Material care and
maintenance guide
General maintenance
No material or surface coating is immune to dirt and stains, and by regularly cleaning and taking care of your furniture, lamp or accessory, you can extend its life.
Always try to remove a spot or any liquids as quickly as possible, the longer it stays on the surface the harder it will be to remove.
Be sure to remove any detergents from the surface after cleaning, otherwise they may damage the surface.
Avoid placing sharp objects directly on any of our products as the surface may be scratched or damaged. Use felt or rubber pads under our products that may damage the surface it’s placed on. We also recommend the use of trivets or coasters under flower pots, vases or other liquid containers.
Oiled oak and wood veneers
Wood will develop a natural and beautiful patina over time. To extend the life of the wood, it is necessary that you regularly take care of your wooden furniture. For daily cleaning, wipe your furniture with a soft, dry cotton cloth. If necessary, use a lightly damp cotton cloth in lukewarm water and wipe the surface in the direction of the wood fibres. Be sure to immediately afterwards wipe the surface with a dry cotton cloth to remove any moisture that may damage the wood.
Avoid using cleaners and abrasive cleaning agents as they may damage the surface of the wood. If a deeper clean is required, a soap specially developed for wood surfaces should be used. Also avoid placing your wooden furniture in direct sunlight, strong heat or humid environment.
We recommend that you regularly check your wood surfaces and re-oil them if necessary. It’s time to re-oil your furniture when the surface appears dry or faded.
Laminate
Laminate is a durable and maintenance-free material that is mainly used on table tops in the Northern collection.
Laminate can be cleaned with a cotton cloth dipped in lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Always wipe the surface dry with a clean cloth to remove any residue. For really heavily soiled surfaces, and stains from coffee or tea, a soft brush can be used with a mild cleaning solution.
Cane mesh (wicker seat)
Cane mesh is a weaved natural material made from the rattan plant.
The best way to clean it is to dust regularly with a soft cloth, a soft brush, or vacuuming the piece with the brush attachment. A soft bristled toothbrush is ideal for the hard-to-get places. Periodically wipe it down with a soft damp cloth followed by a light application of a good furniture polish for sheen and protection. If your wicker has become badly soiled, use water and a mild soap solution, rinse and let dry.
If the cane mesh appears really dry it might need rehydration. You can treat your furniture with a monthly spritz of an oil- or glycerin-based soap (soap flakes) that has been diluted in water to work some moisture into the surface. Add with spray bottle and wipe dry with a soft cloth or rag. You can also apply a little linseed oil to nourish the rattan even more.
Should the cane mesh stay loose and look stretched, apply water and then allow to dry naturally. It should then dry tight again.
Painted and powder coated metal
A large number of our metal products are treated with strong paint, clear coat or powder coating. These surfaces are durable and require minimal cleaning and handling.
When cleaning a powder coated surface use a clean and soft cotton cloth to wipe away dust or dirt. If a deeper clean is required, a cotton cloth moistened with lukewarm water can be used. Always wipe with a dry cotton cloth to remove any residue.
Avoid applying strong cleaning agents as it may damage the painted or powder coated surface.
Brass and copper
Products that are produced in untreated brass or copper are affected by factors in their environment such as humidity or dust. Over time, the untreated brass surface will develop a unique and beautiful patina and a change of colour tone that gives character to the product.
For daily cleaning of your brass product, we recommend using only a soft dry cloth. Avoid using clean detergents as it may damage the surface.
Glass
The majority of our glass products are mouth blown, which can cause some variations on, for example, the thickness of the glass. Sometimes small bubbles or swirls may occur on hand made products. These are not defects but rather characteristics that make your glassware unique.
Daily cleaning of glassware is best done with a dry clean cotton cloth. The cloth can be used together with a glass cleaner if necessary. Always dry off any residue with a clean cotton cloth. Avoid strong cleaning agents as it may damage the surface of the glass.
Earthware / stoneware
Daily cleaning of Earthware/stoneware is best done with a dry clean cotton cloth. The cloth can be used together with lukewarm water if necessary. For glazed surfaces a mild cleaning solution can be used. Always dry of any residue with a clean cotton cloth.
