Care & Maintenance

At Oak Lane Furniture, we want our furniture to remain beautiful, comfortable and functional for as long as possible. Proper care and maintenance can help preserve the appearance, finish and performance of furniture throughout normal everyday use.

The following guidelines provide general recommendations for caring for furniture purchased from Oak Lane Furniture. Where a product includes specific manufacturer or product-care instructions, those instructions should also be followed.

These guidelines should be read together with our Warranty Policy, Return & Refund Policy, Shipping & Delivery Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Nothing in these care guidelines is intended to exclude or limit any statutory rights available to consumers under applicable South African law.

1. General Furniture Care

Furniture should be used for its intended purpose and treated with reasonable care.

To help maintain your furniture:

• Clean surfaces regularly using appropriate cleaning methods.
• Attend to spills as soon as reasonably possible.
• Avoid excessive moisture and prolonged exposure to liquids.
• Avoid placing extremely hot objects directly onto furniture surfaces.
• Protect furniture from unnecessary scratching, impact and abrasion.
• Avoid dragging furniture when moving it.
• Do not exceed recommended weight capacities where specified.
• Follow applicable assembly instructions.
• Keep furniture away from excessive heat where reasonably possible.
• Use products according to their intended indoor or outdoor application.

Different materials require different cleaning and maintenance methods. Always consider the material before applying cleaning products.

2. Solid Wood and Timber Furniture

Wood is a natural material, and variations in grain, knots, colour and texture are part of its individual character. These natural variations are not necessarily defects.

For regular timber care:

• Dust using a clean, soft and dry or slightly damp cloth.
• Wipe in the direction of the timber grain where practical.
• Remove spills promptly.
• Avoid soaking timber surfaces with water.
• Do not use harsh chemicals, bleach or abrasive cleaners unless specifically approved for the finish.
• Use coasters, placemats and table protectors where appropriate.
• Avoid placing very hot cookware directly onto timber.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to strong direct sunlight where reasonably possible.

Natural timber can respond to changes in temperature, humidity and sunlight. Minor movement or changes in colour may occur naturally over time.

3. Veneer and Engineered Wood

Veneered and engineered-wood surfaces should be cleaned gently.

Use a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth and avoid excessive water.

Do not use abrasive cleaning pads, harsh chemicals or excessive force when cleaning these surfaces.

Use protective mats or coasters beneath hot, wet or potentially abrasive objects.

Spills should be wiped up promptly to minimise moisture penetration.

4. Fabric Upholstery

Regular care helps maintain upholstered furniture.

We recommend:

• Vacuuming upholstery gently using an appropriate upholstery attachment.
• Removing loose dust and debris regularly.
• Blotting spills promptly with a clean, absorbent cloth.
• Avoiding aggressive rubbing of spills, which can spread staining or affect the fabric.
• Following any fabric-specific cleaning instructions supplied with the product.
• Avoiding bleach and harsh household cleaning chemicals unless expressly suitable for the upholstery.
• Keeping upholstery away from excessive direct sunlight where practical.

Where professional cleaning is required, customers should use a reputable upholstery-cleaning service appropriate for the particular fabric.

Always test an unfamiliar cleaning product on a small, inconspicuous area first.

5. Bouclé and Textured Fabrics

Bouclé and other textured upholstery should be handled gently to preserve the fabric surface.

Use a soft upholstery attachment when vacuuming and avoid aggressive brushing.

Loose fibres should not be pulled. Where appropriate, a loose fibre may be carefully trimmed without cutting surrounding fabric.

Spills should be blotted rather than rubbed.

Sharp jewellery, pet claws and other objects that may snag textured fabrics should be kept away where reasonably possible.

6. Leather Furniture

Leather is a natural material and may display variations in grain, texture and tone. Depending on the type of leather, natural markings may also be visible.

