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ABOUT TEAK

PRODUCT CARE GUIDE


Note

  • Please be aware of safety hazards in the home. For your safety and to ensure the durability of your furniture, we recommend that you read and follow the instructions and/or recommendations contained in this product care manual.
  • Always exercise caution and discretion around furniture. House of Teak (Singapore) Pte Ltd and its related brands (Scanteak) will not be liable for any damage to your furniture and/or home fixtures and/or any other direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential injury, loss or damage whatsoever arising from use of furniture in any manner that is inconsistent with the instructions contained in this product care manual.

Quick Links

  1. Teak wood
  2. General Furniture Maintenance
  3. Cushions and Cushion Covers
  4. Cabinets, Drawers, Sideboards, Shelves
  5. Mattresses

 

Teak Wood

      1. Qualities of teak wood
        • Teak wood is natural, and every piece is unique. Each piece of wood has its own grain patterns, similar to how fingerprints are unique to human beings. As such, it is impossible to find or match exact and/or similar grains.
        • Teak wood ages. Depending on how you maintain your teak wood furniture, it can age gracefully. Through time, small surface cracks (known as checks) may appear. This is a common occurrence among all timbers and does not affect the strength and durability of your furniture. This is mainly due to the expansion and contraction of wood in response to atmospheric humidity and changes in temperature. Checks occur occasionally and are not considered as defects.

        • Avoid exposing your furniture to sudden, extreme changes in temperature or environment climates. This may cause the joints to weaken due to expansion and contraction under drastic changes in temperature. Natural materials like wood may split or splinter when exposed to drastic temperature changes.

        • Always keep wooden furniture dry to avoid stains or even mildew. In extremely humid environments, dehumidifiers may be used as well.

        • Avoid placing hot objects directly onto a wooden surface. This usually results in burn marks (otherwise known as white heat rings), which are irreversible. If you get heat rings on your furniture, a carpenter's assistance will be required.

        • Avoid allowing thinner/alcohol-based, liquid solvents and plastic protectors that may come into direct contact with the furniture. Prolonged exposure to chemicals may cause a reaction that dissolves the furniture’s finishing.

        • Avoid using glass/plastic tops on solid wood dining tables as condensation may occur on the underside of the glass/plastic, leading to the formation of mildew and sometimes, mould.

          • Certain materials such as painted rattan or painted PVC mats may melt due to extreme temperatures or hot weather. This might stick to your table surfaces after prolonged exposure. Please ensure that all such protective mats are cleared away after use.

        • Teak wood is rich in oil, and teak furniture can continue to produce oil. This oil can stain fabrics over prolonged periods of time/exposure. It is recommended that such fabrics should be washed occasionally, and that furniture should be wiped down as and when required.

        • Thanks to its natural oils, teak is resistant to insects such as termites - however, this does not make it impervious. If you have wooden furniture and/or flooring in the home, it is recommended to contact a pest exterminator for regular checks.

        • For general maintenance (applicable to varnished furniture only):
          • Wipe the furniture with a damp cloth, and ensure that the wood is completely dry before proceeding to oil it.
          • Pour a small amount of teak oil onto a dry cloth (never directly onto the furniture) and gently coat the furniture. 2 or 3 coats will suffice.
          • These steps may only be required once or twice a year, but long-term use of teak oil will help your furniture to eventually achieve that rich, deep, brown and shine that is a signature of teak wood.

     

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    General Furniture Maintenance

    1. Avoid rocking chairs or balancing a chair on less than 4 of its legs, as the joints may be prematurely loosened die to the strain of uneven weight distribution.

    2. Avoid self-installation or drilling of holes on your furniture, especially if you are unfamiliar with the product’s structure or if you do not possess the correct tools. If wrongly installed, a product may be unstable, posing a safety threat to its users.

    3. There is a threshold for the amount of weight each piece of furniture can hold. Avoid standing or jumping on furniture as the repeated/prolonged application of too much pressure on a specific spot may cause possible damage to the item, making it unsafe for use.

    4. As much as possible, avoid exposing indoor furniture to direct sunlight and rain. Direct sunlight may also affect the colour of the furniture.

    5. Always lift up furniture when moving it. Dragging may not only leave scratches on flooring, the uneven weight distribution may also affect the structure and joints, compromising the integrity of your furniture piece.

