Caring for Svenskt Tenn’s textile products
Our textile products such as pillowcases, placemats, napkins, pot holders, aprons and tea cosies should be machine washed at 40 degrees. The textile’s colours set at this temperature. It’s a good idea to turn the pillowcases inside out before washing.
Avoid soaking in water and colder temperatures as the colours can fade.
Use a mild washing detergent without bleach.
Let the textiles hang dry. Do not spin in the dryer!
Curtains
We recommend that you vacuum, shake and air out the curtains, as the lined curtains consist of two different materials that shrink differently in a water wash. Dry cleaning is another option.
Bags
These cannot be washed due to their leather details.
The bags have been treated with a fabric protector.
Sofa cushions as well as other sewn items
Dry cleaning is recommended to avoid shrinkage.
Lamp shades
These should never be washed.
We recommend using a soft furniture brush or a dust brush.
Almgren’s Sidentvål (soap)
We recommend Almgren’s soap, which is mild and gentle on textiles. It is very good for removing stains from pillows, cushions, bags and curtains.
Caring for wood furniture
Svenskt Tenn’s furniture is made from wood and then lacquered. The woodwork should be cleaned simply with a soft cloth dampened with mild dish detergent or soapy water. Make sure to dry it with a soft cloth.
The furniture lacquer can be damaged by direct heat and lengthy exposure to dampness. Keep in mind that water-filled vases can cause condensation.
Colour variations can occur if parts of the tabletop or other wood surfaces on furniture are covered early on with, for example, books or other items. It is therefore recommended that you not put vases or placemats and the like, on the tabletop for some time when the furniture is new. This will enable the wood to age evenly over a period of time.
Different wood types
Walnut is often grey brown in colour but it ages from exposure to sunlight, eventually taking on a more golden-brown tone.
Elm and pyramid mahogany’s big contrasts normally soften up as the table ages.
Cherry is usually light when the furniture is new, but it ages from exposure to sunlight and darkens to a more reddish-brown tone.
Mahogany usually ages with exposure to sunlight and gets darker.
Beech usually ages with exposure to sunlight and darkens to a warmer gold nuance.
Coffee table Per Öberg
This table has a black lacquer cast-iron base with a sheet metal tabletop that is sprayed with black lacquer.
The table should only be cleaned with a soft cloth moistened in mild dish detergent or soapy water. On a black lacquer surface such as this one, the scratches become even more visible, but at the same time, they give the table character. The lacquer can be damaged by direct heat and prolonged exposure to dampness. Keep in mind that water-filled vases can cause condensation.
Side table 548 and Smoking table 2110
The stainless sheets on these tables have a brushed finish and contain small vertical scratches. Other scratches can be removed by carefully rubbing Scotch-Brite lengthwise on the tray.
Caring for upholstered furniture
The feather cushions are sewn in three sections for the highest quality and made to provide the best possible seating comfort.
All types of feather cushions need to be puffed up so that they maintain their resilience. We recommend that you shake and puff up the cushions regularly and knead them to loosen up feather bunches.
The legs have threaded attachments and may need to be tightened from time to time.
We recommend that you order covers for the armrests as additional protection. We also offer stain guarding to give the sofa or other piece of furniture extra protection.
Caring for pewter
Pewter is a soft material that requires careful handling. We recommend that you wear cotton gloves when handling pewter. Pewter that is not being used can be stored in a plastic bag to avoid scratching. Pewter sold at Svenskt Tenn is packaged in a felt bag for protection. Pewter should never be stored in tissue paper as this can scratch the material.
When it comes to candle holders in pewter it is important to know that pewter has a lower melting point (232 degrees) than other metals. This means that candles should never burn down completely in the candle holder, but should be blown out when there is still 4-5 cm left. Otherwise, the pewter can melt and become crooked, something which can’t be repaired.
In the worst case scenario, pewter products that are, for example, placed on a southern window in the summer, can become so warm that the pewter changes shape.
We recommend that you not use pewter as a holder for fruit or other food.
Cleaning:
The use of a polishing solution on pewter is generally not recommended as it can cause scratches.
Always try to first rinse the pewter clean in warm water, with a little dish detergent to help remove fingerprints and the like. Then dry with a soft cloth.
