Furniture Care for Your Type of Wood Finish:

Even well seasoned timber will continue to move with the different humidity levels of our different seasons - it can swell in conditions of humidity and shrink in dry conditions.
Direct sunlight is often harmful for furniture and can cause all kinds of issues over long periods of time. Avoid placing wooden furniture near any heat or damp source if you can - as the likelihood of damaging it is obviously increased. With central heating and seasonal changes, the atmosphere in your home can change significantly over the year so due consideration to the situation of your furniture is the first step in caring for your furniture, thus ensuring its longevity.

Oiled finishes This finish is most like wood in its natural state, allowing the full beauty of the grain to come through, giving a rich understated appearance to furniture while also being very easy to maintain. Oiled finishes do not provide a full seal though - so spillages should be wiped up immediately. For most situations re-oiling with Danish Oil every 6 months or so should be sufficient. For very dry centrally heated rooms or conservatories more frequent re-oiling may be beneficial. If this finish gets marked it can be simply be sanded with fine paper or lightly abraded with fine steel wool and re-oiled. Wipe up liquid spills immediately and use coasters or mats to prevent heat from marking the finish. General daily and light cleaning of dirt & spillages can be achieved with a well rung out damp cloth.
Waxed finishes This finish is popular with rustic & traditional furniture, providing a gentle glow to furniture, or to add an 'antiquing' effect to furniture using darker wax polishes. Waxed finishes may be revived and cleaned by simply applying a suitable wax polish with 0000 (or very fine) grade wire wool or cotton rag. The new wax will soften the old wax and the wire wool will effectively remove blooms or marks, while also building a shine. You would 'wax on' with wire wool (or rag) and 'wax off' with a clean rag. For everyday care you can wipe waxed finished furniture with a well rung out damp cloth, do not use abrasive cleaning products or washing up liquid on this finish. Wipe up liquid spills immediately and use coasters to prevent heat from marking the finish. To avoid a build-up of polish or wax apply sparingly - roughly10% wax, 90% elbow grease. Apply wax no more than 2 or 3 times a year, less if appropriate. This finish is not water proof and if heat or liquids leave a mark they must be re-waxed immediately to replace the protection.

Lacquered finishes Lacquered finishes provides the most resistance to moisture, dirt and heat compared to the rest. Lacquered items are sealed and usually require nothing more than occasional dusting with a clean cloth. If you need to remove stubborn dirt (or grease) do not use commercial aerosol sprays as these normally contain silicones which can cause a secondary finish to build up, and may eventually dull your furniture - instead try using a well rung out cloth with warm soapy water and then gently drying it. Liquids left on lacquer for considerable time or intense heat/moisture can damage this finish, using coasters or mats is always recommended.