Looking after your piece

Danish paper cord and oiled solid timber both age beautifully, and neither needs much from you. Here's the short version.

Everyday

  • Keep the cord dry. Moisture is the one thing that genuinely weakens paper cord.
  • Watch for anything that can snag the weave, like buckles, studs, claws or the corner of a suitcase.
  • Keep it out of long hours of direct sun where you can. Sun fades cord and ages timber unevenly, so a piece half in a sunbeam can end up two-toned.

Cleaning the cord

  • Vacuum with a soft brush attachment, or go over it with a dry soft brush.
  • Blot spills straight away with a dry cloth. Don't rub. Rubbing pushes liquid into the fibres.
  • For sticky marks, use a barely damp cloth, then dry it quickly with cool air.
  • Skip soaps, oils and cleaning sprays. They can stain the cord or soften it.

Keeping the weave even

  • Paper cord needs no treatment or oil. It's meant to stay natural, and it'll darken slightly with use. That's the good part.
  • Turn the piece around occasionally so the wear spreads evenly, especially on a bench that only ever gets sat on at one end.
  • Once a year, give the weave a thorough vacuum.

The timber frame

  • Dust it like you would any other furniture.
  • Avoid silicone-based sprays. They build up and make future re-oiling difficult.
  • The oil will want refreshing eventually. Go by how the timber looks rather than by the calendar. When it starts looking a bit dry, that's the time.
  • We finish everything with Osmo hardwax oil, so you can top it up yourself with the same product. Clean the surface, let it dry, and rub on a thin coat with a cloth. Thin is the whole trick. Too much and it stays tacky.
  • Rather we did it? Send it back and we'll re-oil it properly. It's a quoted job, depending on the piece and how much it needs. Send us a photo and we'll give you a figure.

If something happens to it

Cord can be re-woven and timber can be repaired. That's the advantage of a piece made by hand. There's someone who knows how it was put together, years later. Send us a photo of what's happened and we'll quote you on the fix.

Something needs attention?

Send us a photo and we'll tell you what it needs.

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