Care & Maintenance A guide to extending the life of your Artek products

Content Wood and wooden surfaces Laminate Page 10 Linoleum Page 14 Fabric Page 16 Leather Page 20 Webbing Page 22 Metal Page 24

This guide will help you care for your Artek furniture. By following our instructions, you’ll keep your beloved items in good condition and assure them a long life. Many Artek products have been in production for decades. Over time, different surface treatments and manufacturing methods have been used. The guide at hand refers specifically to the surfaces and standard materials currently in production. All Artek furniture has been designed for indoor use and storage in dry, warm spaces. If a product can be used outdoors, that will be mentioned in its specifications. We advise against placing...

Wood and wooden surfaces Wood is a living material Every piece of furniture made from wood is unique. The colour of birch wood, for example, changes according to various factors: the habitat of the tree, the traces of insects, the part of the trunk that’s cut, the way the wood is dried while pro essing. c We strive to select materials that are as uniormly coloured as possible, but f some variation is unavoidable in order to keep production ecologically sustainable and material loss to a minimum. At Artek, we see the variability of woodgrain as one of birch’s most beautiful qualities. Sometimes,...

Lacquered and stained wood surfaces Artek furniture is lacquered to make its surfaces more durable; light damage is nearly undeectable on a clear lacquered surface. Before t lacquering, the surface may also be stained. Staining highlights the wood grain and evens or intensifies the colour. Due to UV radiation, the colour of a clear lacquered or lightly stained product will change over time. Protection and care Wipe the product at regular intervals using a soft cloth dampened with a solution of water and neutral detergent. Keep chemical exposure to a minimum. Dry the surface after wiping to eliminate...

Laminate Artek furniture is made using high-pressure laminate (HPL), a composite, wear-resistant material consisting of paper layered with thermosetting resins. Our IKI White HPL was made to Alvar Aalto's specification using a double layer of paper for extra thickness and a deep white colour. Protection and care For daily cleaning, wipe down the laminate with a damp microfiber cloth. Laminate boards can be cleaned with any household detergent that doesn’t contain abrasives. After wiping, be sure to dry the surface, particularly the seam where the laminate meets the wood edge band. Beware that...

Stain removal guide for laminate from laminate manufacturer Formica IKI Oy Cleaning Common multi-purpose cleaners Alcohol, e.g. isopropanol, window cleaner Soot, nicotine Fruit stains Varnish, glue, wallpaper paste* Lipstick, shoe polish Nail polish Two-component glue stains cannot always be removed.

Linoleum Linoleum is an organic product made primarily of linseed oil, wood flour, granulated cork, and limestone flour. Natural pigments are added for colour. The surface of the linoleum currently in use by Artek has been protected with a thin acrylic layer, which shields the porous surface from dirt. Protection and care Wipe the product using a cloth dampened with a solution of water and neutral detergent. Afterwards, dry. Use a microfiber cloth for daily cleaning. Remove grime using an undiluted neutral detergent. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Stain removal Remove unwanted stains as soon as possible....

Fabric Artek furniture can be upholstered in a variety of fabrics made by different manufacturers, each with its own unique composition and character. To ensure a long life for your item, it’s important to select a material appropriate for your purposes and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and care. Protection and care of upholstery fabrics Basic care for textiles means regular vacuuming. This removes dirt and dust from the surface in order to prevent grime build-up, which may weaken the fabric. Vacuum gently on low power using a nozzle designed for textiles. Avoid hard rubbing...

Washing Always follow fabric-specific washing instructions. If washing with water is allowed, wash textiles precisely as advised. Test the impact of washing on a spot of fabric that is not visible. Note that the use of zippers in upholstery does not automatically mean the fabric can be washed with water. Use dedicated shampoos and powders to gently wash sensitive textiles. After washing, manually restore the fabric to its general shape and leave it to dry in an airy place. While it’s still damp, put the cleaned upholstery back on the furniture and let it dry fully. If upholstery cannot be removed,...

Leather We use various leather qualities to upholster Artek furniture. Most are finished with a protective surface treatment, but we may also use untreated (or only coloured) leather. The most common leathers used by Artek – Sørensen’s Prestige and Elegance – feature a protective surface finish that makes them more re istant to dirt, water, and grease. Like all s high-quality, naturally treated leathers, Artek leathers tend to feature anomalies, such as scarring and colour variation. These highlight the genuineness of the material. The strongest variation can be seen in the aniline leather (e.g....

Webbing The webbing used by Artek is 100% linen. In early 2019, we improved its quality and longevity and updated the colour range. Whereas earlier webbing underwent antistain treatment, our new standard quality is not treated with any chem icals. Products with webbing can be re-upholstered. Care Vacuum gently using a nozzle designed for use on textiles. Wipe with a damp cloth that does not pill or stain. Shampoo using a neutral detergent. Avoid E xposure to direct sunlight. E xtensive rubbing. S tretching the fabric when it’s moist. U sing recently cleaned furniture before the belt fabric has...