Caring for an oil-finished piece

An oil finish does not sit on top of the wood the way lacquer does; it soaks in and hardens inside the fibres. The surface you touch is the timber itself.

Day to day, a soft dry cloth is all a piece needs. Wipe spills when you notice them. Avoid silicone sprays and all-purpose cleaners — they leave films that dull the surface.

Once or twice a year, apply a thin coat of hardwax oil with a lint-free cloth, wait twenty minutes, and buff off everything the wood has not drunk. The piece will darken half a shade and feel new under the hand.