Furniture Information and Care Guide

All our pieces are made to last a lifetime, and with a simple care and maintenance routine you can keep your furniture looking beautiful for years to come.

Nature doesn’t grow in straight lines or perfectly formed shapes. Its inconsistencies and imperfections are part of its intrinsic appeal. We hand pick our timbers which enables us to enhance and celebrate the woods characteristics.

Your furniture requires a little tender loving care – but if cared for in the right way, this beautiful wood will last for generations.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Caring for your furniture:

The Do’s

DO try to ensure that any objects placed on the furniture, such as lamps and ornaments, are periodically re-arranged to allow an even ageing process on the surface.
DO blot up spills immediately with a soft, slightly damp cloth, which helps to prevent stains or discolouring of the wood.
DO have someone help you when moving heavy or awkward to lift pieces of furniture.
DO consider placing protective pads on the legs of larger items of furniture, to prevent accidental damage to the floor.
DO remember to wipe up spills of strongly coloured liquids (such as tea and red wine) as soon as possible to avoid staining.
DO use a soft dry cloth or duster when wiping your furniture.

The Don’ts

DON’T place your furniture in direct sunlight. This may lighten the wood over time and accelerate the evaporation of the protective oils that have soaked into the wood.
DON’T expose your furniture to excessive heat – for example by placing next to a radiator.
DON’T use household cleaning products, solvents or cleaners not intended for hardwoods. As these are liable to damage the finish.
DON’T place hot items, cups or glasses directly onto wood surfaces – use protective mats or coasters instead
DON’T drag a piece of furniture along the floor, as they may cause damage to the joints and your floor.

How to Use Furniture Wax

Furniture wax is an important part of the care process, as it helps to nourish and moisturise the wood. When timber is freshly cut, more than half its weight is water. If too much moisture remains in the wood, it can warp; too little moisture causes wood to crack. We carefully kiln-dry our timbers to the perfect humidity levels that allow them to naturally adjust in your home, and the wax lets them retain these ideal levels over time.

Regular use of furniture wax nourishes the individual wood fibres, and also creates a protective seal. We recommend polishing your product when it first arrives in your home, and then again at three-month intervals to keep the wood looking its best.

A Simple Guide to Applying Wax Polish

Ensure the piece is clean, dry and free from loose particles of dirt and other solids
If you are using our popular furniture wax, use a soft clean cloth, brush or sponge to apply sparingly in small areas, following the wood grain
- To obtain a uniform colour, blend the wax evenly over the whole surface by exerting a slight degree of pressure
- Remove excess wax as you move along the piece, again, following the grain
For those who prefer liquid polish, apply it to a clean cloth or sponge and gently wipe over the entire surface of the piece
- Use a circular motion and even pressure
- For areas of light scratching or marks, press slightly hard to allow the polish to soak in
Allow the wax to dry for approximately 3 minutes, or until the polish achieves a hazy finish
Buff to shine with a second clean, dry cloth
You can repeat the process if you desire extra sheen to the piece

Waxing also protects the grain, helps the wood resist cracking and crazing (fine cracks on the surface), and keeps any finishes on your oak furniture in the best possible condition. To apply the wax, move in the same direction as the grain, leave for 3 minutes, then remove the wax by buffing, again following the direction of the grain. This allows for optimum protection while minimising streaking and air pockets.

Your Furniture Locking Systems

Many of our pieces of furniture allow you to select a specific locking mechanism. At Concealment Furniture we provide three distinct options: Magnetic Locks, Radio Frequency ID (RFID) Locks and Yale Smart Locks.

The Magnetic Locks will remain locked until they are activated via the use of a specific magnetic “key” that disengages the locking mechanism. The RFID Lock is more advanced, and allows the tracking and setting up of different classes of user via software but otherwise works in a similar manner. Finally the Yale Smart Lock enables the benefits of the RFID Lock, while also allowing you to control the lock remotely through an App (Android or iPhone), or with your smart speaker (such as Alexa). For more details on each type of lock, please see below.

Magnetic Locks

You may have chosen our Magnetic Lock to secure your secret compartment(s). These locks are made from quality materials and are very discrete, secure and easy to use.

To open your secret compartment, simply pass the magnetic key over the compartment in line with the location of the lock. The catch will release, allowing the compartment to open. The magnetic lock automatically locks when the drawer or compartment is closed. As you will have noticed, the lock is invisible from the outside.

The lock can be switched off and left in the open position if you so wish. To activate, hold the blue beak in, and then push the blue bar from one side to the other.

RFID Locks

An RFID Lock is a type of electronic lock that uses radio-frequency identification technology to control access. These locks are designed to be more secure than traditional locks because they rely on unique information stored on an RFID tag or card to determine whether access should be granted.

RFID Locks offer many advantages over traditional lock systems, such as;

Convenience: You don’t need to carry around keys or remember complex combinations. You can also use your RFID card or fob to open the drawer or door.

RFID Locks are a convenient and secure way to control access to cabinets. Here are some steps to use them:

Installation
- Choose an RFID Lock suitable for your cabinet type (drawer, cupboard, etc.)
- Install the lock according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically you’ll need to drill holes for the lock body and latch.
- Place the RFID reader near the lock.
Programming
- Admin cards: Set up admin cards (usually provided with the lock). These cards have special privileges to add or delete other cards.
- User Cards: Issue user cards (RFID cards or fobs) to individuals who need access.
- Programming: Use the admin card to program user cards. Assign each card a unique ID.
Using the Lock
- To unlock the cabinet or drawer, hold the user card (or fob) close to the RFID reader.
- The lock will recognize the card’s ID and release the latch.
- To lock the cabinet, close it, and the latch will engage.

Yale Smart Locks

The Yale Smart Cabinet Lock is for smart locking and unlocking of drawers and cabinets. For example if valuables, documents, medicines or tools are to be stored in drawers and cabinets so that they are kept out of reach of children or guests. The Smart Cabinet Lock from Yale is an uncomplicated to use and smart solution. The battery-operated lock can be installed on almost all drawers and cabinets with single or double doors. The Smart Lock allows locking and unlocking via an App on your smartphone/tablet, via Bluetooth on site and after WLAN integration, also while travelling.

The auto-lock function is available to lock the door automatically as soon as it is closed. It is controlled using the free Yale Access App (available for iOS and Android). This App provides the ability to lock and unlock, provide an access history, show the current opening status, grant temporary or permanent access rights – via Bluetooth or WLAN (requires Connect WLAN Bridge, available separately), and enable voice control with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit.