Caring for Linoleum and Oak Veneer

For us, the combination of oak veneer and linoleum is timeless. Plus, just like the rest of the materials we use, they’re both made from a process that is as human friendly and non toxic as possible.

Our Birch core plywood comes from the closest and most responsibly accredited mills in Europe that we can access. We also have a strong relationship with London based builders merchants, Buttles, who have been sourcing wood since 1919. They’re also next-door neighbours to our Kentish Town workshop, which is pretty handy!

Marmoleum, Forbo’s brand of linoleum that we use, is made from 97% natural raw materials and contains 43% recycled content. It contains no phthalates, no plasticisers and no mineral oil. The key raw materials used in the Marmoleum production include linseed oil, wood flour and jute. It’s also finished with Topshield, an antibacterial, which means it is hygienic and needs less cleaning with less harmful chemicals.

However, these materials do mean that your lovely Grain product needs a little more care and consideration during the cleaning process. So, to make things simple, we’ve compiled a handy little guide on how to keep your new furniture looking its best.

Our Cleaning Guidelines

General cleaning of our linoleum and our Oak veneer is pretty similar.

1. Fill a bowl with hand warm water. Please note, standard soaps or cleaning products will degrade the finish with extended use.
2. Dip a soft towel or cloth in the warm water and ring it out. Don’t drown the table but spread enough warm water to cover the whole surface of the lino evenly.
3. Using a clean cloth, dry off the surface fully. We recommend using long soft continuous swipes, following the grain of the wood. Be sure to leave the surface bone dry.

How to Remove Stains on Linoleum

1. Fill a bowl with hand warm water OR dilute a low PH cleaner with warm water (1 part cleaner to 20 parts warm/hot water, mix well) Soap brands we recommend, diluted with water are Method or Ecover. Please note, any standard soap or cleaning product with degrade the finish with extended use.
2. Dip a soft towel or cloth in the warm water and ring it out. Apply using circular motions to the stained area.
3. Dry off the lino surface with a soft dry cloth/towel. Make sure to remove all moisture from the surface.
4.  We’d also recommend applying a neat drop of Forbo Monel cleaner (available widely online) directly over the newly cleaned area
5. Let the Monel sit for 1-2 minutes evenly on the surface.
6. Dry off the lino surface with a soft dry cloth/towel. Make sure to remove all moisture from the surface.
7. If it’s a more stubborn stain, like a marker pen or paint, please get in touch. We will recommend the best solution tailored for the specific stain in question. We have helped our customers remove all kinds of stains, be it biro, sharpie, coffee, turmeric or even food colouring.

How to Remove Stains on Oak Veneer

1. Fill a bowl with hand warm water OR dilute a low PH cleaner with warm water (1 part cleaner to 20 parts warm/hot water, mix well) Soap brands we recommend, diluted with water are Method or Ecover. Please note, any standard soap or cleaning product with degrade the finish with extended use.
2. Dip a soft towel or cloth in the warm water and ring it out.
3. Apply the clean damp cloth using circular motions to the stained area until vanished.
4. Using a clean cloth, dry off the surface fully. We recommend using long soft continuous swipes, following the grain of the wood. Be sure to leave the surface bone dry.
5. If it’s a more stubborn stain, like a marker pen or paint, please get in touch. We will recommend the best solution tailored for the specific stain in question. We have helped our customers remove all kinds of stains, be it biro, sharpie, coffee, turmeric or even food colouring.

How to Maintain Linoleum

We recommend doing this every 2-3 months (or more frequently if desired).

1. Mix one part Forbo Monel cleaner to five parts warm/hot water in a washing up bowl.
2. Using a soft and clean towel, sponge or cloth generously apply the warm soapy solution evenly to cover the entire lino surface.
3. Wipe away any drips down the side of the table that may reach the plywood edges. Use a clean dry cloth.
4. Let the soapy solution sit for 1-2 minutes evenly on the surface. Being sure to watch out for drips or wet patches on the plywood.
5. Dry off the lino surface with a soft dry cloth/towel. Make sure to remove all moisture from the surface.

How to Maintain Oak Veneer

• Immediately wipe up spills with a clean dry cloth.
• Use coasters and placemats.
• Avoid exposing the table to low humidity or long exposure to room temperature over 30 degrees celsius.
• Keep the surface cleaned and free of dirt, dust, moisture and grease.
• Do not apply any strong cleaning products (i.e Dettol), wood oils/wax, solvent or aerosol-based substances to the surface. Warm water and a low PH soap are all you’ll ever need.