Tips for Cabinet care

One of the most asked questions by a new owner of our cabinetry Is "How do I care for my cabinets?" Here are a couple of tips that will help you.

#1-Water is the worst enemy of wood finishes. I don't care what kind of finish you put on them water will eventually get under the finish. Wood expands and contracts with temperature and humidity so there will always be a place for water to get in. Modern finishes are good and will take a lot of abuse so it is not a problem if you spill water on the woodwork. Please don't leave it there, Wipe it off.  Finishes should last 20 years if cared for properly. You can tell if water is getting under the finish if it starts to get a milky white color under it.  When that starts happening it may be a little late to solve the problem. Sometimes a very quick swipe with lacquer thinner on a rag will allow the moisture to escape. It mostly works with old finishes.Don't allow the thinner to sit or you will ruin the finish. Just one quick swipe over the spot and then leave it alone. If the finish doesn't clear then you will eventually get some pealing and have to re-finish.

#2- The answer to question of "What do I put on my woodwork to revitalize it" is any good quality furniture polish that doesn't have silicone or carnauba wax  in it. Silicone will make the finish look great but will eventually damage the finish. It will also make it extremely hard to refinish over. Silicone on the surface will cause "Fish eyes" when sprayed over. It is hard to resolve at that point.  Carnauba wax will require that the finish be completely removed before re-finishing. We do have a good finish we use called McGuires Final Inspection. It is actually a car wax but it is easily removed if you want to re-finish.It sprays on like water and buffs to a good shine.