Caring for your Crate Designs furniture            Entretien et nettoyage des meubles

In keeping with the lifetime expectancy of your Crate Designs furniture, we are confident that the finish we apply has matching durability. Our furniture is finished with a penetrating, non-toxic vegetable based oil that requires minimal maintenance to keep it looking fresh, for as long as you own it. We have chosen to use an “open” oil finish, because scrapes and scratches are almost invisible on this surface, compared to a “sealed” finish, such as lacquer or varnish.

The suggested method for normal cleaning is to dust with a slightly water dampened cloth. Soiled areas can be cleaned with "Orange Glo" or a water dampened “Scotchbrite” pad. For extremely soiled areas, use a small amount of a cleaner, such as “Fantastic”, followed by a light application of a good furniture oil, (such as Crate Designs oil or any good quality furniture oil).

Special attention should be given to tops of dining, coffee and end tables, as these surfaces tend to be used and cleaned more often. It is recommended that you oil these tops a few times during the first year of use. This will greatly increase moisture and stain resistance. In general, frequency of oiling relates to use, but too much oiling will build a gloss finish, (which may not be desirable).

An optional lacquer finish is available for most tops. Lacquer provides greater moisture resistance and easier cleaning on tabletops. It is not as forgiving as the standard oil finish when it comes to scrapes or scratches. Most repairs will require the services of a professional refinisher. The combination of a lacquer finish on the top and our standard oil finish on the base of the item will give you the best durability.

Lacquered tops should be cleaned with a slightly water dampened cloth. While this finish is more easily cleanable and more moisture resistant than the standard oil finish, it is not waterproof or stain-proof. Moisture, or damp articles left on these surfaces will cause permanent damage.

Regardless of the finish you choose, clean up spills and stains immediately to prevent permanent damage. Never place hot objects directly onto wood. Always use coasters or protective materials when placing anything hot or wet on your furniture. Wipe up water or other liquids immediately.  Protect your furniture from direct exposure to sunlight.

Some suggested remedies: 

(Caution – any of these techniques or products should be tried on an inconspicuous surface first).

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser products have been used successfully to remove tough stains, such as ink, crayon etc.

Candle Wax: Gently scrape away as much wax as you can using your finger, a plastic kitchen scraper, or a stiff piece of cardboard. Note: too much pressure will scratch the wood. Applying ice cubes in a plastic bag to the wax may help it to crumble. Remove remaining traces of wax with a cloth moistened with mineral spirits (paint thinner). Re-oil entire surface area.

Cracks and Gaps are normal in Crate Designs furniture. The furniture construction has been designed with this in mind. It would be very unusual for a gap or crack to be a cause for concern. 

Scratches: Light scratches will often disappear with an application of Crate Designs Furniture Oil/Stain. Deeper scratches may require “Steaming” or “Sanding”.

Re-Oiling: Use Crate Designs Clear Oil to rejuvenate “dry” furniture and /or to increase moisture resistance without darkening the colour.
Use Crate Designs Stain/Oil to restore the colour of your furniture or to darken the colour.
· Shake well, prior to using.
· Apply a liberal amount to a clean lint-free cloth.
· Rub lightly with the grain direction.
· Allow to penetrate for a few minutes.
· Polish lightly to remove excess oil.
· Store used cloth in an air tight container.
To restore the colour after a spot repair, moisten a small area of your cloth with oil and dab carefully, starting in the centre of the light spot. Work the oil carefully towards the outside of the spot in order to blend the colour with the surrounding area. Repeat until the desired colour is achieved and blends with the surrounding area. If the wood has been “steamed” or “polished” by cleaning it may be necessary to sand lightly with 100 grit sandpaper (working in the same direction as the wood grain) in order for the oil to properly penetrate.

Sanding to Repair: Damage on lacquered surfaces should be repaired by a professional. 
Caution: Wood doors and furniture tops that are 1 ½” or 2 ¼” thick, are usually manufactured with a veneered panel surrounded by a 3” to 3 ½” wide rim of solid wood. Sanding the veneered portion may result in permanent damage!
Our standard oil finish can be repaired. It is possible to repair a complete surface or a small spot. In both instances always sand in the direction of the wood grain using 100 grit sandpaper. Crate Designs Furniture Oil/Stain will be necessary to restore the colour in sanded areas. See Re-Oiling.

Steaming to Repair: Dents are compressed layers of wood caused by hard impacts. They can sometimes be raised back to their original level by an application of steam in order to swell the wood cells. Place several layers of damp clean cotton rags above dent. Touch the rags over the dent with the tip of a hot iron. The resulting steam will cause the wood fibers to swell back into place. It may be necessary to repeat this process until the dented area is level with the surface around it. Allow the area to dry. The steam will usually lighten the wood colour. See Re-Oiling for tips on how to restore the colour.
NOTE: Do not use this treatment on veneered tops or doors. The steam can soften the glue under the veneer and cause it to come loose.

Ink & Other Stains: If ink is spilled or used to mark wood it will penetrate and become almost impossible to remove. The following methods may be helpful should a stain occur. Blot the spot immediately before the ink has a chance to penetrate the wood. Do Not Rub--keep turning the cloth to prevent smearing. 
If stain remains:
1. Try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
2. Try removing ink with hair spray – it often works!
3. Table salt on a damp cloth can remove blood stains.
4. Mineral spirits (paint thinner) will remove some crayon and oil based stains.
5. Apply a mixture of 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. Allow the solution to stand a few minutes and remove. The solution works slowly, so give it time to work on the stain. It may also bleach out part of the natural color. The bleach will work better if the spot is sanded lightly before application. (CAUTION: Bleach is poisonous. Follow label directions.) 
See Re-Oiling to restore colour to wood.

