Cabinet Furniture Care Guide

We appreciate that after you’ve spent time deciding on your new cabinet furniture, it is only natural that you’ll want to make sure your investment is looked after. By following the simple guidelines below you can be sure that you are giving your furniture the best possible opportunity to repay your investment. While fair wear and tear in domestic use is excluded, we offer a 5 year structural guarantee on everything we sell. Please see the separate guarantee document within your customer information pack.

We would recommend that if you have not already chosen to, you also consider our excellent value Fairway Furniture 5 Year Cabinet Care Plan, which protects your furniture from any accidental damage, including spills, stains and scratches.

This protection can be added to your order right up until you take delivery – full details are available from your sales consultant, or for online orders by calling 01752 408941.

Download our Cabinet Furniture Care Guide by clicking here

Colour variation

• Variations in colour can occur between the cabinet display samples in our showrooms and the specially ordered or stock furniture we deliver to you.
• Similarly, when ordering items from images in brochures, catalogues or other printed matter, due to the limitations of printing processes, variations in colour of the delivered products can occur. These are normal and do not constitute manufacturing faults.

Positioning your new furniture

• Your cabinet furniture may be delivered fitted with castors or transit strips. These are normally for transportation purposes, so follow the manufacturer’s recommendation to remove them as this will enhance the look and stability of the product.
• Where your new cabinet furniture is being located directly on to wooden floors, we would recommend the use of protective felt on the feet of your new furniture to prevent scratching.
• Once you have carried out any assembly required or your furniture, it may sometimes appear out of alignment. Before contacting us, we would recommend that you check your floor is level. Older buildings can have uneven floors, which can lead to doors not lining-up correctly or legs not all touching the floor. These issues can normally be corrected by contacting a local cabinet technician.
• During assembly and positioning of freestanding wardrobes or wall units, you should try and leave at least a 2-3cm gap behind so air can circulate freely.
• Some larger wardrobes and wall units come supplied with straps or fixing brackets so that they can be fastened to the wall for your own safety.
• Before you make any final adjustments to your wall unit or wardrobe – such as levelling the doors - you should ensure that you put inside all the items you expect them to hold. This prevents the doors becoming misaligned when the unit is subsequently loaded.
• Where your cabinet furniture has internal shelves, ensure they are properly fixed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions before placing items such as crockery or ornaments on them.

Cabinet care guidance

• For cabinet items where assembly was required – such as attaching legs to tables or chairs, regularly check that bolts and screws are tight. This ensures the joints are not strained and will prolong the life of your furniture.
• Most modern cabinet furniture is protected by a tough finish that simply needs dusting with a lint-free cloth.
• Finger marks and smears can be removed by using a cloth dampened with warm water. Be sure to dry with a soft lint-free cloth immediately. Avoid using any detergents, facial or general purpose wipes, as these can affect the finish of your furniture. Avoid allowing any cabinet furniture to come into contact with aggressive products such as solvents, spirits, acidic materials or cream cleaners, especially those containing silicone, as damage to the finish may result.
• In the case of accidental spillage or contamination, remove the offending material or liquid immediately by dabbing with a soft dry cloth. A damp cloth should then be used to remove any residue immediately, followed by careful drying of the area. It is important to avoid wetting, as this can affect the finish. If not removed immediately, spillages such as red wine, can stain permanently.
• Your new furniture will often come with specific cleaning and care instructions, but as a guide, you should observe the following for these specific finishes:

Oiled oak finishes

• These must be regularly re-oiled to maintain appearance and stability. This should be done using suitable natural vegetable finishing oil, available from all Fairway Furniture stores.

Glass & metal finishes

• Gentle wiping with a damp cloth will maintain the appearance of your furniture and prevent any damage that could be caused by using cleaning chemicals. Particular care should be taken not to use kitchen clothes with abrasive pads, as these will leave scratches.

Wood effect and high gloss finishes

• These finishes may be cleaned by dusting with a lint-free soft cloth. In the event that marks need to be removed, use of a damp lint-free cloth will be effective and prevent any damage.

Dining chair upholstered seat pads

• Use a vacuum cleaner with a suitable upholstery attachment will allow removal of dust or crumbs. Should the fabric or leather need wiping, use a lightly dampened cloth, ensuring the affected area is then dried fully before use.
• Our ranges of wooden cabinet furniture include a variety of finishes, such as oiled, waxed or lacquered. Some have a rustic, distressed type of finish and are designed to reflect old country style furniture or the ethnic style of the country of origin. There is therefore a wider tolerance in both manufacture and finish for these products.
• All real wood finishes will mellow over time and exposure to light. Lighter coloured wood such as teak, pine or oak obtain a richer, deeper colour. Care should be taken to avoid placing wooden furniture in direct sunlight for prolonged periods, as this can cause the finish to change colour more quickly and unevenly.
• Real wood products are often constructed from solid timber and can be affected by the background environment within the home. For example, exposure to any dampness or moisture can cause drawers and doors to expand and stick. Modern, centrally heated homes can cause minor cracks to appear as timbers can become extremely dry and this would normally be considered part of the products natural characteristic. To minimise the risk of such cracks, avoid exposing your furniture to significant variations in temperature.
• Take care to protect surfaces of dining tables, as the heat from oven tableware can cause damage to the furniture’s finish.
• Ensure that dining chairs are used only for the purpose intended and that all legs are in contact with the floor at all times, otherwise damage may result.