CARING FOR YOUR STAINLESS STEEL CUTLERY
Follow these simple guidelines to help your cutlery maintain it's beautiful appearance.
Stainless Steel
Dishwashers
Hand Washing
A wide range of cutlery is available to buy online and in our stores.
Heal's Care Guides
Heal’s, founded in 1810 has a renowned reputation for innovation in design, craftsmanship and service. Passionate about our products and service, we want our customers to love their purchases too. To help keep Heal’s furniture and accessories looking as good as the day they were purchased, we’ve compiled Care Guides for your reference.
Should you have any questions regarding any of our products or need any further advice please email our product advisor at productadvisor@heals.co.uk
We have also written some guidelines for our non-furniture items...
Painted or polymeric (plastic coated) finishes should be periodically wiped down with a soft damp cloth using a mild detergent such as washing up liquid, then buffed carefully using a very soft dry cloth. Make sure the cloth is in no way contaminated with anything that could potentially scratch the surface finish.
Avoid using silicone based polishes as they can build up and leave a sticky residue on the surface which in turn attracts particles of dirt which can build up over time.
Avoid using abrasive creams or cloths as this can permanently scratch the surface finish or make the shiny surface finish ‘cloudy’.
All kitchenware and beverages should be placed on mats and any spillages should be wiped up immediately.
Leather Care
Leather furniture should not be placed in direct sunlight or in very warm areas – next to radiators for example. The minimum of care is required to keep leather looking as good as new, although it is essential that the surface is kept free of dirt and grit, which can have an abrasive, damaging effect particularly with light colours. Regular dusting with a soft cloth is all that is usually required, although should the surface be noticeably soiled the upholstery should be wiped down at regular intervals with a cloth soaked and tightly wrung out in lukewarm soapy water taking care not to soak the leather. Only soap flakes should be used; never use a detergent. Rinse with clean cold water and quickly wipe dry with a dry cloth.
N.B. Hide food or saddle soap must not be used under any circumstances. Excessive use of water or vigorous cleaning could destroy the protective surface.
If the surface is severely soiled then we recommend you consult a specialist leather upholstery cleaner, who can carry out simple refurbishment treatments in the home.
Characteristics of Leather
Every hide used on Heal's leather furniture has a unique grain and character of its own. We go to great lengths to select only hides of the highest quality but some marking is inevitable and should be accepted as part of the individual appearance of this type of furniture.
Growth marks, bites, warble fly marks, scars and creases are common on leather furniture and it is precisely these marks, which distinguish ‘real’ leather from man-made substitutes. None of these characteristics have a weakening effect on the hide. The marks are proof of the natural product and it would be impossible to obscure them all from view without coating the surface with a thick layer of paint, which would destroy the beauty and softness of the material.
Natural surface marks we consider acceptable are:
Warble fly marks
Although most of our hides are of European origin, cattle are still attacked by insects, which can leave marks of their bites. These occur as tiny lumps on the surface.
Scars
There may be many causes, but they are mainly the result of the animal brushing against barbed wire. As with humans, the skin heals but often leaves fine lines. These light scars are not to be confused with badly healed ones, which are automatically rejected during manufacture.
Creases
These normally occur in the neck area of the hide. Because of their heavy grain, they can look most attractive. Normally this section is placed where it will not detract from the design of the furniture.
Dung marks
Seen in the hides as more textured areas than normal.
Follow these simple guidelines to help your rug maintain it's beautiful appearance.
A natural enemy of your rug is the moth. Moths like natural fibres and prefer dark places and so to help protect against moths and also colour fading from bright sunlight, the rug should be lifted and turned especially if any part is under furniture. It is also advisable to use your vacuum attachments to reach under furniture for protection.
When arranging your furniture it is wise to have some sort of protection under the legs to prevent the carpet fibres from being crushed. Avoid sharp edges or narrow legs and move furniture around from time to time.
If your rug is to be laid straight onto a smooth surface such as tiles or wooden flooring it is very much advised that a rug underlay is used to prevent the rug from slipping when walking across.
Deep coloured dyes may, in certain circumstances, transfer to the flooring underneath. We therefore recommend the use of a rug hold underlay for added protection.
Never lay a rug on damp floor as the wet can cause rot and always seek professional help if the rug needs cleaning. If it is necessary to store a rug for any lengh of time, take care to pack it with moth repellent.
Cleaning
For basic cleaning a light vacuuming will do an excellent job of removing any surface dirt.
Rugs should be regulary vacuumed but never excessively. For best results beat the rug to loosen any ground in dirt and then lightly vacumm. We do not recommend the use of a Dyson as these are particulary powerful and can damage your rug.
Rugs that have a longer or looser pile are not recommend for regular vacuuming as this will only damage the pile & cause excessive piling.
Repairs
Damaged areas, burns, splits and holes can be expertly repaired or rewoven. Damaged or worn fringes can also be repaired or renewed.
Hand Tinting
Colours that have faded or changed over the years can sometimes be restored by artists skilled in this field.
Problem Stains
Some stains are difficult to remove by conventional methods.
Specialist cleaners have the know-how and can often remove the more stubborn stains that were impossible to remove at home.
Stretching
Certain types of hand-made carpet, most notably Afghans, can often become misshapen or ruckled with use – but providing the carpet is sound, these problems can usually be minimised with stretching.
Shedding
Shaggy style rugs loose yarn, which is a normal feature of these rugs and does not indicate any defect with the rug.
