Pine Care

Pine is a natural material and is prone to slight movement and loss of moisture. Our tables are built to be with you and your family for many years, to be the heart of your home, and the centre of many happy memories. This guide will help you learn how to care for your new piece of Made in the Cellar furniture.

If these directions are not followed, your guarantee will be invalid. This means Made in the Cellar will not be able to help in the unlikely event that issues arise with your furniture. If you have any concerns about how to care for your furniture please contact us.

Preparing your home

Our wood is handpicked, kiln dried and manufactured in our workshop which has a moisture content of between 10%-14%. An average home’s moisture content is roughly 6% or lower.

You will need to let your table acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Ideally in a cool room, slowly increase the heating temperature over a few weeks.

Pine is a natural material and is prone to slight movement and loss of moisture. Small amounts of movement can cause minor cracks but these are normal and can add to the rustic character of your furniture. Over time, the natural wood will darken, especially with exposure to sunlight.

Do

Turn all underfloor heating off, turn down your radiators and slowly increase the temperature over a few weeks.
Keep your furniture out of direct sunlight. Sun damages the wood and its finish with harmful UV rays, so these are best kept to a minimum.
Try to avoid extreme temperature changes in its first month of being in your home.

Don’t

Place your furniture near a direct heat source such as a radiator, oven, aga or fire place.
Leave table settings on your table when not in use as these can leave marks if left for long periods of time.

How to Clean

Water based stain/Varnish on Pine

Our Pine tops have been coloured with a water based stain and then finished with a clear matt acrylic wood varnish. If you chose a wax finish for your furniture or shelving, different instructions apply, please refer to the relevant section for more information.

The varnish used on the table has an A+ hygenic rating. It’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. The anti-microbial effect achieves a clean and safe surface, free from fungi and bacterial colonies. No antibacterial or bleach base sprays or cleaners should be used to clean your tabletop as they will compromise the finish and can cause a reaction in the varnish.

For general cleaning, please just use warm water and a cloth. Dry your table thoroughly afterwards.

If you happen to get grease stains on your table, please contact us for advice. Please don’t ever be tempted to use harsh, bleach base abrasive cleaners.

Do

Use a clean damp cloth to wipe your tabletop and wipe it dry afterwards.
Only use water to clean your tabletop.
Wipe up spills from food and drink straight away.
Use coasters and placemats to protect the natural wood.

Don’t

Use any abrasive, bleach based cleaners such as Dettol, Flash or even baby wipes.
Excessivly clean and rub down your tabletop.
Leave spillages to sit on your tabletop for long periods of time e.g overnight.
Allow liquids to sit on your table top without wiping it.

How to Clean

Wax Finish

Our Pine tops and shelves that have been finished with a wax finish need to follow slightly different cleaning guidelines.

For general cleaning, please use a dry duster or for a deeper clean, a wax based furniture polish sprayed onto a cloth then applied to the furniture top.

Spillages should be removed with a cloth as soon as possible. Most spillages shouldn’t cause a problem if removed promptly, however there may be occasions where this can’t be avoided. Please follow the below instructions should this be the case:

If you are unsure what wax finish was used on your item please contact the office direct and we can advice you.

Wipe away the spillage

If a stain is present, try to remove with a more abrasive cleaner on the spot. If this works, then apply your wax finish.

If the stain does not go with a more abrasive chemical cleaner, then we recommend using 240 grit sandpaper on the area until the stain is removed – do not be alarmed, the wax will be removed by this and the spot will look very light when you have finished – this is normal, apply your wax finish and then buff off with a lint free cloth.

What to Expect

Rustic pine is a natural material, full of knots and character. Small surface cracks can be expected, especially as your new furniture is adjusting to your home. These cracks often expand and contract due to moisture in the air and temperature.

If you notice a crack is getting larger or you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Overtime, your Pine top will deepen in colour. This is due to exposure to sunlight. This is completely normal and often adds the character of your furniture.

Please remember to remove place settings from your table when it is not in use. These can sometimes leave lighter patches on your table. If this does happen, leave your table un-covered and the surface should even out in colour over 4 weeks.

Any discolouration caused by exposure to sunlight can be rectified by fully sanding back and re-finishing your table-top. Please follow our instructions to do so.

How to Maintain

Water based Stain / Varnish

Refresh

To keep your furniture looking fresh, you can add an extra coat of clear varnish without the need to sand the existing finish back.

First, clean your Pine top as advised previously
Apply the varnish with a sponge or brush, in thin layers down the length of the grain
Leave to dry for 6 hours
Lightly rub the surface with a de-nibbing pad if surface doesn’t feel smooth
Clean with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly before use

Re-Finish

We recommend that you fully re-finish your Pine top every 1-2 years depending on usage to maintain it’s appearance and keep it fully protected. You can purchase stain and varnish directly from us, please contact us for advice

Fully sand back existing finish, we recommend using a hand sander
Remove dust with a clean cloth
Dip a sponge into the stain and apply to the table in thin, even coats in line with the grain of the wood
Leave to dry for 2-3 hours
Lightly rub the surface with a de-nibbing pad
Remove dust with a clean cloth
Apply a layer of clear varnish as instruction under ‘Refresh’
Repeat varnishing step once more to ensure the wood is properly protected

How to Maintain

Wax Finish

Refresh

To keep your furniture looking fresh, you can add an extra coat of wax without the need to sand the existing finish back. Please be advised the application of additional coats will deepen the existing colour/shade and significantly enhance the resulting sheen level.

First, clean your Pine top as advised previously
Take a clean cotton cloth, sponge or brush and apply in the direction of the wood grain where possible. To obtain a uniform colour, always wipe evenly, blending the Supreme Wax over the whole surface area by exerting a small degree of pressure when applying by hand
Take care to lightly remove any excess Supreme Wax immediately with a seperate, clean absorbent cloth, again following the direction of the grain pattern
Leave to dry for around 3 minutes, and buff to finish with a soft cloth

Re-Finish

We recommend that you fully re-finish your Pine top every 2-3 years depending on usage and personal preference to maintain it’s appearance and keep it fully protected. You can purchase wax directly from us, please contact us for advice or we can advice on where to purchase.

Fully sand back existing finish, we recommend using a hand sander
Sand the wood in stages, working with a medium sandpaper (120 grit), through to a medium / fine grade (180-240 grit)
Always sand in the direction of the grain pattern where possible, ensuring the removal of any blemishes and residue prior to the application of Fiddes Supreme Wax. Take care to remove all trace of sanding dust and test the chosen Fiddes Supreme Wax shade on a similar substrate to verify the colour
Please then follow the stages of application in the refresh section.