PRODUCT CARE

TIMBER

OAK FURNITURE

To refresh your furniture or to remove superficial stains we recommend Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner (3029). This product cleans and regenerates the character of the wood and slightly reinforces the original protective coating. Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner is no guarantee against stains.

For regular dusting, use a dry cloth. For cleaning or in case of a spill, use a damp cloth and natural soap. Wipe in the direction of the grain. Do not use soap containing detergent or other chemicals. Dry with a soft, clean cloth to prevent spotting.

We always recommend protecting surfaces with coasters, mousepads, or placemats, as extreme and repetitive daily use or heat can damage the finish.

Always move objects such as flowerpots, vases, etc. from time to time, and ensure any excess water or dampness is wiped dry immediately to prevent marking the surface.

The original hardwax coating may need to be renewed. We recommend using Osmo Hardwax Oil Natural (3041).

In case of discolouration, stubborn stains or to remove a superficial scratch, we advise sanding the entire surface first. Make sure the surface is clean and dry before applying the Hardwax Oil. Spread the product evenly over the surface and remove any excess product to avoid spots after drying.

01
Recommended humidity in the room: between 40% and 60%.

02
To prevent colour differences, do not place furniture or accessories in direct sunlight, and move objects placed on the furniture from time to time. Open your extendable table the first three weeks after installing and afterwards on a regular basis.

03
Avoid exposure to extreme conditions: Do not place furniture or accessories near heating sources or air-conditioned spaces.

04
To prevent staining,remove any spills immediately.

05
When cleaning the surface, always work in the direction of the wood grain.

06
Use place mats and/or coasters to prevent hot pots and pans, or cold glasses and bottles, from leaving marks on the furniture.

07
Do not drag the furniture along the floor; always lift the furniture when moving.

08
Always ensure water solutions used to clean the floor do not come into contact with the furniture’s base, as it may leave permanent marks. For items that feature rubber glides, avoid using alcohol-based cleaners on floors they are in direct contact with.

09
Indoor products are not intended for outdoor use. An outdoor product will always indicate so in its name.

10
Last but not least, we always recommend carefully reading the care instructions specific to your item.

11
Slab or underfloor heating can be damaging to solid timber products. The heat causes the bottom side to dry out differently to the top which can cause bowing, warping or cracking. We advise that you do not keep solid timber pieces on underfloor heating. The tone of the timber will alter over time with exposure to UV light, please protect timber from direct or reflected sunlight. Take care when placing or moving unglazed ceramics and other items with an irregular base finish as they may scratch the surface.

RUGS

CARE & MAINTENANCE

Our rugs are infused with a rich history of ancient craftsmanship. To preserve their beauty and prolong their life, follow these suggestions for rug care.

Every six months, rotate rugs from end to end or place them in different parts of the house to share the wear.

Direct sunlight and heat sources, such as gas heaters and fireplaces, can cause the natural fibres to dry out and fade. Position your rug away from both.

Reduce bacteria build-up with sunlight. Every few months, turn your rug over and place it in the sun for an hour. Vacuum the back of your rug before repositioning.

Keep rugs dry and out of dark places, such as tucked tightly under lounge suites or furniture.

Clean hard floors regularly with microfibre mops and water only (no detergents), or use a steam mop if appropriate. Detergent and soap residues can become sticky and collect other dirt, which is then walked onto your rug. By keeping your hard floors clean, your rug will stay cleaner for longer.

Move rugs a few centimetres every month to soften any fading on carpet or timber floors underneath. When the rugs are eventually moved from the room, the fading on the floor will be graduated and less noticeable.

To ensure the longevity of your Armadillo rug, please vacuum your rug regularly. Shedding of loose fibres will occur with a new rug. We do not recommend using rotating or brush head vacuum cleaners on our rugs if possible.

Even with regular vacuuming and careful use, you may find dirt and debris will build up on your rug. It is possible to refresh your rug with gentle treatment or professional rug cleaning. You can contact your local Armadillo store for a list of recommended carpet cleaning professionals in your area.

Use caution if you use a robotic vacuum in your home. Longer length pile and tassels can become entangled in the vacuum and may cause damage to your rug or device. We recommend keeping this in mind when programming your device.

Carefully scrape up as much of the spill as possible with a spoon or dustpan, and blot any liquid residue with damp chamois or other colourfast absorbent material. Do not rub.

