Furniture Care & Maintenance

The most important step to protecting New River's furniture is to keep it clean. General pollution (dust, smoke, acid rain, body lotions/oils, mold, mildew, oxidation), insects and the sunlight, are the main factors that can cause damages in the finish, reducing its duration.

New River Casual Furniture specializes in wood furniture and wood finishes. With this combination, we improve the look and feel of Brazilian Cherry's natural beauty, but also extend the durability and your color choices.

Without these finishes, Brazilian Cherry already has proven durability, even in the long, hot summers of Brazil or the cold winters of the northern United States.

Linseed Oil Finish

When seasoned by the weather without maintenance, the exposed surface of our oiled finish turns a natural silver gray, although the rich original color remains safely locked into the core of the wood, right beneath the "skin."

Our Brazilian Cherry is pre-applied with an organic linseed oil coating. The wood will turn a deep red color after initial use in the sun. To extend the life of the red color, clean your furniture with a mild solution of dish soap, bleach and warm water. Apply the mixture with a soft bristle brush. Rinse well and let dry. Re-coating fully exposed furniture in average climates three times a year is sufficient. More frequent re-coating may be needed in regions with high sunshine. This keeps the appearance of the finish even and prevents it from looking dried out.

If left outside over time, natural Brazilian Cherry will turn handsome silver gray. If this color is preferred, no maintenance is required!

Furniture is gray?

However, once your furniture has turned gray, there are several methods to bring back the original deep red color. Although it requires maintenance, the rich color can always be restored.

To return our furniture to the original red color, completely clean the surface of dirt, mold, mildew, bird droppings, grease and oil stains, etc. Use a sponge or bristle brush and a mild detergent, then rinse thoroughly. Allow the wood to dry completely, then sand with 120-grit sandpaper on all weathered surfaces until new wood is exposed again. For best results, finish sanding along the grain with 180-grit sandpaper. Once the red color has been restored, you may apply Linseed Oil. For cleaning, we also recommend Feron's Heavy Duty Cleaner.

Notice of Caution: During the initial 2 months, natural bleeding will occur on random pieces of our linseed oil furniture. Please keep an eye on the furniture and if you notice any bleeding, we recommend that you wet your furniture down thoroughly on a sandy or grassy area 5-10 times until bleeding stops. Once it has stopped, it will never occur again.

Painted and Weathered Finish

Clean with soap and water as needed. A mild solution of bleach and water can be used if any mildewing occurs. These items can be touched-up with exterior grade paint, although it will never quite match the factory-hand applied UV-blocked catalyzed polyurethane. In case it is needed, through the local dealer, New River also offers a paint touch-up kit.

Notice of Caution: During the initial 2 months, natural bleeding will occur on random pieces of our painted and weathered furniture. Please keep an eye on the furniture and if you notice any bleeding, we recommend that you wet your furniture down thoroughly on a sandy or grassy area 5-10 times until bleeding stops. Once it has stopped, it will never occur again.

Water-Based ClearCare™ Finish

New River's ClearCare™ finish (Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic) is a factory-applied water-based finish with a low luster. It provides additional protection to already durable Brazilian Cherry. The transparent, Clearcare finish allows the grain of the wood to show through for those who prefer a natural look & feel and is very easy to reapply once necessary. Usually, one year from date of initial purchase (depending on exposure).

ClearCare is available in a 33.8 fl. oz. (1 liter can) through your New River Authorized Dealer. ClearCare offers several benefits over our Linseed Oil Finish:

  • Prevents checking on the wood.
  • Stops the initial, natural occurring bleeding of Brazilian Cherry.
  • Significantly slows graying process (from an average of 3-4 months to one year or longer, depending on the level of exposure)
  • Easy to re-apply with a brush after approximately one year.
  • Do not sand until wood has turned gray.
  • Clean with soap and water as needed. Do not use harsh chemicals or cleaning solutions as this could potentially harm the ClearCare finish.
  • Besides using a mild detergent and a soft cloth to clean, we recommend our Cleaner-Preservative.

