Reclaimed wood makes for an amazing showpiece in your home. Therefore, ensuring proper care and maintenance will keep your reclaimed wood in great shape and make sure that it continues to reflect the beauty of age and history. If you’re willing to invest the money in reclaimed barnwood, you want to make sure it’s going to last for generations. In this post, we will discuss our top tips for care and maintenance of your reclaimed barnwood.
At Vintage Harvest, our barnwood planks have been surface brushed, but no other treatment has been done. If you are looking for a more finished look, we would suggest a clear coat after a light sanding. Unfinished reclaimed wood can be a little more challenging to clean, so we will share tips for both types.
Dust can be reclaimed wood’s worst enemy. Unfinished reclaimed wood requires regular sweeping and vacuuming followed by wiping areas with damp rags. By sweeping and vacuuming frequently, you will avoid any unwanted dust or grit from building up around the wood’s surface.
Even though barnwood looks rustic and antique, it should still be cleaned as often as you would standard furniture. Reclaimed wood has its own beautiful and unique qualities and patterns, but stains don’t belong.
Be careful with water. Don’t soak or saturate your wood floors or furniture; the moisture can be highly detrimental. Beware of watermarks – if your table is reclaimed barnwood, use coasters! Also don’t forget trivets for hot dishes, placemats, or other options to keep those tables clean, free from scratches and watermarks.
Watch the sunshine. Have you ever noticed how sunlight directly on your furniture, floors, or upholstery can discolor it over time? Reclaimed barnwood is no different, so use curtains or blinds to reduce harsh damage from the sun.
Wood cleaners or a gentle soap can be great to remove debris, especially if the wood has been treated. A mixture of olive oil, white vinegar and water is great for cleaning our untreated wood. If you have stuck-on crumbs or buildup stuck on it, you can use a soft brush.
If you’re using furniture wax on sealed barnwood, test a tiny application first, before applying to the entire area. Like anything that can change the finish, it’s best to test it before applying to the whole project just to make sure no discoloration occurs.
Use felt protectors if you use our barn wood as wood flooring. By using the felt pads on your furniture legs, you can prevent scratching and denting your floors.
In general, barnwood is a beautiful way to enhance your home with its own unique history and charm. By taking excellent care of it, you will ensure that your custom wood products last a lifetime. If you have additional questions, leave them in the comments for us and we’ll try to add them to our FAQ page.