Take a clean piece of the absorbent material and fold it into a thick wad. Cover the spill with this and add a weight (such as a heavy book) on top to help draw the liquid upward. Leave it for ten minutes.

If the spill has left a stain, decide if it is water-based or oil-based and treat it as below.

Water-based spills include beer, wine, soft drink, cordial, fruit juice, tea, coffee and urine. They are treated with lukewarm water. Oil-based spills contain some type of oil, fat or greasy substance and include ice cream, gravy, mayonnaise, cream, makeup and lotions. They are treated with detergent in lukewarm water. We recommend our Barefoot rug cleaner, which is safe for natural fibres.

For both types of spills, the process is the same: Blot – Dilute – Blot…

Water-based spills: Blot the spill as described previously. If some stain remains, dilute it with water. Blot this using absorbent material. Repeat this step until no more stain can be removed.
Oil-based spills: Blot the spill as described previously. If some stain remains, dilute it with the detergent solution. Blot this using absorbent material. Now dilute the stain with clean water and blot again. Repeat these steps until no more stain can be removed.

For stubborn stains, contact a WoolSafe Approved Service Rug Cleaner.

Highly-coloured products, such as paint, nail polish, shoe polish, lipstick and glue, will not respond to these simple treatments. We advise you not to treat these spills yourself, as doing so may create a larger or permanent stain. These types of spills are best treated by a professional WoolSafe Approved Rug Cleaner.

Red cordial and other coloured drinks contain food colouring. Food colouring is an acid dye that is also used to dye wool and nylon fibres. Putting detergent on this will simply carry it into the fibres of your rug faster and set the stain. If after treating with water the dye stains persist, contact a professional WoolSafe Approved Rug Cleaner.
.

Sand, grit, dust, clothing fibres and hair are examples of dry particle soils. Most of these will be removed with regular vacuuming. For those that remain deep within the fibres, a thorough vacuuming should remove them and restore the original beauty of your rug.

Vacuum the front of the rug, then turn it over and vacuum the reverse side. You may find some dirt loosens from the weave as the rug bends. Turn the rug over and vacuum the front again. To ensure even wear and minimise the natural fading that occurs from sunlight, rotate your rug end-to-end when repositioning.

A build-up of oily soils can result in your rug looking dull and grey, despite regular vacuuming. Pollution, cooking fumes and road grime are examples of this soiling, which is resistant to cleaning with water alone.

To clean this type of build-up, use a gentle treatment such as our Barefoot rug cleaner or contact a WoolSafe Approved Service Rug Cleane

Some spills that are left untreated over time can affect the natural fibres of your rug. These include those that contain natural and synthetic dyes (like cordial and other coloured drinks) and those that change the chemistry in the fibre (fruit juice, urine, bi-carb soda, bleach and other cleaning products). This chemistry-changing group can adversely affect the natural proteins in wool and the cellulose in natural fibres such as cotton, jute and other plant-based fibres.

For this reason, any treatment needs to be extremely gentle. Wet the stain with lukewarm water. Then treat for water-based spills, stopping at the final blotting stage. Do not finish with the vinegar treatment.

It is important not to use any other treatments, as these may cause physical damage or carry the stain deeper into the fibre.

An optional rug protection treatment is available for your rug and this can be applied after delivery at your home or premises. This will help to increase its life and provide protection against stains, mould, mildew and sun fade.

Fibre ProTector is an environmentally-friendly treatment that can be used on all types of natural and synthetic fibres. Independently laboratory tested, it is the only WoolSafe Enviroseal Approved textile sealant and will not change the colour or texture of the rug.

Non-toxic, non-allergenic and biodegradable, Fibre ProTector has no lasting smell and does not give off VOCs. The treatment is ideal for rugs in residential or commercial settings. Find an authorised applicator, obtain a quote or make a booking:

Australia: www.premiumsurfaceprotection.com.au 

Professional cleaning is recommended on occasion to ensure the long life of your rug. Please contact your local Armadillo store for a list of recommended carpet cleaning professionals in your area.

'Pop-ups' are a very natural part of the settling period of a hand-knotted rug, more common in the first 2 months. Due to the hand-crafted nature of our products, sometimes tightly spun yarn is hiding beneath the surface of the pile. With vacuuming, foot traction and general use, these strands of yarn can begin to unfurl and lengthen themselves, causing them to ‘pop-up’ above the usual pile height. These pop ups can be carefully trimmed to be level with the rest of the pile, or pushed back through without affecting the integrity of the rug.