Terracotta
The charm of terracotta is its ability to change character and in time develop a beautiful patina. Over time, white lines may appear on the surface, this is normal and happens due to salt leaving the clay. The salt can be partially wiped off with a slightly damp cloth but might come back with time. Because terracotta is a living and natural material, the patina will look different on each item, depending on the environment where your object is located. That way, each item becomes unique!
For daily cleaning, wipe the surface with a slightly dampened cotton cloth. Avoid strong cleaning agents as it may damage and leave stains on the material. The terracotta used in the Northern collection is suited for indoor use only.
Textile
Regular care and cleaning removes dirt before it gets into the textile and damages the fibres and helps the product to maintain its quality. Dust and dirt wear on the fabric and may impair flame retardant properties. Proper care and regular cleaning can therefore prolong the life of the textile.
Vacuum your furniture regularly with a soft brush, preferably weekly, on a low setting. For a light cleaning, use a soft, damp cloth together with a mild cleaning solution especially suited for fabric. Avoid rubbing hard against the material as it may damage structure or colour. For really difficult stains, we recommend professional cleaning.
We do not recommend impregnation of wool fabrics, since wool is dirt repellent by nature.
Leather
Leather is a natural material. Like most natural materials, it does need some care to ensure its long-lasting appeal year after year. The care and maintenance of leather will always depend on the specific way in which it is used, the conditions of use and how often it is used.
A few simple tips will help preserve the leather’s natural beauty and will make the leather look even more luscious over time:
– Avoid placing the leather in direct sunlight or near heat sources
– Daily cleaning of leather is best done with a dry clean cotton cloth. The cloth can be slightly dampened in lukewarm water if necessary.
– For a deeper cleaning, use the foam from natural soap flakes for housecleaning.
– Avoid soaking the leather with any liquid or allow contact with sharp objects.
– To absorb any spills, use a clean, dry cotton cloth immediately.
– To dust, use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush.
– Never use detergents, ammonia or varnish.
– If the leather looks dry, wax can be used.
Clean using soap flakes:
- Whip a 1/2 decilitre of soap flakes to a litre of hot water.
- When the water becomes room temperature, the foam must be applied all over the leather with a soft cloth. Only use the foam and avoid soaking the leather.
- When the leather is dry, polish with a soft, dry cotton cloth.
Wool rugs
The ‘Row’ rug collection is handmade by skilled craftsmen. The rugs are woven on a handloom and made from high quality New Zealand wool.
All rugs retain their appearance for longer if you remove dirt and stains regularly. Dust and sand particles will wear and tear the rug over time if not removed. Vacuum your rug regularly, at least once a week. We recommend using a vacuum cleaner without brushes set to medium power. Always vacuum in the direction of the piles. Shaking or beating a rug can damage the warp, so vacuum and air the rug instead.
We strongly recommend the use of an anti-slip rug underlay to prolong the life of your rug and prevent it from slipping on the floor.
When exposed to direct sunlight, rug colours will fade over time. To get a more even exposure to sunlight and to distribute wear evenly, we recommend that you rotate the rug regularly.
All new cut-pile wool rugs will shed fibres. Shedding is caused by fibres in the yarn that are cut short and get detached from the pile. This will subside over time, depending on traffic and wear. Loose yarn or sprouts are a normal part of the break-in process of handmade rugs. Please do not to pull the yarns out if this happens, use a scissor to cut them even with the rest of the grooves/piles. Pulling the threads out may cause other threads to loosen too and is not recommended.
Smells may occur and are caused by dyes, yarns and shipping for long distances in sealed wrap. Most odours will vanish within a week once the rug is removed from its packaging.
Cleaning:
We recommend professional cleaning of the rug when necessary. In case the rug becomes stained, remove the stains immediately to reduce any possible damage. Stains can be attempted to be removed very gently with a clean damp cloth. Dampen the stain, soak up the water with a dry cloth, then repeat the process until the stain is gone. Be careful not to wet the rug too much, as this can cause the rug to shrink and lose its shape. Northern cannot guarantee that this method will remove all stains and attempts on stain removal are the users own responsibility. NB! Do not rub the stains as rubbing can damage the fibres.