CARE GUIDES

Caring for your furniture

Having invested in furniture, you will want to keep your products looking great.

Following our information, care and maintenance guides is the first step in that process.

Make sure the air in your room is not too humid or too dry; keep the room temperature regulated.

Wooden furniture exchanges moisture with the air and will shrink and expand depending on air humidity.

Avoid placing your dining furniture in direct sun, near a radiator or close to a direct source of heat as wood is not heat-resistant or heat-proof.

Wood furniture can change colour if it’s exposed to continuous light, so keep your dining furniture in low light areas, if possible, and make sure that any lamps or ornaments don’t sit in one place for too long. You may want to keep the curtains drawn when the room is not in use.

Avoid rooms that may cause extreme temperature change such as conservatories, as this may cause excessive timber movement and cracking.

• Always leave a gap behind units to allow air to circulate.
• Protect furniture from strong or prolonged sunlight.
• The colour of real wood matures with exposure to light, so it is important to move ornaments regularly and expose table leaves to avoid noticeable colour differences occurring.

Protect surfaces from heat and spills.

We recommend using coasters and placemats at all times.

Never put hot plates, dishes and cups from the oven or microwave straight onto your wooden dining table or cabinet.

Let them cool down and then place on trivets, tablecloths, or mats.

Assume that all furniture will not resist water, chemicals, or heat.

• Natural wax finishes are porous and stain easily.
• Avoid wiping oil or wax finishes with a wet cloth as this may raise the grain.
• Leave extending tables extended.

If you can, leave your dining table fully extended or make sure that its extending leaves are exposed to similar light levels to avoid colour differences between them and the rest of the tabletop.

In fact, extending dining tables should be left extended for the first few months to avoid an uneven appearance.   Don’t over strain drop flap stays and hinges or place heavy items onto glass shelves.

Never move or carry an extending table while the extension leaves are in use – always return the table to its unextended position first.

And remember that inserting or removing the extra leaves of an extending table is a two-person job.

The colour of real wood matures with exposure to light, so it is important to move ornaments regularly and expose table leaves to avoid noticeable colour differences occurring.

• Avoid wiping oil or wax finishes with a wet cloth as this may raise the grain
• Avoid marking furniture with sharp objects.
• Carefully lift your furniture, never drag or push it.
• Never lift glass tables up by their tops.
• Heavy furniture will leave indentations in carpets and may mark hard flooring if it is dragged across.
• Do not rock backwards on dining chairs.
• Always follow fitting instructions for wall-fixing, glass surfaces and shelves.
• Tall cabinets may need fixing to the wall and most items are marked accordingly.

Uneven floors could give the impression that doors of wall units and wardrobes are out of alignment, so be aware of this and compensate, if necessary, by adjusting the hinges or packing a corner to level the item.

Easy and regular care maintenance

As wood is absorbent, it’s important to dust your wood furniture often to prevent particles from building up and becoming ingrained in the surface layer.

Blot up any spills immediately.

Furniture should be wiped clean with a damp cloth then dried using a soft, lint-free cloth.

Avoid sprays and silicone wipes and polishes as these can leave marks and residues, and abrasive cleaners as these may scratch your wood furniture.

Feather and down filled cushions and upholstery.

Down feathers offer a lush softness that’s hard to duplicate with synthetic fillings, but all that luxury comes at a price. The pin feathers used to make down pillows are extremely sharp at the end, and these pointed quills can poke right through most kinds of upholstery. They can also escape through holes if you don’t have feather proof cushion protectors.

Cleaning waxed wood

Polish waxed wood furniture, following the direction of the grain, every three months with good quality natural beeswax. Use a soft duster to buff up and retain the natural look of your furniture, and avoid abrasive cleaners, wipes and sprays.

Cleaning oiled finish 

Oiled and Waxed – Furniture treated with a fine coating of oil or wax offering a light protection, re-application of finish must be applied on a regular basis to maintain the protection and aesthetic look.

Cleaning Lacquered finish 

Lacquered – Sealed finish using lacquer coatings offering a more resilient finish to scratches, heat and moisture, should the finish be damaged in any way a professional repair is required.

As wood is a natural product, it is normal to have knots that may be filled.

No two pieces of veneer or solid timber are the same and will vary in shade.

All timber surfaces will change colour and mellow over time.

New furniture will initially vary in shade from any items.

Rustic & Washed Wood finish

What colours make a rustic colour.

Rustic colours are simple in application yet elegant in style.

With a wide range of shades to choose from, including muted greens browns and greys, you can create a beautiful and cohesive rustic colour palette that ties your space together.

Willis And Gambier

Willis & Gambier furniture is made from high quality carefully selected timbers and veneers.

Highly meticulous machining, skilled hand assembly and top-quality finishing ensures that you have received a piece of furniture to be proud of.

Furniture is made to be used and enjoyed, so it will benefit from a little care and attention.

Taking good care of your furniture ensures its longevity.

Painted Finish

The distressed paint finish on this range is achieved by our highly skilled craftsman through the application of several layers of paint which are then gently aged in places.

The hand finishing of each individual item results in a subtle variation in finish between pieces and gives the range its unique.

character. Over time hairline cracks may appear in the paint finish. This is a natural part of the ageing process which occurs on all painted furniture.

