Care and Maintenance
Maintenance of Furniture
Periodic maintenance is necessary to ensure long term durability & customer satisfaction. All products should be closely inspected each month. Clean products regularly and tighten screws & bolts that may have become loose during use. If items show any sign of structural failure they should be taken out of service immediately.
MFC & Laminate tops are very resistant to normal office problems, such as tea or coffee stains. Simply wiping with a soft damp cloth will remove most stains. Should a stubborn problem arise, clean with a soft damp cloth and a mild detergent solution. Do not use abrasive cleaners. Cut back edges should be wiped with a dry cloth only.
Desk componentry, such as beams & posts are powder coated; Simply wiping with a soft damp cloth will remove most stains. Should a stubborn problem arise, warm soapy water applied with a soft damp cloth should clear it. Do not use abrasive cleaners. Chrome frames should be cleaned with a high grade Chrome cleaner to maintain a bright finish. Occasionally Chrome leakage can occur on products that have just been delivered, clean with cleaner to eliminate this.
Wood is a natural product & owes its inherent beauty to the variations in color, texture & grain and are not considered defects. Because of this, Allermuir cannot guarantee the exact matching of any of the wood items. Allermuir is also not able to guarantee matching of colors between batches, as wood ages naturally through time and with exposure to sunlight. A thorough inspection should be made monthly to ensure that joints have not become loose. Take out of service immediately if this has occurred. Joints may become loose when people continually rock back and forth. Wood can be cleaned with a water soluble solution to remove build-up of grease & grime (remove any excess water immediately).
Wood products should not be subject to extreme temperature, particularly near, moisture and direct sunlight.
Maintenance of Seating Upholstery
Below you will find some recommendations of Allermuir on how to prolong the life of your upholstery. However Allermuir recommends following specific manufacturing guidelines on the cleaning of their fabric. Cleaning with the wrong substance could damage the fabric.
Neglect is the most common cause of the premature breakdown of any upholstery fabrics. Problems occur as a result of inadequate removal of dirt, dust and grit which settles on the surface of the upholstery. If not removed, the dirt and grit will eventually penetrate the structure of the fabric. With further agitation, as a user sits on the upholstery, the dirt and grit will act like sandpaper wearing away and breaking fibers in the fabric structure. If enough fibers are broken, a hole will eventually form in the upholstery.
In the same way, pilling can occur. Pilling involves loose fibers migrating to the surface of the fabric, which with further agitation as a user sits on the chair, will curl up to form tiny bobbles of fiber. Although pilling can occur with well-maintained fabrics, it is well known that soiling agents can initiate and/or significantly accelerate pilling.
Any liquid spills which result in a wetting of the upholstery, if left in situ, can form a syrup like substance with dirt and grits. This can develop into a brittle layer resulting in a hardening of fibers and aggravating the problems above.
Upholstery Cleaning
Vacuuming - to prevent dirt, dust and grit from penetrating the fabric structure, it is necessary to vacuum upholstery on a regular basis. For the best results, in particular in high risk areas (such as nursing homes, wine bars, pubs and clubs, etc.) and high usage areas (such as airport lounges and public spaces, etc.) weekly vacuuming is highly recommended.
Dry Cleaning - periodically deeper cleaning may be required. Annual or bi-annual cleaning will preserve and enhance wool upholstery. More regular cleaning may be required in high risk areas. It is strongly advised that professional cleaning services are used to deep clean upholstery fabrics. Upholstery fabrics containing wool must be dry cleaned only. Aqueous cleaning of wool or wool rich upholstery fabrics is not advised. If wool is over wetted, shrinkage and will cause undesirable dimensional and appearance changes may occur as a result. The upholstery will be permanently damaged. NEVER over wet wool or wool rich upholstery. Also never apply bleach, ammonia, alkali or strong acids to wool upholstery.
Wipe clean with a damp cloth - upholstery fabrics containing 100% synthetic fibers such as Polyester, Polyacrilic and Polypropylene are not adversely affected by aqueous cleaning techniques and once surface dirt and grit have been removed by a vacuum, the fabrics can be simply wiped with a clean damp cloth.