For general leather care:

• Dust regularly using a soft, dry cloth.
• Wipe spills promptly.
• Avoid saturating leather with water.
• Avoid harsh household chemicals and abrasive cleaners.
• Use only cleaning or conditioning products suitable for the particular type of leather.
• Keep leather away from excessive heat.
• Minimise prolonged exposure to strong direct sunlight where reasonably possible.
• Avoid placing sharp objects directly against leather upholstery.

Natural leather may develop a patina and change in appearance with age and use.

7. Rattan, Cane and Natural Fibres

Rattan, cane and similar natural materials should be cleaned using a soft cloth, brush or suitable vacuum attachment.

Avoid excessive moisture and prolonged exposure to water unless the product is specifically designed and treated for such conditions.

Natural fibres may display differences in colour, texture and weave. These variations contribute to the individual appearance of the product and are not necessarily defects.

8. Metal Furniture and Components

Metal frames and components should generally be cleaned with a soft cloth.

Avoid abrasive materials that may scratch the finish.

Spills and moisture should be removed promptly, particularly from metal products not specifically intended for prolonged outdoor exposure.

Where appropriate, periodically inspect screws, bolts and fittings and carefully tighten them if they have loosened through normal use.

Do not overtighten fittings, as this may damage the product.

9. Glass Surfaces

Use an appropriate glass cleaner and a clean, soft cloth for glass surfaces.

Avoid abrasive cleaning materials that could scratch the glass.

Do not place excessively hot objects directly onto glass unless the product is specifically designed for that purpose.

Avoid striking glass surfaces or edges with hard objects.

10. Stone, Marble and Similar Surfaces

Natural stone can be porous and may be sensitive to acidic liquids and certain cleaning chemicals.

To help protect stone surfaces:

• Wipe spills promptly.
• Use coasters and placemats.
• Avoid harsh or acidic cleaners unless suitable for the particular stone.
• Avoid abrasive cleaning tools.
• Follow product-specific sealing or maintenance recommendations where provided.

Natural stone may contain variations in colour, veining and pattern. These are characteristic of natural materials and are not necessarily defects.

11. Outdoor Furniture

Furniture sold specifically for outdoor use should still receive appropriate care.

To extend the life of outdoor furniture:

• Keep furniture clean and reasonably dry.
• Remove standing water where possible.
• Use suitable protective covers during extended periods of non-use where appropriate.
• Store removable cushions in a dry, ventilated location when not in use for extended periods.
• Follow material-specific care instructions.
• Avoid allowing dirt, moisture or organic debris to accumulate for prolonged periods.

Outdoor furniture may naturally weather or experience gradual changes in appearance because of sunlight, rain, humidity and environmental exposure.

Products sold for indoor use should not be permanently exposed to outdoor conditions.

12. Outdoor Cushions and Fabrics

Outdoor fabrics should be allowed to dry properly after becoming wet.

Do not store damp cushions in enclosed areas, as retained moisture may encourage mildew or odour.

Where removable covers are supplied, follow the applicable washing or cleaning instructions.

Do not machine-wash covers unless the product’s care instructions specifically state that machine washing is permitted.

13. Mattresses

Mattresses should be supported using an appropriate bed base or frame.

Where recommended for the particular mattress, rotate the mattress periodically to encourage even wear.

Use of a suitable mattress protector is recommended.

Keep mattresses dry and adequately ventilated.

Mattresses should not be folded or bent unless specifically designed for that purpose.

Always follow any product-specific mattress care and warranty instructions supplied with the product.

14. Beds, Cots and Children’s Furniture

Beds, cots and children’s furniture should be assembled and used according to the applicable instructions.

Periodically inspect:

• Screws;
• Bolts;
• Fittings;
• Slats;
• Guard components; and
• Other structural connections.

If a component becomes loose, damaged or unstable, discontinue use where necessary until the issue has been properly assessed or corrected.

Do not modify safety-related components or use replacement parts that are unsuitable for the product.

