Furniture Care Guide
How to Care for Your Workshop Detroit Furniture
Reclaimed Wood & Steel Furniture Care Guide
Welcome to the official Workshop Detroit Furniture Care Guide — created to help you protect and maintain your reclaimed wood dining tables, coffee tables, benches, shelves, console tables and credenzas for generations. Every piece we build carries the history of reclaimed lumber. With proper care, your furniture will continue to age gracefully and perform beautifully — gaining character year after year.
If you’re searching for how to care for reclaimed wood furniture, how to clean a solid wood dining table, or best way to maintain furniture made with wood and steel, you’re in the right place.
Why Reclaimed Wood Deserves Its Own Care Routine
Reclaimed lumber is not like mass-produced wood. It has lived a previous life — often in old Detroit houses, commercial buildings, factories, and warehouses. It has seen weather, seasons, time, and history. Those nail marks, grain variations, knots, and natural imperfections are what make reclaimed wood furniture so desirable.
Because reclaimed wood is solid, organic material (not veneer or laminate), it naturally responds to its environment. Understanding how to care for it ensures lasting beauty and performance.
Daily Care & Cleaning for Reclaimed Wood Furniture
Regular maintenance keeps your tabletop and furniture surface looking clean and conditioned.
Daily cleaning tips:
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Dust with a soft cloth or microfiber towel
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For routine cleaning, use mild soap and water — avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach, citrus and ammonia
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Wipe spills immediately to prevent moisture marks
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Always dry after cleaning to protect the finish
Avoid using:
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Bleach, citrus or abrasive cleaners
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Pledge-style silicone polishes
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Steam cleaners or soaking water
Gentle cleaning is the key to maintaining the natural patina and finish of reclaimed lumber.
Protecting Your Reclaimed Wood Table
To keep your table looking its best:
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Use coasters under drinks to prevent water rings
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Use placemats and cloth napkins during meals
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Never place hot pots, pans, or baking dishes directly on the wood — use trivets or heat pads
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Avoid letting plants sit directly on the surface without a tray
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Minimize long-term contact with heavy plastic or rubber items that can trap moisture
Even though our finishes are durable, protection ensures the wood ages gracefully instead of prematurely.
Seasonal Wood Movement: What to Expect
Solid wood expands and contracts naturally with humidity and seasonal change. This isn’t damage — it’s the authentic behavior of real lumber, especially reclaimed lumber.
To minimize seasonal furniture movement:
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Avoid extreme temperature swings
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Do not place furniture against radiators, wood stoves, or heating vents
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Use a humidifier in winter if your environment becomes dry
A little movement is proof you own real wood — not veneer.
Caring for Steel Base Furniture
Our steel legs and bases are durable, strong, and built to last. With simple care, they stay looking sharp.
Cleaning steel components:
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Wipe with a dry or slightly damp cloth
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For smudges, use mild soap and water
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Dry thoroughly to prevent moisture buildup
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Avoid acids, bleach, or abrasive scrubbing pads
Can Reclaimed Wood Furniture Be Used Outdoors?
Our furniture is designed and built for indoor use, unless specifically ordered or designed for outdoor applications.
Outdoor environments introduce:
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UV rays (which lighten wood)
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Moisture and humidity
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Seasonal expansion and contraction
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Temperature extremes
If using outdoor furniture:
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Cover when not in use
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Store indoors during winter
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Expect natural weathering and patina — part of the beauty of real wood outdoors
If you need a piece built for outdoor use, we can customize finishes and materials — just ask!
Sustainability & Story: The Heart of Workshop Detroit Furniture
Every piece of furniture we make keeps beautiful lumber out of landfills and gives it a second life. When you own reclaimed wood furniture, you’re preserving history — not just buying décor. Small dents and marks collected over time become part of your table’s personal story, layered on top of the story it already carries from decades past.
This isn’t disposable furniture.
It’s generational furniture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean reclaimed wood furniture?
Use a soft cloth and mild soap/water mix. Avoid harsh chemicals (no bleach or citrus) and always wipe dry.
Will my table get scratches?
With use, small marks may appear — but they often enhance the character.
Why does my table have small cracks or shifts?
Natural wood movement is normal, especially through seasons. Proper humidity balance reduces it.
Keep Your Furniture Beautiful for Life
Your reclaimed wood + steel furniture is built to be used, shared around, eaten on, worked from, laughed over, and lived with. Care for it — but don’t be afraid to let it live. The more it’s used, the more it becomes yours.
For questions, refinishing, or guidance: