Normal cleaning and maintenance – soap treated tabletops

The soap treatment makes the wood appear beautiful and natural. The soap fat is water soluble which is why it is important to regularly treat your table with the soap solution.

Regular cleaning is done with a soft cloth soaked in warm water added to the soap solution from the care kit. Avoid using cleaning products or chemicals on the tabletop. Spilled liquids, water stains from glasses and similar should be removed immediately to avoid stains and marks on the tabletop.

The tabletop is primed with a soap treatment from the factory, but to achieve a stain and dirt repellent surface quickly, the tabletop should be treated with soap treatment again before it is used. Regular maintenance of soap treated solid wood is easy and, at the same time, protects the wood as best as possible from stains and dirt. Soap treatment should be repeated at regular intervals, all depending on the position and use of the furniture.

Soap treatment for tabletops

• We recommend using the soap treatment care kit that came with the table.
• Clean the tabletop first. To achieve the best results, stains and dirt must be completely removed before retreatment. Remove difficult stains with an abrasive sponge or fine sandpaper grade 220.
• Before applying the soap, lightly sand the entire tabletop with the sanding sponge. Always sand along the longitudinal direction of the wood grain.
• Apply the soap solution with a cloth or a sponge on the entire tabletop in the direction of the wood grain. Avoid stains and soap streaks. Soap residue, especially on oak, can subsequently be difficult to remove.
• Wipe the excess soap from the tabletop.
• Always remember to treat the underside of the tabletop to avoid uneven drying. Uneven drying can cause the tabletop to crack and warp.
• Allow the tabletop to dry completely before using it again.
• Wood fibers can rise again after the first soap treatments. The wood fibers are removed with the sanding sponge when the tabletop is completely dry.

Soap mixture for treating tabletops

As an alternative to the care kit, you can make a soap mixture yourself for the maintenance of your wood furniture. The soap mixture is made from ¼ dl of natural soap shavings without color and 1 liter of hot water. The soap shavings are completely dissolved in the hot water and cooled to room temperature before use. Never pour the soap solution directly on the furniture. The furniture only needs soap fat, not water. If there is too much water used, the subsequent drying can cause cracks in the wood.

When applying the soap treatment to oak furniture, the solution must not be too strong, a strong solution makes the wood darker.

Normal cleaning and maintenance – oil treated tabletops

Regular cleaning is done with a soft cloth soaked in warm water. Avoid using detergents or chemicals. We recommend that you oil your tabletop regularly, all depending on the position and use of the furniture.

Oil treatment of the tabletop

• We recommend using the oil treatment care kit that came with the table.
• Clean the tabletop first. To achieve the best results, stains and dirt must be completely removed before retreatment.
• Before applying the oil, lightly sand the entire tabletop with the sanding sponge. Always sand along the longitudinal direction of the wood grain.
• Apply the oil with a sponge or cloth. The oil is applied in a thin and even layer over the entire tabletop including the edges. Let the oil sit for approximately 5 min.
• Thoroughly wipe the excess oil off the tabletop with a clean cotton cloth and let the tabletop dry.
• The oil must be completely dry before the table is used again. The drying time for the oil depends on the temperature so always check that the table is dry before using it again.
• WARNING! Take note that cloths or sponges that have been used for oil treatment can spontaneously ignite which is why they must always be stored in an airtight metal or glass container. This also applies when disposing of cloths.

Normal cleaning and maintenance – lacquered/painted tabletops

Regular cleaning is done with a soft cloth soaked in warm water. Avoid using detergents or chemicals.

Lacquered/painted surfaces cannot be retreated in the same way as soap or oil treated surfaces. We recommended using a professional carpentry workshop for any major scratches or scuffs which occur on the surface.

Special consideration

Wood is a living material that is affected by daylight and the room’s humidity. The ideal relative humidity for a solid wood table is between 30 and 60%. A humidity of less than 30% increases the risk of cracks in the wood. Solid wood furniture, therefore, should not be placed too close to heat sources or in direct sunlight as this may cause cracks on the tabletop. High humidity can cause the tabletop to warp.

Solid wood tabletops are sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature. Warm air contains more water than cold air which means that the widths of the solid wood tabletops can change from season to season. When the air is dry in winter, the wood will contract. It will expand again in summer when the air is typically humid. This can be seen, for example, on pull out tables where spaces can appear in the side joints in winter and in the middle in summer.

As a rule of thumb, a solid wood tabletop can fluctuate 1% in width. If the table width is 100cm, it can fluctuate a whole centimeter. The wood does not fluctuate significantly lengthwise.

Soap treated tables tend to creak. The creaking sounds occur as the wood shifts and is due to the friction between the frame and the tabletop or the table joints. The phenomenon typically occurs during the summer period when the wood expands but it has no effect on the table’s functionality.

The wood color matures as the table is exposed to daylight. The biggest changes occur at the beginning of the table’s life. Vases, placemats or ornaments can leave color shade differences on the surface of the wood if they are placed in the same position for a long time. It is, therefore, a good idea to leave larger wooden surfaces uncovered for the first few months of the furniture’s use. The solid wood furniture should not be placed in direct sunlight to avoid markings from ornaments and drying out.

Never use abrasive cleaners, steel wool or polish on solid wood furniture.

Do not place hot or damp objects directly on the tabletop.

Wood is a natural material and, therefore, no two pieces will be alike. Minor knobs, visible growth marks and color variations are a part of the wood’s natural look.