Protect Timber From Excess Moisture

Fine timber — floors, cabinetry, furniture — is damaged more often by water than by dirt. Excess moisture causes swelling, lifting and dulling that are difficult to reverse. Clean timber with a barely-damp cloth or mop rather than a wet one, dry any spills promptly, and use products intended for wood rather than general detergents. Where a floor is waxed or oiled, feed it occasionally with the appropriate finish rather than stripping it. Treated gently, good timber lasts generations; treated carelessly, it tires within years. For preservation-minded care of older timber, see estate cleaning & preservation.