How to Care for Your FRAMA Wood Furniture: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer

Dust weekly with a soft, dry cloth, wipe spills immediately with a barely damp cloth and mild soap, and re-oil bare wood once or twice a year. Keep pieces out of direct sun and away from radiators. Steel and stone components need nothing more than a dry or slightly damp cloth — never an abrasive cleaner.

FRAMA furniture mixes materials on purpose: solid oak and birch, stainless steel rails, limestone tops, stone bases. That mix is what makes the pieces feel calm and architectural, but it also means one single cleaning product won't suit every surface. The good news is that caring for wood furniture is mostly about small, regular habits rather than occasional deep treatments.

This guide walks through a five-step routine you can follow in under ten minutes a week, plus the mistakes that cause most of the damage we see — rings from cold glasses, white haze from too-wet cloths, and fading on pieces parked in front of a window.

Start with the right tools

Before you touch the furniture, gather four things: a soft lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth, a second cloth for damp work, a mild pH-neutral soap, and a bottle of clear furniture oil for bare wood. That's it. You do not need silicone polishes, spray waxes, or anything labeled 'restorer' — those build up a film that traps dust and makes future touch-ups harder.

If your piece combines wood with stainless steel, limestone, or stone, keep the cloths separate. A cloth used on an oily wood surface will smear residue onto stone, and a cloth used with a limestone-friendly cleaner shouldn't go back onto bare oak.

• Use two cloths: one dry for dust, one barely damp for cleaning.
• Skip all-purpose kitchen sprays — they're usually too alkaline for wood.
• Dedicate one cloth per material type to avoid cross-contamination.

Dust weekly, in the direction of the grain

Dust is abrasive. Left alone, fine grit works its way into the surface every time you slide a book or a plate across it. A dry, soft cloth passed weekly over the top, shelves, and legs removes most of it before it becomes a problem. Follow the grain rather than scrubbing in circles, and shake the cloth outside rather than snapping it indoors.

Pay attention to the places dust hides: the top edges of Shelf Library rails, the underside of a tabletop, and the gap where a leg meets a frame. Those spots are where grime actually accumulates, and they're usually skipped.

• Weekly is enough for most homes; twice weekly if windows are often open.
• Use a soft brush attachment on a vacuum for textured or slatted surfaces.

Clean spills immediately with a barely damp cloth

Water is wood's main enemy, not dirt. When something spills, blot it up right away with a dry cloth, then wipe the area with a cloth wrung out until it's almost dry. A mild soap — a drop in a bowl of warm water — is plenty. Never pour water directly onto the surface, and never let a wet glass or a damp plant saucer sit on bare wood overnight.

For sticky residue, dampen the cloth a little more and work gently with the grain. If a ring has already formed, a light pass with fine sandpaper followed by oil usually lifts it on solid wood; on veneered or factory-finished surfaces, stop and live with it rather than sanding through the finish.

• Blot, don't rub, when a spill happens.
• Use coasters under cold drinks — condensation rings are the most common damage.
• Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.

Re-oil bare wood once or twice a year

Bare or oiled wood — like natural oak — dries out slowly and starts to look chalky or thirsty. A thin coat of clear furniture oil once or twice a year restores depth and adds a small amount of water resistance. Apply with a lint-free cloth in the direction of the grain, let it sit for the time the product specifies, then buff off anything that hasn't absorbed.

More oil is not better. Over-oiling leaves a tacky surface that attracts dust and can feel greasy for weeks. If your piece has a lacquered or factory-sealed finish, skip oiling entirely — it won't penetrate, and it will just sit on top.

• Oil in a well-ventilated room, and let the piece dry fully before use.
• If the wood looks even and feels smooth, you can wait another season.

Control light, heat, and humidity

The biggest long-term threat to wood furniture is not cleaning at all — it's the environment. Direct sun bleaches and dries the surface, radiators and underfloor heating pull moisture out of the wood, and swings in humidity cause movement in solid planks. Move pieces a step or two away from heat sources, and rotate anything that sits in a bright spot so fading stays even.

Aim for a stable indoor humidity level, roughly what feels comfortable for you. If you live somewhere very dry in winter, a humidifier near — not directly under — the furniture helps more than any polish will.

• Rotate tabletop objects every few months to avoid uneven patina.
• Use felt pads under lamps, vases, and ceramics to prevent scratching.

Your five-step FRAMA wood care routine

1. Step 1: Clear and dust: Remove everything from the surface, then wipe with a dry, soft cloth following the grain. Don't press hard — you're lifting dust, not scrubbing it in. Checkpoint: the cloth should come away gray, not gritty. If it's gritty, dust more often.
2. Step 2: Clean with a barely damp cloth: For everyday marks, wring a cloth out until it's almost dry, add a drop of mild soap if needed, and wipe gently with the grain. Dry immediately with a second cloth. Common mistake: leaving visible moisture on the surface. Wood should feel dry within seconds.
3. Step 3: Treat spills on sight: Blot liquids right away rather than wiping them around. Use coasters under cold drinks and saucers under plants, and lift — don't slide — ceramics and lamps across the surface. Checkpoint: no rings, no white haze. If a ring appears, address it before it sets.
4. Step 4: Oil bare wood seasonally: Once or twice a year, apply a thin coat of clear furniture oil with a lint-free cloth along the grain, let it absorb per the product instructions, then buff off the excess. Skip this step on sealed or lacquered finishes. Common mistake: over-oiling. A tacky surface means you used too much — buff again and wait.
5. Step 5: Reset the environment: Move pieces away from radiators and direct sun, rotate objects so fading stays even, and keep indoor humidity stable. Add felt pads under anything that sits on the wood. Checkpoint: if the wood feels unusually dry or looks chalky, adjust the room before reaching for more product.

Product notes that affect how you care for your piece

• Shelf Library Add-on Section | Natural Oak | H185.2 / W80: Shelf Library Stainless Steel is a natural extension of Frama's Shelf Library universe, characterized by a modular system and fastened with solid steel screws on stainless steel rails, so shelves can be easily placed and re-styled. Because the shelves lift off the rails, you can take each one down to dust and oil it flat instead of reaching awkwardly into a fixed unit. That makes regular wood furniture maintenance much easier — and means you should check the steel screws occasionally for tightness.
• Table 57 | Yellow Limestone / Stainless Steel: Table 57 in Yellow Limestone features a stainless steel base and a distinctive Yellow Limestone top that blends into various indoor and outdoor settings, including terraces and outdoor patios. Limestone is porous and reacts to acidic spills, so wipe wine, citrus, and vinegar promptly with a damp cloth. Because the table is designed for indoor and outdoor use, it needs more frequent cleaning if it lives on a terrace — but the stainless steel base only needs a dry or slightly damp cloth.
• Eiffel Floor Lamp | Stainless Steel | Single 1000: The Eiffel Floor Lamp grounds its form with a natural stone base and has softly diffused, dimmable light. The stone base should never be dragged across a wood floor or a wooden tabletop. Lift it when you reposition the lamp, and place a felt pad underneath to prevent scratches — a small habit that protects both surfaces.

Caring for FRAMA wood furniture comes down to consistency, not products: dust weekly, clean gently, oil bare wood when it looks thirsty, and keep pieces away from heat and harsh sun. Do that, and oak, birch, limestone, and stainless steel will age the way they were designed to — quietly and evenly.