CARE & MAINTENANCE
Care instructions
No special care is required on a regular basis, but if you feel that the shine has faded, applying wax will restore the moist, shiny look.
Wax has water-repellent and stain-preventing properties, so ideally it should be applied once every six months.
How to apply wax
[Things to prepare]
Wax: Beeswax is recommended as it is easy to work with.
2 pieces of 100% cotton fabric
1. Remove any dirt from the product surface (eg with a tightly wrung wet cloth).
②Put a small amount of wax on a cloth such as knitted fabric, apply it to the painted surface of the product, and spread it thinly with the cloth. Spreading it in a circular motion will rub the wax into the small gaps in the wood surface , increasing the effectiveness of the wax. Add more wax as you apply it, making sure no areas are left uncoated.
③ Use another cloth to wipe off excess wax from the applied surface. If you blow on the surface while rubbing it a little harder, the surface of the wood will become more glossy. Beeswax has a low melting point, so even if it dries, you can melt the surface by blowing on it, making it relatively easy to wipe off. You can also use a hair dryer to gently blow on it with warm air.
4. If any wax is not wiped off, it will dry out and remain stuck to the surface, so use a toothpick or paper to remove excess wax from areas the cloth cannot reach.
That is all.
How to remove stains and scratches that won't come off even after wiping
*Please do not do this on your own as plant-dyed products will need to be re-dyed.
[Things to prepare]
Sandpaper: #180-600
Oil: edible walnut oil (or perilla oil)
Cloth
① Sand any stains or scratches with sandpaper, making sure to follow the grain of the wood. By sanding along the grain of the wood, scratches from the paper will not be noticeable. Start with #180 if the scratch is deep, or #240 if it is small, and once the scratches and dirt have been removed, switch to finer (higher grit) paper to remove the paper scratches, and carefully sand the scratched area so that it blends with the surrounding area. If you remove the scratches here until they are no longer noticeable, you can achieve a natural finish. (Example) #180 → #240 → #400 → #600
② After polishing until the scratches on the paper are no longer visible, apply walnut oil with a cloth. Wipe off any excess and dry in the shade for a while. (It will take 2 to 3 days to dry.)
③ Once the oil has dried, apply wax. (See How to Apply Wax.) At first, the polished areas will look whitish and unnatural, but it will gradually blend in and you will no longer notice it.
Paid maintenance and repairs
If you are concerned about dirt or scratches, we can provide maintenance (for a fee) at our workshop. We can also repair broken boxes, such as those that have been dropped while in use.
We also accept re-dyeing of plant dyes.
Please contact us via CONTACT.