Rubberwood, also called parawood or plantation hardwood, is a product of the rubber tree that is cultivated as a source of natural rubber in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brazil. Rubber is one of the most environmentally friendly species of wood in the world because most of these trees are grown on renewable rubber plantations. When trees stop producing latex sap, which is the raw material for the world’s rubber, they are cut down for workable hardwood and new rubber trees are then planted to replace them. This qualifies plantation-grown rubberwood as a sustainable forest product. The result is a durable, attractive and exotic hardwood for making all types of furniture, including children’s furniture.
Rubberwood is a distant cousin of our domestic maple from which much of our best hardwood children’s toys and furniture is made. While rubber is technically a hardwood, it should be considered a moderately hard wood that is softer than maple, oak, and birch, and more comparable in hardness to black cherry, ash, and teak. Like all other hardwoods, rubberwood has higher density and durability than softwoods like pine and fir.
The first rubberwood furniture my wife and I bought was a Malaysian-made dining table and chairs that we bought when our children were very young, about 20 years ago. This rubberwood product has served us well for all the years our children have been growing up in our home and it still looks as beautiful today as it did the day we first brought it home from the store. We fully anticipate using this same furniture set when he retires and eventually passing it on to one of our children. The only problem with our rubberwood furniture will be deciding which of the children will be the lucky one to receive it. Children’s furniture made from rubberwood is a quality material that allows a keepsake item to be passed down from generation to generation.
Cleaning and caring for rubberwood furniture is no different from furniture made from other hardwood material. Here are some tips to help keep your furniture looking good for years to come. Keep rubberwood furniture dry and clean up spills right away. Avoid leaving your furniture in the path of humidifiers, air conditioning and heating vents, and direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Use coasters, heating pads, and potholders instead of placing hot or wet items directly on your furniture. These steps will help preserve the integrity of your furniture’s finish, which in turn protects the beauty of your rubberwood product.