15. Moving Furniture

Large furniture should be lifted rather than dragged wherever reasonably possible.

Dragging furniture can damage:

• Legs;
• Frames;
• Flooring;
• Joints; and
• Structural connections.

Where furniture is particularly large or heavy, sufficient assistance should be used when moving it.

Furniture should be emptied of loose or heavy contents before being moved where appropriate.

16. Assembly and Hardware

Where assembly is required, follow the supplied instructions carefully.

Use the correct components and hardware and avoid forcing parts into position.

Customers should periodically check applicable fittings because screws and bolts may loosen naturally through ordinary use.

If professional assembly is recommended for a particular product, customers should follow that recommendation.

17. Protecting Floors

Furniture legs may interact differently with different flooring materials.

Customers may use appropriate furniture pads or floor protectors where necessary to protect timber, laminate, tile or other flooring.

Oak Lane Furniture cannot determine the suitability of every furniture product for every flooring material, so customers should use appropriate protection for their individual flooring.

18. Pets

Pet claws, chewing, scratching and accidents can damage timber, leather, upholstery and other furniture materials.

Customers with pets should take reasonable precautions to protect furniture.

Damage caused by pets is generally not considered a manufacturing defect, subject to applicable consumer law.

19. Normal Wear and Natural Ageing

Furniture naturally changes through ordinary use and ageing.

Depending on the product and material, normal changes may include:

• Softening of cushioning;
• Minor fabric creasing;
• Leather patina;
• Gradual colour changes;
• Natural timber movement;
• Minor surface wear; and
• Weathering of outdoor materials.

These changes do not automatically indicate that a product is defective.

A genuine manufacturing or material defect will nevertheless be assessed in accordance with our Warranty Policy and applicable consumer rights.

20. Cleaning Products

Before applying any cleaning product:

• Read the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Confirm that it is suitable for the furniture material.
• Test it on a small, inconspicuous area where appropriate.
• Avoid mixing cleaning chemicals.
• Avoid bleach, solvents or abrasive products unless specifically approved for the relevant material.

Oak Lane Furniture cannot accept responsibility for damage caused by unsuitable cleaning products or cleaning methods, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

21. Care and Warranty Claims

Failure to take reasonable care of furniture may affect an additional product warranty where the reported damage is directly attributable to misuse, unreasonable neglect or inappropriate maintenance.

However, these Care & Maintenance guidelines do not remove or reduce statutory consumer rights relating to genuine manufacturing defects or goods that fail to meet applicable legal standards.

Customers who believe their furniture has developed a defect should refer to our Warranty Policy and contact Oak Lane Furniture for assistance.

22. Returns and Care

Eligible general returns are subject to our Return & Refund Policy, including the applicable 7-day general return window.

Customers considering returning a product should take reasonable care of it while it remains in their possession.

A product should not be deliberately altered, damaged or subjected to unreasonable use before being returned.

Different rules may apply to qualifying defective or incorrectly supplied goods in accordance with applicable consumer law.

23. Product-Specific Instructions

These guidelines provide general furniture-care information.

Where a product page, product label, manufacturer, care card or accompanying documentation provides more specific care instructions, customers should follow those instructions where appropriate.

Customers who are unsure how to care for a particular Oak Lane Furniture product are welcome to contact us before applying a cleaning or treatment product.

24. Consumer Rights

Nothing contained in these Care & Maintenance guidelines is intended to waive, restrict or exclude any mandatory rights or remedies available to consumers under applicable South African law.

Where applicable consumer protection legislation provides rights beyond these guidelines, those statutory rights will apply.

25. Contact Oak Lane Furniture

For product-care advice or assistance regarding a product purchased from us, please contact:

Oak Lane Furniture
South Africa

Phone: +27 44 868 0820
Email: info@oaklanefurniture.co.za

When contacting us about a specific product, please provide the product name and order number, where available, so that we can provide the most appropriate guidance.