General Care

Dust frequently with a cloth that attracts rather than scatters dust.

Dining Tables should be left extended for the first few months to avoid uneven shading.

Any objects on the surface need to be moved regularly to avoid shading. I.e. Lamps etc…

Never leave spillages. Remove them immediately with a blotting action.

For protection against marking, quality table mats and cloths should always be used when placing items onto tops of units. This is of particular importance when items with rubber feet are to be placed on your unit.

When writing, a protective mat should be used to protect the surface from marking.

Furniture will endure most temperatures in the modern home. However, it should be positioned as far away from radiators, direct sunlight or other forms of direct heat sources, as possible.

Avoid extremes in humidity. This can cause wood to warp and loosen glues. Keep furniture away from air conditioning units.

Small tables should not be used for sitting or standing on.

It is always advisable to level furniture when placing it. This will ensure wardrobe doors are level and removes undue pressures on joints.

Never drag furniture – always lift it.

Metal Handles and Fittings.

Metal polish should not be used as the handles have their own protective lacquer to prevent tarnishing.

Lacquered Wood

A gentle wipe with a lint free cleaning cloth, in the direction of the grain, is all that is required to maintain the appearance of the lacquered wood.

The beauty of reclaimed timber

Each piece in our reclaimed collection has its own story to tell. Every bump and groove a tell-tale sign of a previous life. Recycled timber from old house and boat building material, gives this furniture a unique and individual charm. No two pieces are ever identical and the beauty of owning one of these exquisite items is to have a totally exclusive and unique piece of furniture in your home.

• Cracks and splits may occur in recycled timber; this is perfectly normal with this type of material and may occur as the product ages within the home. You may even find areas of wood filler and infills on your reclaimed furniture, including table tops and doors.
• The colours on the timber will vary from piece to piece – this is part of the rustic charm of these beautiful collections.

The uniqueness and beauty of this natural product may also display the following characteristics:

• Nail marks
• Dents
• Scratches
• Bore Holes

COZY

Due to a safety feature that appears on all our products.

The first Zip is purposefully manufactured to be upside down as a safety precaution so that young children cannot access the filling inside of the beanbag.

You can feel the head of the zip through the fabric on the base, so you are able to unzip it. It can be a little bit tricky at first.

Can wicker be oiled?

Most people realise they need to use furniture polish or oil to extend the life of wood furniture. But oil is also beneficial for wicker furnishings. Lemon oil cleans and polishes wicker to keep it looking vibrant for many seasons to come. Simply dip a clean cloth in lemon oil and wipe down your wicker furniture, this is done at the customers discretion,

To keep wicker from drying out, mist it every three weeks. This doesn’t mean drench it. Aim a spray bottle at the piece from about 3 feet away, spray and let mist settle. Dust and vacuum wicker regularly to keep dirt from accumulating in the crevices.

Our garden furniture is made from poly rattan.

Poly Rattan is the most common synthetic alternative to traditional rattan for Garden Furniture.

it is basically a plastic alternative that has been designed to look the same but offer a more resistant and economical alternative. Most rattan furniture advertised as ‘Rattan’ in Europe is, in fact, ‘Poly Rattan.

How To Care For Maze Outdoor Fabric Furniture

When we set out to create Maze outdoor fabric furniture we wanted one thing – a range that can be truly left outside in any weather 365 days a year.

With this in mind, ultra-durable solution-dyed acrylic fabric combined with open foam technology, all sat on aluminium framing ensures you can finally, truly not have to care for your furniture. All you may need to do it give it a wash every so often and here is our guide.

Can I wash my Maze all-weather fabric garden furniture?

The simple answer is – yes

Warm soapy water and a sponge is a simple way if it’s not too dirty, but if it’s been left out all winter you may wish to purchase the Maze fabric cleaning kit, which includes a fast-acting antibacterial cleaning solution, which is a water-based product that penetrates the fabric surface to clean without harming the fabric. A gentle pressure wash-off is all you need to restore your garden furniture especially if it has been left out all winter.

Now it’s time to protect

A spray on fabric protector is also included in this kit. Simply once your set has been washed, and is completely dry, spray all over with this protective solution and let it dry naturally. This protective spray solution provides a tough, long lasting, stain protective barrier and also maintains the UV fading caused by the sun.

Adding this protective spray can keep your furniture like new, as it repels dirt and keeps liquids from penetrating the surface, so spillages won’t be an issue, just simply wipe off the surface.

How can I clean my spray stone glass?

Leaving any type of glass outside, you will find it gets dirty and dusty and a mildew can build up from the weather elements changing. You can easily clean the glass with a warm soapy cloth, then use another separate cloth which is damp to polish the finish and allow to dry.

We supply cleaning kits which we have made to suit cleaning your outdoor glass tables, please look for our “Maze – Outdoor Fabric – Spray Stone Glass Cleaner. It is important to apply this protective spray when the set is completely dry.

Caring and maintenance for outdoor wood furniture

Tropical hardwood is naturally weather resistant, over time teak pine and all woods will weather as they are a natural timber, variation in colour will occur.

Furniture needs to be oiled to be maintained.

Caring for marble or granite

Any material – including granite and marble – will fade in sunlight, clean with a soft dry cloth.