Maintenance – soap-treated surfaces

The furniture has received its basic soap treatment at the factory. However, in order to obtain a dirt and moisture-resistant surface you should carry out a soap treatment before use and repeat this 2-3 times a year.

Soap treatment
Dissolve 50 ml white soap flakes in 1 litre of boiled water. Stir thoroughly and allow the mixture to cool to hand temperature before use. For oak, demineralised water is recommended for the mixture, as in some cases water containing iron can discolour the wood.

Alternative
Use a ready-mixed product, available from your furniture dealer.

Application
For application use a clean cloth or sponge. Coat the furniture surface and edges along the grain - evenly distributed and without blobs or stripes. End wood can absorb lots of moisture and when the wood dries out this can lead to crack formation. For this reason the end wood should only be coated once. Wipe off surplus soap immediately with a wrung-out cloth.
Daily care: Wipe with a wrung-out cloth, preferably previously dipped in a soap solution. Never use detergent or soft soap.
Small cracks and dents can be removed by applying a few drops of water to the damaged place and letting them dry. Once the crack or dent has risen up, sand it off with glass paper no. 220. If the mark is still visible, add a few more drops of water. Fold a piece of kitchen paper 4 or 5 times and moisten it. Place the paper over the mark and heat it with an iron until the paper is dry. Do not touch the wood directly with the iron.

NB
The furniture needs soap fat and not water. For this reason, never apply water or a very thin soap solution, as the wood may form cracks during subsequent drying. Too much water and faulty treatment can lead to discoloration of the wood. The wood will rise up after the treatment, so that the surface feels rough. It should be sanded down along the grain with glass paper no. 220 and then wiped clean. Never sand with steel wool. Overuse of soap can make the wood darken.