History and Source
Teak is a dense, tropical hardwood and its hardness and durability make it particularly difficult to work with - which historically restricted it to simple shaping. Its colour varies between clear gold and dark brown in its natural state, often with darker markings. The characteristics of Teak have made it particularly suitable as an outdoor furniture material and has been used as such for hundreds of years.
Heal's buy teak from ecologically managed plantations in Indonesia which are supported by government approved certification. A strict scientific programme of continuous replanting is maintained, ensuring the species are both protected and sustainable. All timber supplied to the factory producing Heal's furniture is traceable back to the plantation.
Caring for your Teak Furniture
Teak provides simple, extremely weather-resistant furniture that can be left untreated outside with little risk of rotting or splitting.
When left outside for long periods, the wood will turn a silver grey colour. Oil can be applied to retain a more natural appearance. Before the application of oil, make sure that all surfaces are thoroughly clean and dry.
Heal's recommends Rustin's 'Danish Oil', available from most reputable DIY and hardware stores. The oil will darken the wood and should be reapplied every year to maintain a smooth finish. Covering or storing the furniture during the harshest winter months will also be a benefit.
Teak used outdoors may be scrubbed with a mild, soapy solution, rinsed and allowed to dry naturally.
Upholstery
Our craftsmen build to the highest standards of durability, comfort and safety with all Heal’s furniture complying with current regulations on flammability.
Unless otherwise stated Heal’s upholstery is designed for general domestic use only.
General care
All cushions, whether foam, fibre or feather filled, should be plumped up regularly, especially fibre or feather filled. Plumping is vital to best maintain upholstery on an ongoing basis, to help retain softness, comfort and appearance. Where cushions are reversible they should be turned regularly to prolong the life of both filling and fabric. Leather cushions may not be reversible as it is sometimes necessary to use fabric on the reverse to allow the cushions to breathe. Occasionally it may be necessary to undo the zip and slide your arm inside to re-adjust the edges of cushion in relation to the piping on the cushion cover during use.
We do not advise placing upholstery in your home where it might receive prolonged exposure to sunlight, as this can cause fabric to fade.
If you have pets then bear in mind that claws can be particularly damaging to upholstered furniture – as can any kind of sharp object.
Fabric care
Use a vacuum cleaner or soft brush to remove surface dust on a weekly basis. Non-removable covers should not be washed or dry-cleaned.
We do not recommend the use of spirit cleaner to remove spots and stains. If however, you choose to spot clean please be careful to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
We recommend that furniture with non-removable covers should be fully cleaned once a year by a specialist cleaning company. It may be possible to wash or dry clean removable covers in accordance with the manufacturers cleaning instructions label. However Heal’s would recommend that all upholstery cleaning be carried out in situ even for removable covers. This will give a better-finished result.
Some marks can be removed using a cloth moistened with mild soapy water-but never detergent.
N.B. Excessive use of water or over-energetic cleaning can destroy the surface finish.
Leather care
Finish
Unless otherwise specified, Heal’s wood furniture is usually finished in a durable clear matt lacquer. This provides an easy to care for durable finish that doesn’t compromise the natural beauty of the wood grain. Some of our oak furniture has an oiled finish – please see oiled oak care guide below.
Care
Solid woods, which are used in the making of Heal's furniture, may expand and skrink with differences in temperature and humidity. Take care not place your furniture next to radiators or anywhere subject to any excessive changes in temperature or moisture content.
We recommend that all kitchenware and beverages should be placed on mats and any spillages should be wiped up immediately.
Cleaning
To clean the wood finish, wipe with a damp cloth and buff with a dry cloth. In the event of more stubborn marks, then a solution of mild detergent should be used on the cloth.
Silicone based polishes should not be used on the wood as they will build up and leave a sticky residue on the surface.
Finish
Heal’s furniture comes in either a Lacquered or oiled finish. The oil finish is applied by hand and enhances the open grained appearance of the wood and gives a slightly darker matt finish than lacquer, giving it more of a ‘rustic’ appearance. Oiled oak will retain a matt appearance over time.
Heal's oiled oak furniture is finished with an eco-friendly Linseed based oil.
Care
The furniture will already have been oiled but it is recommended that you apply on a regular basis – table surfaces perhaps every 2-3 months. Please read and follow the instructions in the care pack carefully. If you do so, there should be no reason why your furniture should not retain its original appearance and performance characteristics.
Please note that these pieces of furniture are made entirely out of solid wood and it should always be remembered that they should not be exposed directly to excesses of heat or moisture. For instance, do not place them immediately adjacent to radiators or, in the event of spillage, please wipe up all liquids as soon as possible before the liquid soaks into the wood.
Cleaning
Never use spray polishes. In order to clean the table, simply wipe down with a soft, very lightly moistened cloth to remove any dust or light spillages. In case of stubborn marks, then a solution of mild detergent should be used on the cloth. In the event of severe spillages or marks then the surface could be sanded and re-oiled. However it is recommended that you consult our customer services department or a professional furniture restorer before doing so.
N.B. Never place very hot items (e.g. casserole dish straight from the oven), directly onto the table without using a heat resistant mat or trivet.
Beginning as a bed making firm in 1810, Heal & Son have been designing and making quality furniture ever since. We love it and we're good at it.
We have a tradition of using the most talented designers and craftsmen of the day to make furniture that is comfortable, beautiful and affordable.