Cleaner-Preservative

Cleans. Protects. Preserves. Restores. Beautifies. Cleaner-Preservative is water-based and specifically designed to clean, protect, maintain and preserve New River's Reve™ and ClearCare™ factory water-based finishes. This product is specifically formulated for use exclusively on New River Casual Furniture and is not intended for use on our oiled or painted finishes. It is also not compatible with other treated or untreated wood furniture. A 1-coat Cleaner-Preservative application is easy to apply with a cloth and will typically last 6 months.

Features & Benefits:

  • A water-based, protective sealer invented to restore the original water-based varnish (when the finish is still in good condition).
  • Deep-cleans the surface area by removing dust and dirt as well as mold or mildew from the pores.
  • Regenerates the protective barrier that may have been diminished due to the harmful effects of UV rays from the sun and also inhibits oxidation.
  • Penetrates the original finish, evenly filling the small checks in the surface of the finish. (Such checks can usually only be seen using a microscope.)
  • Recovers and regenerates the original shine and luster of the finish.

Easy Directions for Use:

  1. Using a soft cloth, gently wash the furniture with water using a mild detergent soap.
  2. Allow the furniture to dry out completely.
  3. Prior to application of the Cleaner-Preservative on our Reve finishes, please check for any damage (from the elements or "extreme" use) in the finish. In case damage is evident, we recommend repairing the finish using the Rêve Touch-Up Kits or Reve Maintenance Kit before applying the Cleaner-Preservative.
  4. Shake the bottle well before use. The Cleaner-Preservative is ready to be used. If necessary, use water to dilute it.
  5. The Cleaner-Preservative is applied evenly over the surface with a soft cloth.
  6. Please remove the excess with a dry cloth as soon as possible.

Rêve Finish

The factory Reve finish gives Brazilian Cherry a high sheen and a deep, rich color that still allows the grain and details of the wood to show through. It feels very smooth and silky but conveys the distinctive textures of wood. In addition to guaranteeing long-lasting and resistant protection, Reve also improves the aesthetic properties of the wood, enhancing its appearance and elegance. It draws attention to itself and creates its own ambience.

Like any fine furniture, you will need to take care of it. The most important step to protecting New River's furniture is to keep it clean. General pollution (dust, smoke, acid rain, body lotions/oils, mold, mildew, oxidation), insects and the sunlight, are the main factors that can cause damages in the finish, reducing its duration.

Touch-Up

If the surface of the wood finish is damaged or has small cracks caused by atmospheric agents such as hail or by accidental damage, use the New River Reve Touch-Up Detail. Watch for wear on heavy use areas such as chair arms, seats, and backs that can get heavy from oily bodies. Also, keep an eye on table tops.

Apply the touch-up detail with the applicator brush in the bottle. Let dry thoroughly in a dust free area. This involves a Color Stain – i.e. Mocha, Cinnamon, White or Black and a Sealer.

Cleaning

The first and most important and obvious thing to do is regular cleaning with mild dish soap and water of all wood surfaces. This removes the remains of smog, acids rains, and dust that can corrode the coating film over time and reduce its protection.

Note: Avoid abrasives and detergents containing acids, ammonia or alcohol since these are particularly destructive and could damage the surface coating. Normal dish soap is one option. The other option is our own suggested Cleaner-Preservative.

Cleaner–Preservative

Cleans. Protects. Preserves. Restores. Beautifies. Cleaner–Preservative is water-based and specifically designed to clean, protect, maintain and preserve New River's Reve™ and ClearCare™ factory water-based finishes. This product is specifically formulated for use exclusively on New River Casual Furniture and is not intended for use on our oiled or painted finishes. It is also not compatible with other treated or untreated wood furniture. A 1-coat Cleaner-Preservative application is easy to apply with a cloth and will typically last 6 months.