    6. Affix adhesive felt to the bottom of your furniture to prevent scratches to your flooring. 

    7. Clean up spills as quickly as possible, to avoid stains.
     

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    Cushions and Cushion Covers 

    1. Scanteak’s cushion covers (with the exception of limited edition sofas from the holm range) can be machine washed. Dry cleaning for such cushion covers is not recommended, but if absolutely necessary, dry cleaning solvents should not contain chemicals (such as trichlorethylene), as such chemicals may prove to be detrimental to the fabric.
      • For the limited editions of the holm designer range (in pastel blue colour, mostly purchased between 2015 - 2016), wipe down with a damp cloth and air dry. These cushion covers may be dry cleaned, however please take care to avoid chemicals (such as trichlorethylene), as such chemicals may prove to be detrimental to the fabric may prove to be detrimental to the fabric.

    2. Do not wash cushion covers in water over 30 degrees celsius.

    3. Do not bleach or tumble dry your cushion covers as it may lead to discolouration or shrinking.

    4. Avoid exposing your cushion covers to direct sunlight over prolonged periods of time, or washing them too often. Both may lead to gradual discolouration.

    5. When ironing your cushion covers, only use low heat to avoid damaging the fabric.

    6. If the cushion covers are to be stored for later use, It is strongly recommended that the cushion covers are stored separately from the sofa frames.

     

    Product Care Guide | Scanteak Singapore

     

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    Cabinets, Drawers, Sideboards, Bookshelves

    1. Avoid opening all drawers and/or doors at once, as it may tilt the center of gravity, hence toppling the item.

    2. Exercise caution when opening drawers as some drawers may be fully dislodged.

    3. Avoid slamming doors or drawers. This will also prevent damage caused to hinges or drawer tracks.

    4. Avoid climbing on any form of storage furniture as it may lead to severe injury.

    5. The supported weight of certain items are available on their individual product pages. This refers to the total distributed weight the product is able to support. Please exercise discretion when placing heavy items on your furniture. For safety, we do not recommend exceeding the specified weight limit. We also recommend leaving some allowance, especially if other items are to be placed within drawers and cupboards. 

    6. Always attempt to distribute weight of the drawers evenly, with the heaviest items placed in the lowest drawers. For shelves, also always attempt to distribute the weight of items evenly across the length of each shelf.

    7. Do perform general maintenance regularly (oiling of hinges) for maintained performance.

     

    Product Care Guide | Scanteak Singapore

     

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    Mattresses

    1. For hygiene, new mattresses are always wrapped in a protective film. While unwrapping a new mattress, the inherent smell of the protective film may be experienced. This odour is tested to be safe, and will fade after a period of time.
      • For hygiene reasons, please note that Scanteak reserves the right to decline the return and/or exchange of delivered mattresses.

    2. Using a mattress protector is highly recommended.

    3. To avoid your mattresses from sagging unevenly on any one side, rotate (and/or flip, if possible) your mattress every 3 months.

    4. Every 2 to 3 months allow your mattress to be aired and sunned for a day to remove excess moisture. Doing will help to prevent moulding caused by accumulated moisture, and hence prolong the lifespan of your mattress.

    5. Mattresses may develop "pits" from prolonged use. Such pits may go up to an approximate 2cm depth. Such "pits" are normal, as the mattress conforms to support your body's contours.

    6. If your mattress comes with lateral handles (turning handles), please exercise caution and do not exert too much force when using them. Holes in cover fabrics and/or quilting or ornamental seams coming undone are caused by inadequate handling.

    7. Use a soft brush to clean your mattress, as beating or vacuuming may damage its upholstery.

    8. For hygiene, it is recommended to change your mattress after 8-10 years of use.

    9. Ensure that the bed slats on your bed frame (base) are not spaced more than 3cm apart. Depending on the mattress, bed slats spaced more than 3cm apart may prove detrimental to the mattress and its springs/coils.

    10. If your mattress has a washable cover, please adhere to the washing instructions carefully, and only use mild detergents. Mattress covers may shrink slightly after washing, but will revert to their original size in a short time.

    11. Do not attempt to fold, bend, stand or jump on the mattress as the excessive strain sustained by the mattress may damage its components. Standing or Jumping on a mattress placed on a wooden bed frame will also affect the bed frame.

    12. When transporting your mattress, do not bend or fold it. Avoid dragging it across the floor.
     

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    Product Care Guide | Scanteak Singapore