OUTDOOR

OUTDOOR FURNITURE

To get the best out of your teak furniture we recommend that teakwood be left in its natural state, without applying any oils or varnishes. Oil and varnished finishes are difficult to maintain and may encourage mould growth.
As with indoor furniture regular cleaning is essential to keep the teakwood free from pollens and dirt, we recommend you brush off
and wipe with a damp cloth, paying extra attention to horizontal surfaces.
Remember that teakwood is a natural organic material, it may in certain conditions be subject to mould growth. Regular cleaning will minimise
the chance of mould growth.
If mould growth does occur clean it immediately using a teak or deck cleaning solution, these are readily available at hardware stores.
For very stubborn mould growth a solution of one part bleach to three parts water may be needed. Teak may also be refreshed periodically using 250grit sandpaper.

Fabrics should be cleaned regularly. Brush off dirt and wash with mild soap and lukewarm water solution (less than 38 Degrees C).
For stubborn stains wash in a solution of 1 cup (236ml) of bleach and 1/4 cup (59ml) of mild soap per 3.8 litres of water. Rinse thoroughly to remove soap and allow to air dry.
Machine wash temperature less than 38 Degrees C.
Do not tumble dry.
Do not dry clean.

To maintain simply wash with a soap and water solution rinsed
off with clean water. For use by the sea all metal surfaces should be washed regularly to avoid build-up of corrosive salts. Extra protection can be given by applying a Vaseline oil or car wax to the metal frame

304 Stainless steel is stain resistant but staining may occur particularly on flat horizontal surfaces, or where the furniture is located close to coastal environments, this staining is sometimes known as “tea staining”.

Tea staining does not affect the structural integrity or longevity of the furniture. To maintain the natural sheen of stainless steel apply a stainless steel cleaner whenever required, stainless steel cleaners are available at hardware stores. In highly saline environments extra cleaning will be required to maintain the polished surface appearance.

For use by the sea all metal surfaces should be washed regularly to avoid build-up of corrosive salts. Extra protection can be given by applying a Vaseline oil or car wax to the metal frame.

Compact laminate requires the minimum of maintenance, simply use a damp cloth to wipe clean. If there is any build up of grease and grime use a non-abrasive cleaning agent or soap solution. Avoid streaks by rinsing and wiping dry.

Metal furniture can be cleaned using either clean water or water containing a non-detergent soap. The furniture should then be wiped dry to remove any smears or traces of limescale.

Abrasive sponges should not be used to scrub the furniture, and no abrasive powders or other types of detergent should be used. For dirt that is more heavily ingrained, you should use either a window-cleaning product that contains alcohol, or a specific product such as Star brite® Multi-Purpose Cleaner.

For furniture incorporating both metal and outdoor technical fabric, the fabric should be cleaned with soapy water. For ingrained dirt, you should use a brush and a specific product such as Star brite® Multi-Purpose Cleaner. Maintaining Furniture.

All our products are delivered with pads that protect the furniture feet as well as floor surfaces. These pads prevent any degradation or damage to the feet resulting from contact with the ground, which can sometimes be damp or harsh.

Do not cover your furniture with a tarpaulin or plastic tablecloth and
avoid prolonged contact with any object that can hold water and humidity (such as flower pots, plate stands, etc.): in combination with heat, moisture can damage the appearance of the paint. To prevent moisture retention, we recommend that you tilt tables (using wedges) and chairs (resting against the table and not placed upside down on them) when not in use.

Table tops should not be covered with plastic sheeting:
the chemical components in this type of material can, over time, alter the appearance of the paint as well as its protective anti-corrosion and anti-UV property Furniture that features OTF (outdoor technical fabric) should be protected from potential damage from contact with sharp objects or sources of heat such as cigarettes.

Due to the nature of the material used, iron furniture does not react well to highly saline environments. For coastal environments, we recommend our aluminium products. The lifespan of your furniture will vary in relation to the conditions and type of use. To maximise the lifespan of your product, we recommend that you store it in a dry, well-ventilated place during the winter, and ensure it is protected from any knocks and bumps.

We recommend that you clean off any traces of bird droppings as quickly as possible, as these can be particularly damaging and may lead to the permanent corrosion or staining of your furniture.