How to Preserve Mahogany Wood

Place your mahogany furniture away from sunny windows and heat sources such as heaters, radiators and fireplaces. Sunlight and heat can dry out mahogany wood.

Use wooden, felt-bottomed coasters under drinks placed on mahogany furniture. Other types of coasters, such as those made from paper or metal, can cause condensation to form on your wooden furniture.

Prevent hot objects, such as hot food, from coming into direct contact with your mahogany furniture. Because heat can damage the wood's finish, place hot items on coasters or serving plates to protect the surface.

Wipe your mahogany furniture weekly with a soft, dry cloth, following the grain of the wood. To remove any stains or spots, dampen the cloth slightly with water and wipe the wood in the direction of the grain. Wipe gently until the spot is removed.

Apply a high-quality furniture polish to your mahogany items when they need added shine. Add a small amount of polish to a soft cloth and wipe onto your wooden item, following the grain of the wood. Wipe any remaining polish away with a dry, clean cloth.

Select a touch-up marker in a shade slightly lighter than the mahogany wood to cover any nicks or scratches in the wooden piece. Apply the touch-up marker to your furniture, following the instructions on the marker. Continue to apply more coats of touch-up marker until the scratch is completely blended in with the rest of the furniture.