Mattresses

To prolong the life of your mattress, it should be turned, to equalize wear. Flip your mattress over, (side to side) monthly, and every second month flip it end to end. Dreameasy mattresses are one-side designs, that are not meant to be flipped over.

HealthCare mattress cleaning instructions:

Soil/Stains: Use mild soap suds and lukewarm water, rinse well with water and allow to dry. DO NOT USE HARSH CLEANSERS, SOLVENTS OR DETERGENTS.
Hard to Clean Spots: Use standard vinyl cleansers and soft bristle brush on troublesome spots or stains.
Disinfection: Dilute disinfectants and/or germicides as specified on the product label.
DO NOT USE CONCENTRATION THAT EXCEEDS THE MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS.
Infectious Patients: Many healthcare facilities have been advised to use the following disinfectant, which can safely be used:
.525% Sodium Hypochlorite solution. You can achieve this by diluting 1 part Clorox® brand bleach with 9 parts water.

Upholstery Tips

Vacuum regularly! Accumulated dust, pet hair and soiling are the major causes of fabric wear. Turn your seat and back cushions over weekly, to help keep covers aligned and to equalize wear. As well, switch the position of cushions to lessen the premature wearing of any one in particular. Pub style back pillows should be “punched” or “patted” back into shape as required. If the fabric on your cushions becomes stained or soiled, we recommend that you leave the covers on the cushions and hire a professional cleaner. 

Download Furniture Care in PDF form.


W cleaning codeW - Clean this fabric with the foam only of a water based cleaning agent to remove overall soil. Many household cleaning solvents are harmful to the color and life of a fabric. Cleaning by a professional furniture cleaning service only is recommended. To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended.

 

S cleaning codeS - Clean this fabric with pure solvents (petroleum distillate based products, Energine, Carbona, Renuzit, or similar products may be used) in a well ventilated room. Cleaning by a professional furniture cleaning service only is recommended. CAUTION: Use of water based or detergent based solvent cleaners may cause excessive shrinking. Water stains may become permanent and unable to be removed with solvent cleaning agents. Avoid products containing Carbon Tetrachloride as it is highly toxic. To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. 

WS cleaning codeSW or WS - Clean this fabric with the foam only of a water based cleaning agent or with a pure solvent in a well ventilated room (petroleum distillate based products, Energine, Carbona, Renuzit, or similar products may be used). Cleaning by a professional furniture cleaning service only is recommended. To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended.

X cleaning code


X - Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust and grime. Water based foam or solvent based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinkage or fading. 

 

Cleaning vinylCleaning vinyl:

For light soiling:
Step 1: Apply a solution of 10% household liquid dish soap with warm water using a soft damp cloth, rinse with clean water.
Step 2: If necessary, apply a solution of liquid cleanser and water with a soft bristle brush and  rinse.
For heavy soiling:
Dampen a soft white cloth with naptha (lighter fluid) and rub gently. Rinse with a water dampened cloth.
NOTE: Use extreme caution with this method. Complete only in a well-ventilated area and away from any open flame.
NOTE: When using strong cleaning agents, it is advisable to first test in an inconspicuous area.
For the most difficult stains not removed by the above methods:
1. Dampen a soft white cloth with a solution of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite); 10% bleach, 90% water.
2. Rub gently.
3. Rinse with a water-dampened cloth to remove bleach concentration.
4. If necessary, allow a 1:10 diluted bleach solution to puddle on the affected area or apply with a soaked cloth for approximately 30 minutes. Rinse with a water-dampened cloth to remove any remaining bleach concentration.

NOTE: You should try this method on an inconspicuous spot before using it on the original stain/soiling.

Always rinse cleaning agent residue from fabric with a soft, water dampened cloth.
NOTE: To restore luster, a light coat of spray furniture wax can be used.
Apply, wait for 30 seconds and follow with a light buffing using a clean white cloth.

    
Cleaning Crypton:

Most spills on Crypton can easily be cleaned with a towel. Just wipe up the spill with a clean cloth. However, for dried stains or more difficult stains, Crypton can be easily cleaned with a soap-and-water mixture.

Simply combine 1 part of an enzyme powder detergent such as Tide® or Cheer® with 5 parts water. Apply the solution to the stain and wait a minute or two to allow the detergent to begin removing the stain. Then lightly rub/scrub the area and rinse thoroughly with clean water. 

Remember, water will not penetrate Crypton's barrier so don't be afraid to rinse liberally. All soap residue must be completely removed.
As with any fabric, dirt and dust can build up, so vacuuming regularly is advised. 


Assembly instructions for Crate Designs furniture

Easy to follow assembly instructions for Crate Designs furniture. The files are in PDF form, and require Adobe Reader, a free download from Adobe, if you do not have it.

search by model number

Crate Twin, Double, Queen Beds

Crate King Bed

Crate Bunkbeds

Day Beds

Mission Beds

Mission Bunkbeds

Student Loft

Bookcase Beds

Dining Tables

Platform, Youth and Caster Beds

Junior Bunkbed

Captain's Beds

Bunkbed Staircase

Sofa Beds

Sofas

Mirror Attachment

Armoires

Desk Return

Bench Top Replacement

Keyboard Tray

Wood Plug Removal

Upholstery Replacement

Instructions d’assemblage pour le lit

Lits bibliothèques

Lits Mission

Lits superposés Crate

Lits superposés Mission


Copyright ©2009, Crate Designs Ltd.  Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Site Map | Model List | Assembly Instructions | Links | Dealer Resources