Crawford Furniture is crafted of solid Black Cherry, Maple, Ash and Oak. Each piece is hand-built to exacting tolerances using a combination of time-tested construction techniques and modern technological advances. A little bit of tender loving care will go along way toward enhancing your enjoyment and protecting your solid wood Crawford furniture investment. We take care to dry the wood in our furniture to a moisture level that relates to the average relative humidity in most homes. Even after drying, however, solid wood furniture remains porous, and it will react to seasonal changes in relative humidity by shrinking or expanding as it releases or absorbs moisture from the air around it.
Occasionally the results of these changes can be seen in furniture, most often as gaps in the alignment of expanding tables or drawers that affect the structure or quality of the furniture and will correct themselves when humidity returns to normal. To minimize these changes, maintain your home at a temperature between 65 and 75 degrees, with a relative humidity of 35 to 40 percent. Additionally, avoid placing solid wood furniture near radiators, registers, fireplaces or air-conditioning units. Regarding the issue of water, Crawford has a multi-step finish, which is water resistant but not waterproof. Use care when watering plants and ensure that vases and flowerpots will not leak or produce condensation on your furniture. Clean up spills immediately by blotting the liquid with a soft cloth, not by wiping.

Cleaning is very important for preserving the value of Crawford furniture in your living room, dining room, and bedroom. As you would wash a car before polishing it, you should clean your wood before you polish it. Although you don't see most dirt and soil on wood, it builds up just as it does on mirrors, a stove, or windows. This buildup may consist of oily or greasy film from heating and cooking, creosote from a fireplace, or just plain dust. Cleaning removes these contaminants so they don't get ground into the finish and into the wood. To avoid the damaging effects of buildup, horizontal surfaces such as tabletops and desktops should be cleaned and polished monthly.

Vertical surfaces should be cleaned every eight weeks. Any reputable brand of furniture polish will help protect the surface of the wood from drying out, thus preventing service checks, but notice the differences in polishes. Beware of products that contain a high percentage of silicone oil. Silicone oil is an ingredient used by many furniture polis makers to create a high degree of shine. Silicone-based wood cleaners can seep through the original finish and cause permanent damage to the wood furniture in your living room, dining room, or bedroom over time. Should it become necessary to refinish a piece of furniture, silicone makes it a very difficult process.

For the sake of your furniture’s finish, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Also, be aware that a darkening of solid cherry may occur in the first six to nine months in your home, due to direct or indirect lighting. We recommend rotating items placed on cherry pieces during this time to avoid uneven development of the woods natural patina.

Dusting

  • Between cleanings, wood should be dusted regularly—ideally, at least once a week.

  • Never dust with a dry cloth. Most dust particles have sharp edges that can easily cut into and scratch the finish of your home's wood furniture. Because of these sharp edges, dry dusting should be avoided.

  • Never use a feather duster. A feather duster simply scatters dust particles into the air, where they can fall back to rest on and harm your living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture.

  • For best results, use a clean, washable, lint-free cotton cloth, such as an old T-shirt, a cotton diaper, or a dishtowel. Make sure the cloth is free of buttons, snaps, zippers, etc., which could harm the finish of your home furniture. Sprinkle a few drops of water, a dusting aid, or polish on your dusting cloth. The cloth should be damp, but should not leave the wood visibly wet when you wipe. Remove the dust with a gentle, oval motion that follows the grain of the wood.

  • Always remember that in most cases you're polishing the finish, not the wood—so use a light touch.

General Wood Care Tips:

  • Keep home furniture out of direct sunlight, which can cause heat damage and bleaching of the wood.
  • To prevent the loss of moisture in wood, keep furniture away from heating and air-conditioning sources.
  • Always use coasters under both hot and cold drinks on your living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture.
  • To prevent gouging and scratching, use felt backing on lamps, ashtrays, and accessories.
  • When serving hot foods, always use place mats under plates and hot pads under serving dishes on wood dining room furniture.
  • To prevent moisture damage to your wood furniture, make sure plants are in drip-proof pots, and keep foliage from touching the furniture surface.
  • When placing items on furniture made from wood, always set them down gently; when retrieving items, pick them up, don't slide them.
  • Don't place rubber or synthetic materials, such as plastics, directly on wood finishes, since they may contain chemicals that could damage the finish. Use pads, cloth or felt to protect the surface from any plastic, rubber or metal items, bookends or other accessories that may scratch or dent the surface.
  • Don't place magazines or newspapers on wood surfaces; the ink will bleed into the finish and eventually damage the wood.
  • Blot spills immediately. Once the surface is dry, coat the area with an appropriate polish or oil.
  • To prevent discoloration, frequently move items on wood furniture that's exposed to the sun.
  • Avoid using nail polish and remover and harsh household products near wood furniture.
  • Use a protective pad when writing with a ball point pen.
  • Dust furniture at least weekly with a damp, lint-free cloth.
  • Always clean wood furniture before polishing.
  • Always polish wood furniture after cleaning.

Performance Testing:

All of Crawford’s dining room tables and chairs are finished with our Durashield Catalized Lacquer. The results of this finish are based on laboratory evaluations and are believed to be reliable. However, due to variations in customer applications and use, Crawfords cannot warranty the performance specifications listed.

Household Chemical Resistance:
Grease (cooking oil) - no effect
Hot Coffee - no effect
Orange Juice - no effect
Cola - no effect
Vinegar - no effect
Windex - no effect
Ketchup - no effect

24hrs unless otherwise stated:
Tomato Juice - no effect
Mustard - no effect
Nail Polish Remover - no effect
Detergent - no effect
Scotch (alcohol) - no effect
Lysol - no effect