5 Essential Caring Tips for Bone Inlay Furniture

Bone inlay furniture is a type of decorative movable that has been around for centuries. The intricacy and detail in these pieces can be quite impressive, but it requires special care to maintain the integrity and beauty of the work.  

In this post, we’ll go over 5 essential caring tips for bone inlay furniture.

Tip #1: Cleaning

You can use a dry or slightly damp cloth to wipe down the entire piece. But make sure you never saturate the wood, as this could cause irreparable damage and crack in your inlaid bone pieces. 

If there are stains that won’t come off with just wiping it down, consider using a mixture of water and soap or mild detergent. However, do not use harsh chemicals as they could damage the wood, even if you’re dealing with a stubborn stain.

Pressure washing your inlay furniture is absolutely not recommended. The water pressure can erode the delicate detail of your piece, and there’s always a chance that even one spritz could accidentally knock off an important part of the design or ruin other elements through seepage into the wood.

You should also avoid the temptation to use sharp tools to remove stuck debris. The risk of damage is just too high. Plus, this could cause a dangerous situation where someone gets cut on a shard of broken material if it flies out unexpectedly.

Tip #2: Moisture Protection

Moisture is the number one enemy of your bone inlay furniture. It can cause warping and cracking on the surface and deep within the wood itself. To avoid this, you should keep your piece away from windows or any other source that could bring in excess moisture. You should also avoid placing your pieces in or around humid areas, like the bathrooms and the kitchen.

In fact, you want to be extra cautious of contact with any type of material that can cause moisture damage, such as upholstery. If you must put your piece somewhere where it will be close to moisture-prone items and areas, make sure there is some space between them so that the wood doesn’t have a chance to absorb too much moisture.

Tip #3: Treatment

Even with the best care, there may be times when you notice that your piece is starting to discolor or warp. If this happens, it’s time to administer treatment. 

There are several treatment options out there, but a good wax polish is your best bet. This will restore your piece to its original luster and help it last for many more years. However, be sure to seal your piece using furniture wax that matches the color of the wood for best results. Vacuuming will also help prevent dirt and dust from building up in your inlaid bone pieces, so keep up with this as needed.

Tip #4: Storage

As mentioned before, moisture is the biggest enemy of your inlaid furniture. So, you should always store it properly to avoid damage from spills and excess humidity. If possible, stand it against a wall so that nothing can drip down onto its surface. 

Also, don’t forget that bone inlay furniture is intended for display purposes only. So, if you have young children or pets, it’s best to keep your piece in a place where they won’t be tempted to jump on top of it and play with their toys directly against its surface. And, make sure you never place anything heavy or sharp directly on your piece, as this can cause damage.

You should also consider getting custom furniture pads for anything that might sit directly against the inlaid piece. This will protect your furnishing from moisture exposure and also protect the corners and edges from damage.

Tip #5: Repair and Maintenance

No matter how careful you are, accidents happen, and things can get broken. If your inlay furniture is damaged or cracked, it’s best to contact a professional for repair, as they will have the necessary tools to fix damages without causing further harm to the wood.

When excess moisture is involved, you want a professional who knows how to properly treat the wood and bring it back to its original luster.  Most importantly, take care of any repair work before you reseal or apply the new treatment.

If you follow all of these tips, your inlaid bone furniture pieces will stay beautiful and functional for many years to come. Just remember that the best way to maintain their beauty is regular cleaning with a dry cloth, waxing when necessary, and careful storage when not in use.