Products Finished with Tried & True

Cleaning

Furniture pieces finished with Tried & True are very easy to maintain. Like any surface, you may use a dry microfiber cloth or lint-free rag for light cleaning. 

For deeper cleaning, use mild soap diluted in warm water or 1-2 oz. of vinegar diluted into 1 gallon of water. Avoid harsh chemicals, baking soda, strong solvents, or wood cleaners to reduce the deterioration of your finish and prevent any residue buildup.

Maintenance

All pieces have a light coat of soft-wax applied over top of the Tried & True. Because both are Linseed Oil based, they can be applied interchangeably. If the surface ever looks lacking, simply clean it and apply a very light coat. After 1 hour, wipe off any residual. The following day, buff it out with a lean cloth.

Products Finished with Tung Oil

Cleaning

Surfaces finished with tung oil are very easy to maintain. Like any surface, you may use a dry microfiber cloth or lint-free rag for light cleaning.

For deeper cleaning, use mild soap diluted in warm water or 1-2 oz. of vinegar diluted into 1 gallon of water. Avoid harsh chemicals, baking soda, strong solvents, or wood cleaners to reduce the deterioration of your finish and prevent any residue buildup.

Maintenance

While tung oil has been used for centuries due to it’s deep penetrating and long-lasting finish, with repeated use your surface will eventually need a refresh. Fortunately, that process is quick and will get you back to your normal daily routine in no time:

1. Clean the surface thoroughly. If using water, allow the surface to dry overnight before applying your maintenance coat(s)

2. We recommend using The Real Milk Paint’s Half & Half blend for easy maintenance, but if buying their Pure Tung Oil & Natural Citrus Solvent separately, you will need to first make a 1:1 blend of solvent to tung oil. Thinning your pure tung oil makes it easier for the blend to penetrate the mostly sealed surface by finding any open wood fibers and/or pores

3. Using a clean, lint-free rag, begin wiping on a thin coat of your blend. Ensure there is not a buildup of product before applying the next coat or you may begin to see oil “mountains” form.

4. After about 30 minutes, wipe off any excess mix that has not absorbed with a dry rag

5. Avoid use for 24hrs to allow the thin coat(s) to dry. The maintenance coat(s) may take up to 30 days to fully cure, so we recommend avoiding heavy use or exposing the finish to puddling liquids for the first 7-14 days. Similarly, the finish should be allowed to “breathe” during the curing process so that excess oil may seep out if needed. If this occurs, simply wipe away with a clean rag.

Timeline

If you have any questions about the maintenance schedule for your item, feel free to reach out. In general, additional coats will be needed between 6 months and 1 year from receiving your item, depending on use. A good rule of thumb is if you notice that water is no longer beading on the surface and is instead penetrating the finish.