Outdoor
Teak
Teak furniture does not require any special maintenance routine or any additional protection apart from occasional cleaning. Left to weather naturally, teak will turn from a golden-brown colour to a light silvery grey as the pigments in the surface layer of the wood begin to fade away. This weathering process will vary depending on climate, exposure to the elements, and commitment to care and maintenance. We strongly recommend using outdoor covers to protect furniture from the elements and minimise aging.
The Senator Group do not apply any ‘finishes’ to our teak. All of our teak has a natural finish.
We recommend that you allow your teak furniture to weather naturally and simply clean thoroughly once or twice a year with a water and mild detergent solution, or Teak cleaner.
Teak furniture may also benefit from an occasional light sanding to remove any raised grain and restore a smooth finish to the surface.
Teak Protector can be also applied over the weathered surface to help repel moisture and to protect the teak from staining from foods and drinks. Apply Teak Protector twice a year to give the best results (in April and October) to help protect surfaces during the winter months.
To maintain the original appearance of Teak, it can be sealed with a Teak Sealer. This will help to maintain the natural, brown colour of fresh teak, without darkening the teak too much. Teak Sealer should be applied to furniture at least once a year.
Teak possesses natural oils and resists the adherence of paint or varnish. Any attempts to apply paint or varnish will likely result in poor adhesion and eventual peeling. We advise against using teak oil or any other wood oil on outdoor teak surfaces. Teak's inherent oily nature provides ample protection, and additional oil application offers no extra benefit.
The senator Group design furniture to minimise and accommodate timber movement as much as possible, it cannot be prevented entirely.
The amount of oil that washes out of Teak initially will be higher, refrain from positioning new teak furniture on light-coloured, porous stone patio surfaces. Additionally, during wet weather in the initial months of exposure, avoid leaving cushions adorned with light-coloured fabrics on or near the teak furniture as there is an increased risk of staining both surfaces and fabrics.
The senator Group design furniture to minimise and accommodate timber movement as much as possible, it cannot be prevented entirely.
Dos and Dont’s of Teak Care
- Do clean teak gently using water and mild detergent for regular cleaning.
- Do clean using cloth, sponge, or soft brush.
- Do use Teak Cleaner once a year for best results.
- Use abrasive paper to remove any surface scratches or marks that otherwise cannot be cleaned.
- Do always sand in the same direction as the timber grain, never across the timber grain.
- Don’t use a pressure washer on teak furniture.
- Don’t use stiff or wire brush, or steel wool. This may remove the softer part of the grain, and leave unwanted textured surface, and steel may stain the teak with rust spots.
- Don’t use bleach as this will discolour the timber.
- Don’t apply paints, oils, varnishes, or stains.
Cleaning with Teak cleaner
- Eye protection and rubber gloves to be worn
- Cover ground under working area
- Wet surface with thoroughly with clean water
- Spray cleaner onto wet surface
- Remove dirt with scrubbing pad
- Rinse cleaned area thoroughly with clean water and allow to dry
- Once dry use Teak protector
Applying Teak Protector
- Eye protection and rubber gloves to be worn
- Cover ground under working area
- First clean to remove natural oils on surface on new Teak and remove dirt from used, weathered Teak
- Allow to dry
- Ensure bottle of Teak protector is shaken thoroughly
- Spray directly onto complete surface and allow to dry for minimum 4 hours
- Repeat process and allow to dry for 48 hours before use
- Repeat treatment twice per year
Applying Teak Sealer
- Eye protection and rubber gloves to be worn
- Cover ground under working area
- First clean to remove natural oils on surface on new Teak and remove dirt from used, weathered Teak
- Sand surface lightly if required (220 grit)
- Ensure surface is completely dry and dust free
- Ensure bottle of Teak Sealer is shaken thoroughly
- Test sealer on small unsee are to ensure colour is as required
- Apply a thin layer of sealer to evenly over surface with a cloth
- When fully dry apply a second thin coat
- Repeat treatment at least once per year
The reasons outlined below will not be accepted as the subject of a complaint:
• Natural ageing and wear and tear of products, including discolouration
• The use of unsuitable abrasive maintenance or cleaning products
• Failure to comply with the precautions, advice and instructions regarding the use, assembly, maintenance, storage or protection of the products
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