Contact Us
262-757-8199
info@heritagebeamandboard.com
How to Clean & Care for Reclaimed Wood
MAKE YOUR INTERIOR DREAMS COME TRUE
Reclaimed wood is still living (in a sense) as it takes on the qualities of where it’s placed.
START YOUR PROJECT TODAY >
This means, if your reclaimed wood “lives” in direct sunlight or in a room with big temperature or humidity swings, your reclaimed wood piece will change over time. It might crack, bleach, or yellow. And while these aren’t necessarily a bad thing, we think anyone with wood fixtures, furniture, or flooring in their home should be aware of the potential consequences of sun, heat, and moisture. So let’s dig in.
Understanding Reclaimed Wood
In full transparency, all types of wood are impacted by sun, heat, and humidity, whether it’s reclaimed or not. We like to tell our clients that consistent temperature and moisture levels are the key to ensuring your wood projects last for many years and generations to come.
It’s not always easy to maintain temperature and humidity control in your home, especially living in the Midwest with our four distinct seasons…which sometimes occur within a single day.
So how do we prevent cracks and color changes from developing?
Protecting your Reclaimed Wood
At Heritage, before we even begin working with a new lot of reclaimed wood, we treat it in a kiln that prepares the wood for its final home. The kiln dries out the wood to a particular humidity level and removes any little critters that may have made the wood a temporary home.
Frequently, we’ll then transport our reclaimed wood
to the space where it will live
for several days before we begin. This time spent in its intended space helps the reclaimed wood get acclimated and ensures fewer changes within the wood after the project is completed.
Exactly no one wants their new, beautiful reclaimed wood to burst a crack a week later!
One of the best things you can do to protect your reclaimed wood projects is to install a whole-house humidifier. This practice alone will help maintain moisture levels throughout your home all year long, and will definitely increase the longevity of your wood pieces.
How to clean reclaimed wood furniture & fixtures
Heritage finishes are extremely durable and meant to last. That said, there are several things you can do to protect and clean your wood pieces:
- Don’t allow standing water to pool on the wood! It’s never good.
- Vacuum any pockets or crevasses, especially in mantles and beams.
- Use a damp (not wet!) rag to wipe clean any matte finishes.
- For light stains, a little dish detergent and water should take care of it.
- For heavy stains, contact us for a recommendation.
Cleaners deserve their own category, especially since there’s some nuance to what you might use and what to avoid.
PSA: Avoid harsh chemicals at all costs!
What chemicals are considered harsh?
For the purpose of cleaning reclaimed wood,
avoid bleach, ammonia, and alcohol-based cleaners. We also recommend avoiding
vinegar as it can eat away at some finishes and/or etch into the surface of the wood.
Sources on the interwebs might say it’s ok to dilute vinegar with olive oil, but why? It’s safest to simply stick with a light mixture of water and very gentle soap (castile or Dawn work well), wipe the wood clean with a microfiber cloth, and let it air dry.
How to remove a stain from reclaimed wood
We believe Heritage pieces are meant to be loved and lived with, not put on a pedestal and admired from afar.
That said, what happens when a rogue glass leaves behind a water stain, or a hot pan is accidentally put down on your wood table or countertop? These are bigger issues than routine cleaning maintenance, and we’re here to help.
Obviously, do everything you can to promote the use of coasters for drinks and trivets for hot dishes. But if (or when) the inevitable “oh, shoot!” occurs,
send us a picture!
We’ll either be able to make a recommendation over the phone or come out to your home for a consultation. We care about your Heritage pieces and are happy to make a recommendation based on years of experience.
If you properly care for your
Heritage reclaimed wood pieces, trust us when we say they will bring immense joy and beauty to your life for as long as you have it. Enjoy!
PS: Here’s a quick guide we give to all our clients about how to best care for their new Heritage fixtures, furniture, and flooring:
