| So you have just moved into your new home. | | | | wooden pieces. Wood expands or contracts with an |
| Decorated it with new Amish furniture, new | | | | increase or decrease in the relative humidity in the air. |
| upholstery, new electronic goods, new hopes and | | | | A 40% - 60% relative humidity is tolerable. Beyond |
| loads of excitement. While the excitement wears | | | | this level, wood starts to expand. At low levels it |
| down after a few months as you get accustomed to | | | | may shrink and cause a split. The wood and the finish |
| your new surroundings, you certainly do not want | | | | covering it respond differently to the changes in |
| your furniture to wear down too. Not in a few | | | | humidity. This may cause the coating to separate |
| months, not in a few years either. While you may | | | | from the wooden surface and peel off. High humidity |
| take very good care of your furniture pieces and | | | | can cause insect infestation and fungus and mold |
| clean them regularly, there are a few environmental | | | | growth as well. To prevent damage, avoid placing |
| factors that tend to take their toll. | | | | furniture in areas of extreme temperature and |
| Ultraviolet light damages wooden and other organic | | | | humidity conditions. If you furniture pieces are really |
| material furniture. This kind of damage is irreversible. | | | | precious, you can also maintain the humidity in their |
| Exposure to less light for a longer period of time or | | | | vicinity by using humidifiers and dehumidifiers. |
| exposure to strong light for a shorter period of time | | | | An RH of below 39% will cause the wood to dry out |
| will both cause similar damage and discoloration. The | | | | and warp. Applying oil will not really prevent that. The |
| light energy converts to heat energy on contact with | | | | best option is a coating of good paste wax. Wax is |
| furniture surfaces. This rise in temperature chemically | | | | very stable and does not change chemically over |
| causes the polishes or colors to degrade. The wood | | | | time and provides protection from moisture and |
| would then need to be stripped and refinished to | | | | airborne pollutants. Carefully apply the coat on |
| restore its previous look. | | | | furniture with a pronounced grain pattern such as |
| To avoid all the damage light can cause, avoid | | | | Amish oak furniture. A thin coat applied once a year |
| keeping furniture in direct sunlight. Draw the curtains, | | | | is enough. Do not wax furniture that is gilded, painted |
| especially in the afternoon hours. Put blinds or drapes | | | | or lacquered. |
| on all windows. You could also get your windows | | | | Check for any environmental and other damages |
| coated with UV-filtering film (like you do in cars). | | | | before buying used furniture from auctions etc. When |
| Moisture in air can also cause great damage to | | | | buying used Amish furniture online, make sure the |
| furniture. You must have noticed wooden doors | | | | original quality craftsmanship has been maintained well |
| becoming tight and getting stuck during the wet days | | | | by the previous owner. A little care on your part will |
| or some green fungus appearing on unpolished | | | | increase the life of your furniture by many years. |