Cedar Wood

You can leave cedar dog houses totally natural. Because cedar resists moisture and insect damage, it works well for outdoor furniture and pet houses. With little maintenance, it lasts for years. Its properties also help it to weather more gracefully than other woods. Depending on your preferences, you may choose to care for cedar dog houses in a number of different ways.

If you prefer the natural look, you can leave the wood as is. Untreated cedar wood gradually weathers to a silvery gray. If you want to see what the wood looks like in this condition, perform a simple search online for "weathered cedar" images. If you choose to leave the wood in its natural state, you should be aware that it can pick up stains if you position it in a damp or shaded area.

You can clean stains from cedar dog houses or other cedar wood products. Some manufacturers recommend a solution of household bleach and water. On the other hand, some professional wood cleaners say that they prefer to use oxygenated bleach, as it does a better job and is not as harsh on wood. Wash any remaining solution from the wood. While a pressure washer may seem like a quick solution, you should use caution. The pressure can damage the wood. If you decide to use one, proceed with extra care.

If you prefer a specific shade of color, you may stain cedar dog houses to suit your tastes or match other pieces of outdoor furniture. Cedar doesn't require a great deal of sanding before you apply the stain. Follow the manufacturer's directions for best results. In addition, you should reapply stain every 2 to 5 years in order to maintain the finish and keep the wood in best shape.

Some people choose a clear wood sealer as a finish for cedar. A clear sealer doesn't necessarily keep the wood the same color as it is when new. It does offer added protection against moisture.

Others choose to care for cedar wood furniture and accessories by applying teak oil or linseed oil. Teak wood naturally produces an oil that guards it against moisture and weathering. Linseed oil comes from the seeds of the flax plant. If you use teak oil as a finish, you will probably need to apply several coats, but it dries faster than linseed oil. Some people recommend linseed oil, while others say it is not suitable for outdoor use.

Paint is another option, but not the best one. For one thing, paint hides the natural beauty of the cedar. And in some cases, it can actually trap moisture inside.

As you can see, you have many options when caring for cedar dog houses. If you need help deciding, you may wish to consult the dog house specifications. For cleaning recommendations, you can gather more information from professional cedar wood cleaners. With any chemical product, you should read and follow all the directions to keep yourself safe and prevent damage to the wood.

About the Author:

Rachel Dawson is a freelance writer who has known several special dogs. She writes about
pet houses
and
accessories
.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Caring For Cedar Dog Houses

 

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Anyone who has purchased cigars from a tobacconist's shop will know that they are usually stored in specialized cabinets that maintain a balanced temperature and steady level of humidity. Basically, such a cabinet or container is just a commercially sized humidor which operates in many of the same ways that the smaller, cedar boxes do. These individually sized containers often provide remarkably efficient ways to age and maintain cigars under optimal conditions, but they do require some regular effort and care. People who use humidors will usually have a few that are not in active service. This means that they are empty and are not being monitored for their levels of humidity. Before putting such a box back into service, the owner is going to have to re-season it and ensure that the wood lining the box is in good condition. It is significant to note that the cedar wood lining the humidor is very soft and prone to losing its moisture rapidly. If you place cigars into a humidor which has not been in use, the wood is likely to pull some moisture out of the cigars, and a balanced environment will be very hard to obtain. The solution is to first use the right equipment and accessories to get the box into working order, and only then should the cigars be added. The best tool for measuring the condition of the box is the device called a hygrometer. This will indicate the current dew point inside of the humidor, and the ideal level is around 70%. The owner must put the boxes where they will be stored permanently, which should be in a somewhat controlled area out of direct sunlight. They should then close the box and put the hygrometer inside of it.

This should be left alone for several hours to get an accurate reading. Anything less than 70% humidity means that the box itself will need to be re-humidified before cigars can be safely added. This is done by adding the humidifier and leaving the box alone until the right levels are obtained. It is important to note that many boxes will need upwards of a full week to become fully restored, and a cigar owner is going to have to become quite proficient at managing their humidifying devices. This is because they will need to balance the distilled water and the Propylene Glycol formula (or PG) that allows water to escape at a much slower rate of evaporation, thus humidifying the environment properly.