Features & Benefits:

  • A water-based, protective sealer invented to restore the original water-based varnish (when the finish is still in good condition).
  • Deep-cleans the surface area by removing dust and dirt as well as mold or mildew from the pores.
  • Regenerates the protective barrier that may have been diminished due to the harmful effects of UV rays from the sun and also inhibits oxidation.
  • Penetrates the original finish, evenly filling the small checks in the surface of the finish. (Such checks can usually only be seen using a microscope.)
  • Recovers and regenerates the original shine and luster of the finish.

Easy Directions for Use:

  1. Using a soft cloth, gently wash the furniture with water using a mild detergent soap.
  2. Allow the furniture to dry out completely.
  3. Prior to application of the Cleaner/Preservative on our Reve finishes, please check for any damage (from the elements or "extreme" use) in the finish. In case damage is evident, we recommend repairing the finish using the Rêve Touch-Up Kits or Reve Maintenance Kit before applying the Cleaner - Preservative.
  4. Shake the bottle well before use. The Cleaner-Preservative is ready to be used. If necessary, use water to dilute it.
  5. The Cleaner - Preservative is applied evenly over the surface with a soft cloth.
  6. Please remove the excess with a dry cloth as soon as possible.

Renewal

After three years, as the Reve finish begins to thin, you will notice a roughness and lower brilliance of surface. At this point or earlier, you should purchase a New River Reve Maintenance Kit. Carefully follow all the directions in the kit and your furniture will look like new again. Please also ask your dealer for the Reve Care Brochure & Hand-Out Brochure.

Reve protects our furniture from atmospheric agents...

Woods worst enemies are dirt, UV rays and moisture. They are responsible for most of the degradation of wood in outdoor exposures. The sun UV rays will fade the color and turn a silver-gray. High temperatures and changes in temperature can cause surface cracks, splitting and cracking. Moisture and humidity causes the wood to expand and contract and thereby speeds the degradation of painted surfaces.

Reve protects and prevents all of the above issues and your furniture will remain beautiful for many years without time-intensive maintenance.

Cushion Care & Maintenance

Fabrics should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt and food particles are allowed to accumulate on and become embedded in the fabric. This practice will eliminate the need for more frequent vigorous cleanings.

Special Note: If the furniture is in full exposure to the elements, we suggest that after it rains, you stand the cushions on-end. This will help them to drain and also to have less surface contact with the furniture, reducing the likelihood of mold and mildew.

General or Light Cleaning

  • Brush off any loose dirt.
  • Prepare a cleaning solution of 2 ounces (1/4 cup) mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water (less than 100°F/38°C).
  • Use a sponge or a soft bristle brush to clean.
  • Allow cleaning solution to soak into fabric.
  • Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
  • Allow fabric to air dry.

For removable fabrics, machine wash in cold water (less than 100°F/38°C). Depending on wash load size, use normal amounts of mild laundry soap. Allow fabric to air dry.

Spot Cleaning

  • Apply a light mist of a recommended fabric cleaning solution using a spray bottle.
  • Work the solution into the stain by lightly scrubbing the area with a sponge or very soft bristle brush.
  • Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
  • Blot excess moisture with a clean, soft towel or sponge. Use a Wet Vac if available to remove excess moisture.
  • Repeat these steps until stain is removed.

Heavy Cleaning for Stubborn Stains and Mildew

100% Solution-Dyed fabrics do not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric. To clean mildew, or other stubborn stains:

  • Prepare a solution of 8 ounces (1 cup) of bleach and 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of mild soap per gallon of clean water.
  • Spray on entire area and allow to soak into the fabric.
  • Scrub vigorously with a soft bristle brush, sponge, or clean towel.
  • Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
  • Allow fabric to air dry.

If stain and/or mildew are severe, bleach quantities may be increased.

For removable Sunbrella fabric umbrella and cushion covers, machine wash in cold water (less than 100°F /38°C). Depending on wash load size, use normal amounts of mild laundry soap and add 1 cup of bleach. Allow fabric to air dry.