For more advanced cleaning of pewter products we recommend a professional restorer, for example, KA Johnsson in Stockholm.
Caring for brass items
The surface of brass is sensitive to objects that can scratch and mar it – as well as certain polishing cloths and sponges. When polishing, use a soft cloth and a polishing solution with a brightening effect. Note that when using a universal cleaner, it is important to build up a good lather or foam prior to cleaning. This is done with a soft sponge and warm water.
Brass that isn’t polished will become darker over time from exposure to air. This change can be beautiful so long as the gold colour in the brass is preserved.
If the surface gets grease (from fingerprints, candle wax, etc.) or other corroding substances on it, it can eventually be damaged and more difficult to polish away. This can happen especially in a damp environment.
If you see a patchy effect, with more distinct and darker or greenish spots, it is good to polish the spots away or polish the entire surface.
Candle wax and grease can be washed off with hot water and then polished with a soft cloth as above.
Our lamps have a lacquered brass surface that won’t oxidize. Avoid polishing them with a strong solution. We recommend polishing only with a soft, dry cloth.
Caring for stainless products
Stainless surfaces are not as sensitive to air as brass is. Stainless steel does not usually change colour due to an airborne chemical reaction. It is normally sufficient to wash the items with mild dish detergent and water to make them shiny and bright again. If, however, corroding elements (such as acids) remain on the surface for a long time, corrosive damage can occur.
It is best not to use any sponges, towels, clothes or brushes that can scratch or mar stainless material. Even though stainless steel is a hard and resistant material, it is still possible to affect high gloss surfaces in a way that appears, to the sensitive eye, as scratches and damage.
Caring for silver/silver-plating
Silver is a natural material that reacts when it comes in contact with air, resulting in oxidation on the product. The speed in which oxidation takes place depends on, for example, the dampness of the environment. Oxidation is unavoidable, unless the products are in a package that is entirely void of air.
All Svenskt Tenn-produced silver candle holders, such as The Knot of Friendship, Clover, Globe, etc., are silver-plated solid brass and require careful polishing. We recommend that you first try to polish away oxidation with a soft cloth. If this doesn’t work, we recommend a universal cleaner or silver polish. Keep in mind that with silver-plated products, some of the silver is removed every time the object is polished.
Silverware should be cared for in a similar way as above and, ideally, wrapped when stored.
It’s best to wash silver cutlery by hand, but if using a dishwasher, avoid mixing different pieces of metal like silver and stainless steel in the cutlery holder. The moist environment contributes to galvanization which can make the metals react with each other and form black spots that can’t be removed with polishing.
Silver jewellery such as the Etrurian necklace and bracelet, the Lion broach and other silver jewellery, should be handled as above. “Silver Dip” cleaner can also be used.
Caring for cutlery
The Servus cutlery series consists mainly of 18/8 steel alloy. The food knives are made of chromium steel, which is sharper. The cutlery stands up well to normal use and is dishwasher safe. It is not, however, acid resistant.
A certain amount of wear will show sooner or later on highly polished metal surfaces. The degree to which this happens depends on how the cutlery has been cared for and on the chemical environment which it has been exposed to. There are some simple care instructions that we recommend following.
Dishwashing is an important factor. The chemical environment in the dishwasher varies depending on the type of dishwashing detergent used, water quality, as well as how long the cutlery has been in the humid environment. Examine the cutlery every now and then. If corrosion (black spots) begins to appear, the cutlery can be polished with a polishing solution that doesn’t contain coarse ingredients. It can also be worthwhile to try another dishwashing detergent and check the water quality. Chlorine is something that has a negative effect on the cutlery’s surface.
Do not mix items made of different metals in the dishwasher cutlery holder. The moist environment can lead to galvanization which has a tarnishing affect on some of the other metals.
Open the door after dishwashing, especially in poorly ventilated machines to reduce the humidity faster. Washing and drying cutlery by hand is however the gentlest way to handle it.
Avoid cleaning with sponges, cloths, steel wool and the like that have a sanding effect on the cutlery. A marred surface becomes dull and not as sturdy. And always avoid exposing the cutlery to strong acids.