Treat Thorn & Company furniture as you would any fine furniture by periodically dusting it and avoiding scratches. The best protection is provided by a good paste wax. (Butcher's Wax or Bowling Alley Wax.)

Cherry will darken in reaction to ultraviolet light, even if it is not placed in direct sunlight. This process is most rapid during the first six months. During that period, avoid leaving any objects in the same place on top of the furniture; otherwise the object will leave a light spot.

All solid wood furniture shrinks and swells with the seasons. You should avoid subjecting your furniture to extremely high or low humidity, and more importantly to rapid changes in humidity. Furniture left in a damp basement will warp and mildew. Keep furniture away from radiators. Most importantly, keep furniture away from fireplaces and wood stoves, whose heat can dry furniture so quickly that it will split.

Our lacquer finish will withstand limited exposure to heat, alcohol, and water. To clean the furniture, wipe with a slightly dampened soft cloth. For stubborn stains, use a mild solution of household cleaner. Use as little water as possible and be sure to wipe the furniture dry.

****To repair scratches in Lacquer Finish:

For a minor scratch not penetrating into the wood, gently buff the scratched area with #0000 steel wool. Your objective is to buff into, but not through, the finish. Then restore the sheen of the buffed area by vigorously rubbing it with a soft cotton cloth.

For a deep scratch, which has penetrated through the finish and into the wood, use 220-grit sandpaper to sand off the finish. Then use the finest grit possible (minimum 150-grit) to sand out the scratch. Don't be impatient and use such a coarse grit sandpaper so as to leave deep scratches. Use a can of clear satin-gloss or flat spray lacquer from a hardware store following the directions on the can. Spray the damaged area with two or three light coats, sanding between coats with 320-grit sandpaper. If necessary complete the process by using #0000 steel wool and a soft cotton cloth to rub the treated area to level the finish and match the gloss of the rest of the surface.

****To repair scratches in Oil or Poly-oil Finishes:

Using fine grit sandpaper (such as 220 grit) sand out the scratch. Following directions on the container, apply three coats of finish to the repaired area.