><br />Maintain distance from the walls: Chairs, cabinets, beds, bookshelves and tables must be kept away from the wall to avoid moisture getting on to your furniture. While you’re moving things around, you could also use this as the perfect time to re-do your interior setting!<br /><br />Steer away from moisture: Clean your furniture with a dry and soft cloth to keep moisture away from your furniture. Dust invites moisture, which can build up and soften the finish on furniture. For glass tops, you can consider using household cleaners.<br /><br />Keep damp clothes away: Drying clothes outside can be difficult during this season and it is a very common habit to dry clothes inside the house. Towels are mostly hung on the chairs or bed headboards for effective drying. However, this will only increase the moisture in the air inside the room. Dry your clothes in sunlight whenever possible and keep them aside. If the clothes seem semi-dry, hot ironing can be an easy solution.<br /><br />Ventilation is a must: The rains add up to the excess amount of moisture in the air which can prove to be very expensive for your furniture. Ensure cross ventilation to keep the room dry and free of excess moisture. One way to tackle this is by keeping a few doors and windows open. An exhaust fan is a great idea to in the bathrooms and kitchens. <br /><br />Say no to renovation: Monsoon is the worst time to get into the ever procrastinated renovation and remodelling. Be it small repair or a complete revamp, it could adversely affect the solid wood furniture. Polishing solid wood furniture is a great way to avoid moisture, but it must be considered before the onset of rains. As a precautionary measure against the moisture on your furniture, use water-resistant glue and materials during the assembly and maintenance of your woodwork. It will protect the furniture from de-bonding when exposed to water.<br /><br />Follow these tips to ensure that you flow over the dampness of monsoon and enjoy the season in all its splendour.<br /><br /><em>(The author is director-customer delight, Urban Ladder)</em></p>
<p>With the arrival of the rains, it becomes important to take extra care of our wooden furniture at home, writes Nandini Vishwanath</p>.<p>It’s that time of the year when the skies open up and the weather is perfect for you to sink into your favourite corner with a book and some chai. While it does make for a beautiful sight, you might want to pay more attention to your solid wood furniture. As when the air is humid, even the most seasoned solid wood furniture may expand and call for help!<br /><br />Few enemies of solid wood which need immediate attention could be expansion of wood which leads to jamming or opening up of joints. Furniture also tends to develop an odd glue line which may look like a crack or even accumulate powder caused by borer attacks during the monsoon. All of these seem pretty tough to get clear of, but as they say prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips on how you can care for your furniture this season:<br /><br />Mind the damp spaces: Always ensure that your furniture is kept away from <br />windows, balconies and spaces that could let moisture in. The wood fibres swell as they absorb moisture and shrink as they release it, causing the wood to expand and contract. The fresh breeze with a sprinkle might feel great to you, but is absolutely dangerous for your furniture. <br /><br />Maintain distance from the walls: Chairs, cabinets, beds, bookshelves and tables must be kept away from the wall to avoid moisture getting on to your furniture. While you’re moving things around, you could also use this as the perfect time to re-do your interior setting!<br /><br />Steer away from moisture: Clean your furniture with a dry and soft cloth to keep moisture away from your furniture. Dust invites moisture, which can build up and soften the finish on furniture. For glass tops, you can consider using household cleaners.<br /><br />Keep damp clothes away: Drying clothes outside can be difficult during this season and it is a very common habit to dry clothes inside the house. Towels are mostly hung on the chairs or bed headboards for effective drying. However, this will only increase the moisture in the air inside the room. Dry your clothes in sunlight whenever possible and keep them aside. If the clothes seem semi-dry, hot ironing can be an easy solution.<br /><br />Ventilation is a must: The rains add up to the excess amount of moisture in the air which can prove to be very expensive for your furniture. Ensure cross ventilation to keep the room dry and free of excess moisture. One way to tackle this is by keeping a few doors and windows open. An exhaust fan is a great idea to in the bathrooms and kitchens. <br /><br />Say no to renovation: Monsoon is the worst time to get into the ever procrastinated renovation and remodelling. Be it small repair or a complete revamp, it could adversely affect the solid wood furniture. Polishing solid wood furniture is a great way to avoid moisture, but it must be considered before the onset of rains. As a precautionary measure against the moisture on your furniture, use water-resistant glue and materials during the assembly and maintenance of your woodwork. It will protect the furniture from de-bonding when exposed to water.<br /><br />Follow these tips to ensure that you flow over the dampness of monsoon and enjoy the season in all its splendour.<br /><br /><em>(The author is director-customer delight, Urban Ladder)</em></p>
