August 2, 2012
Office Desk & Workstation Care, Part 2: Caring for Desks & Work Surfaces
Now you know how to fix issues with your desk drawers; how about keeping the rest of your desk in great shape? Caring for your desk or workstation will ensure lasting beauty, peace of mind and continued performance of your office furniture. With the proper care, your investment will retain its high value for many years to come.
Here are some helpful tips for proper desk & workstation care:
- Clean all surfaces frequently with a mild soap & water dampened soft cloth; always wipe with the grain.
- For darker-colored finishes on desks, Windex is ok to use as a cleaner if streaks are visible from water.
- If a spill occurs, immediately remove liquids with a blotting action, not a scrubbing action.
- Lift objects; never pull or drag them across a work surface.
- For an additional safeguard, use a protective desk pad. This single item could ensure a lasting finish by protecting your furniture from possible damage caused by pens or sharp objects.
- If using a protective glass top, place spacer pads under the glass to allow the wood to breathe.
- Avoid exposing furniture to extreme heat or cold; also avoid wide humidity variance.
- Avoid exposure of furniture to strong sunlight. Prolonged exposure may change the color of wood beneath the finish.
- Do not expose to harsh solvents (nail polish remover, acetones, etc.) as it will cause the finish to deteriorate.
- Do not leave plastic or vinyl items on the finished wood surface. Sustained contact may cause deterioration of the finish and require refinishing the entire surface.
- Avoid using furniture polish on wood surfaces as it can cause clouding in the finish.
- Use Goo Gone to remove glue from labels, tape or stickers (or other glue messes).
- Goo Gone is also useful to remove grease, crayon, oil, lipstick or mascara.
- To remove chewing gum from your office desk (or chair, or anything else), use a can of compressed air by turning it upside down and spraying the liquid directly on to the gum. This will instantly freeze the gum, making it brittle and easy to crack and remove. Be careful not to get any liquid on your hands, it is very cold and can result in a “cold burn”.
Stay tuned for more product tips and furniture help. Any topics you’d like to see? Please share with us!