Wood is a natural product. It is used both indoors and outdoors for a wide variety of projects and is therefore exposed to a wide variety of influences. It is used in particular for the production of furniture of all kinds and always conveys a homely atmosphere with its natural radiance. In order for the natural material to retain its unique beauty, it requires special attention.
The often stressed wooden surfaces can be protected with oils, varnishes and glazes. But furniture wax is also suitable as perfect protection and rich care. We will now answer the question of why, wherefore and why.
That's why you have to take care of wood!
It doesn't matter whether your wooden furniture is indoors or outdoors: the natural material is exposed to various external influences every day, against which it has to be protected. And that's where the wood care products come into play: In order for the wood to be able to preserve its natural beauty, they have the task of shielding precisely these harmful effects. Because untreated wood is very sensitive to UV radiation, heat, cold and moisture. If the wood is not protected, they can penetrate deep into the natural material and cause massive damage in the long term. The result: the wood becomes brittle and cracked and loses its natural expressiveness. To prevent this from happening, you have to take care of your wooden furniture with the right products.
What is wood wax?
Wood care with wax is one of the oldest methods of all. In direct comparison with an oil, balsam or glaze, wood wax has a strikingly solid consistency. Because of this, they are a bit more difficult to apply than their competitors. However, they protect wood significantly better from moisture and the visual end result is also far more impressive than after treatment with an oil or an emulsion.
Wood wax is particularly popular for maintaining interior furnishings. It is also often used as an antique wax for furniture. However, when buying, you should pay attention to which ingredients the respective product calls its own. Experts swear by wood and furniture wax that is made from sustainable raw materials such as beeswax or wool wax. These products contain natural fatty acids. They penetrate deep into the material instead of just lingering on the surface. Thus, the natural material is optimally cared for and can still breathe. Wood wax is available in colorless and colored.
What are the different types of wax?
There are different types of wood wax. However, types such as vegetable or beeswax are often used as the base wax. But they are not only offered in the sustainable version. Unfortunately, some wood waxes are still produced synthetically.
Furniture care from beeswax:
Beeswax is suitable for the care and impregnation of wooden surfaces. It is perfect for treating furniture, wooden floors and wooden ceilings and protects the natural material from scratches, moisture and dirt. Beeswax has the advantage that it does not close the pores of the wood and allows the material to breathe. Thus, the caring ingredients work from within and ensure a beautiful and natural shine. However, when buying, you should make sure that the beeswax for wood care has not been mixed with harmful substances. Because only then can it perfectly care for your wood, is harmless to humans and animals and does not harm the environment.
Carnauba wax furniture care:
This wax is extracted from the leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm. It is vegan and is mainly used in the cosmetics and food industries, in medicines, as well as in car wax and polish. It repels water and dirt on wooden surfaces and gives them a natural shine.
Furniture care from Hardwax-Oil:
Hardwax-Oil consists of several resins, waxes and oils. In most cases, carnauba wax and high-quality vegetable oils such as Chinese tung oil are part of hard wax oil. It is particularly suitable for the treatment of stressed surfaces and wooden floors. But kitchen worktops and wooden boards also benefit from the sustainable oil. It is food safe and harmless to humans and animals. It is also not a burden on our environment.
Furniture care with wood butter:
Wood butter consists exclusively of natural raw materials and is food safe. It is suitable for all types of wood and can be used for untreated, oiled, waxed or varnished wood. It also nourishes and protects at the same time. After the treatment, your wooden surfaces will shine with a silky matt shine. Due to its food safety, wood butter is often used to care for kitchen worktops and cutting boards. For best results, work the butter into the wood with a cloth or soft sponge. Then let it soak in for about three hours and polish if necessary. Good to know: Untreated wood will darken slightly afterwards.
Caring for wood properly: How do you apply wax?
High-quality waxes are easier to work into the wood than inferior ones. Before starting care, the areas to be treated should be clean and dry. If the surfaces to be treated are rough, it is advisable to smooth them out with fine sandpaper beforehand. Depending on the consistency of the wax, a cloth, brush or soft sponge is suitable for application. After it has been worked into the wood in circular, gentle movements, it should be completely absorbed. Depending on the wax, this can sometimes be quick or take a little longer. Good to know: If the wood is extra thirsty and needs a lot of care, a second treatment makes sense.
Oiling or waxing wood: which is better for the natural material?
There are different ways to care for wood. Regardless of whether you want to use an emulsion, an oil or a wax for your sensitive wooden surfaces: We recommend that you primarily make sure that it is free of chemical ingredients. Just in order, so if your wooden objects need a lot of attention, you should pay attention to a few things. Because wood oil has the property of being able to penetrate deeper into the material than wax due to its consistency. However, it does not have an impregnating effect. Waxes, on the other hand, perfectly protect sensitive surfaces from external influences.
We advise you to practice a combination of both options. When proceeding, however, remember that you should first treat your natural wood with a wood oil before you reach for the wax. If you were to act the other way around, i.e. wax first and then oil afterwards, the product would no longer be able to penetrate because the surface has already been sealed with the wax. Therefore: First oil the wood and when the product has fully absorbed wax. Then your wood has the best protection and is optimally protected against external influences.
