If you are thinking long term when it comes to your home furniture, then buying a good quality chest of drawers is a great investment. Not only does it help in clearing up bedroom space, it can even be used as furniture in your kitchen or an elegant centerpiece in your living room. And a high quality chest of drawers can even be handed down as family heirlooms.
Chest of drawers that is made out of wood is a great fixture for homes for it exude a comfortable and homey feel. A wooden chest of drawers is an example of good craftsmanship and is sure to last a long time if given the proper care and attention.
We have the following 5 tips to guide you in taking care of your chest of drawers so that they will be inside your home for a very long time.
• Avoid storing food and beverage inside wooden pine chest of drawers. Food and liquid spills could mar the wood’s finish or paint job.
• Always check for insects and rats infestation – your drawers are likely candidates as top favorite shelter of small critters like roaches, termites, and even rats. Insects could feast on the wood while the rat’s excrement could lead the wood to rot. Application of clear wood preservatives could prevent termite infestation.
• Apply wood varnish or paint – Your painted chest of drawers even in-doors are not safe from the elements. Sunlight can still reach it and it is still affected by temperature changes brought about by the changing of the season, leaving the wood discolored. It is wise to protect your chests of drawers by simply applying a coat of varnish for a natural look or paint it if you want it to be of a different colour. Many times pine chest of drawers already come with a treated waxed pine finish.
• If you cherish the natural beauty and hue of your solid oak or mahogany chest of drawers and do not like putting on a coat of varnish or paint, occasional application of wood oil is suggested to prevent the wood from drying up, splintering and cracking. The wood oil also helps in restoring the wood back to its natural color. Most wood oils are available in hardware and general stores, and are very easy to apply and use.
• The chest of drawers is a heavy piece of furniture, and is hard to move. So if you are planning to move it around to another location in your home, it is best to ask someone to help you carry this furniture. You can also lift it and put it on top of a cart with wheels for easy transfer. If a cart is not available, try slipping a piece of old blanket or carpet under the chest of drawers, and start pulling the piece of cloth instead of your furniture. This will prevent the feet of the chest of drawer from scuffing as well as making the work easier. It is also advisable to remove all the drawers and all of its contents before moving to make the chest lighter and easier to move around, it also prevents possible damage not only on the drawer’s tracks but its contents as well.
Applying these tips could help you preserve your beautiful pine or oak chest of drawers, making them stand the test of time, and saving them for the next generation to love and appreciate.