Caring for your new Mavis furniture

How to enjoy and care for your new Mavis furniture...

At Mavis, we think that wood is wonderful and full of life. Wood has a special smell, it’s soft, natural and genuine in feeling. When you buy a product made out of wood, you get all those qualities in the bargain. But a wood product requires a little understanding and consideration. Here are a few tips from us...

Some general advice:

- We recommend that you wipe the entire surface of your furniture with a damp cloth before you start to use it. Some fabrics can leave lint on the surface, so you should preferably use a microfiber cleaning cloth.

- While most surfaces on our furniture have been sealed with a clear lacquer finish, pigmented varnish or wood stain, they can still be a little sensitive to solvents. We recommend that you clean our furniture only with a mild soapy solution or colorless soft soap. Wring out the cloth thoroughly before wiping the surface.

- Use coasters and pads to protect the surface when placing hot objects on the furniture, which can leave burn marks in the finish.

- We recommend putting felt pads on the feet of our furniture when you will place the products on a floor that tends to be easily scratched.

- Wipe away any spilled liquids immediately.

- Wood surfaces with a clear or painted finish will age over the years and change color.

- We recommend that you regularly check screws and other attachments. Tighten or adjust them as needed. Save any assembly instructions or recommendations for this purpose.

- The product might have a certain new smell when you unpack it. This is because the finish is hardening in the open air after being covered with packaging. The smell will disappear faster if you wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth. If your product has drawers, air them for 24 hours before use.

- Metal jewelry, keys, pieces or chains might leave pencil-like black marks on varnished or lacquered finishes. They can be easily removed with a colorless eraser.

- Be careful when moving your furniture. Dragging it over the floor can damage the floor’s surface and the product’s attachments and framework.



Oiled oak (solid or veneer)

Our oak products have been manufactured with great care and thought to give you furniture that you will enjoy for many years.

- All oak wood in our products comes from European forests and FSC-certified suppliers (see FSC under “Environment”).

- Surfaces have been oiled with linseed oil to highlight the color and structure of the oak. Varying colors and wavy grain are a natural part of the wood and give each piece of furniture its unique character.

A few words about wood

Wood is a living material and will vary in color and grain.
These variations are natural and normal, although we always try to combine wood of similar color as much as possible.

Knots are also natural in wood products. There aren’t many trees in the world that grow without branches, right?

The knots that we decide to keep in the wood will not affect the product’s durability – they will only make the furniture look more interesting and give it its unique character and expression.



Caring for oiled furniture

Oiled furniture likes to be entertained. We don’t mean it should watch the same Friday-night movie as you, but it would certainly appreciate a little linseed oil treatment once a year. This will keep the wood’s deep finish and make it more stain-resistant.

- If you think the wood is starting to look dry in spots, we recommend applying a thin coat of linseed oil to the surface. Wipe away any excess oil that is not absorbed, according to the product instructions. You should oil your furniture once a month during the first three months. You can find linseed oil in most paint stores or do-it-yourself outlets. Follow the instructions carefully and be aware of the risk for fire.

- When you unpack your oak furniture, keep the following in mind: it might take a few days for the oil to dry, or to be completely absorbed by the wood. We recommend that you be careful with your clothes and bed linens in the beginning to avoid possible stains.

- The top or sides of a product can sometimes look lighter or drier upon delivery. This is because solid wood parts and veneered surfaces tend to absorb oil in different amounts. If needed, apply a thin coat of linseed oil (see above) to even out the finish.

- Small stains and spots can be removed by rubbing with fine grade sandpaper (400 grit). After sanding, always oil afterwards as described above.


See you soon…
/Mavis