Living Room Sofa, Side Tables and Coffee Table

Furniture Care Best Practices

Let’s face it; no one wants to spend hours cleaning furniture. So when it’s time to get down and dirty, you want to do things and use the most efficient products. When you’re leasing furniture, furniture care is especially important because you want to return it in the same condition you received it. If you happen to get a stain, it’s also important to treat it as soon as possible.

If you’re a little cloudy on what it takes to keep your furniture in tip-top shape, we have some tips for taking care of wood furniture as well as leather furniture care and cleaning other materials.

Taking Care of Wood Furniture

When it comes to taking care of wood furniture, simple is the key. You don’t have to buy the entire shelf of cleaning products. With these tips, you’ll see that keeping wood furniture clean is easier than you thought.

Use Soap and Water

It doesn't get much easier than cleaning with soap and water. To keep your wood furniture clean, use a damp washcloth and mild dish soap. After cleaning, rinse with a soap-free, damp cloth. Use another washcloth to dry the surface. Be sure to never use any cleaners that have ammonia because it can damage the wood.

Polish After Cleaning

When you clean wood furniture, some polish will naturally come off. When you polish it, it will restore some shine and protect the surface. Use a polish that does not contain high amounts of alcohol because it can damage wood finishes.

Dust Frequently

Using a soft, lint-free cloth is best to dust your furniture. Keeping up with dusting helps to protect the finish from nasty dirt.

Use Trivets for Anything Hot

If you’re putting hot dishes down, protect wooden surfaces by using trivets. Putting anything hot on a wooden surface will lead to burn marks and stains.

Use Coasters for Glasses

Coasters with felt or cork bottoms help to prevent water rings. You never want to let water stand on wooden surfaces.

You can also keep these tips in mind when it comes to taking care of your wooden furniture:

  • Maintain a consistent temperature in your home. Any dramatic changes can affect the humidity levels and create more moisture in the air.
  • Don’t let your home get too dry because excessively dry areas can lead to your wood furniture shrinking, splitting, or becoming brittle.
  • Don’t put wood furniture in steamy bathrooms or laundry areas.

You also don’t want to forget about your pets. Pets can accidentally scratch and damage furniture. You can protect these surfaces with a natural fiber table cloth, chair cover, or pad.

Leather Furniture Care & Other Upholstery

Leather

If you have leather couches or chairs, you’ll want to take extra care by following these tips:

  • Wipe down with a soft clean cloth
  • Remove any dirt by wiping the area with a clean, damp cloth
  • Dry with a soft wool cloth
  • Allow to dry

Woven Fabrics

You’ll want to check your fabric’s cleaning guide, but you can typically use a water-based clean solution to clean woven fabrics.

Mesh

Use a soft bristle brush to loosen dirt or debris and vacuum. Use a mild solution of water and detergent. Rinse thoroughly with a clean, damp cloth, and dry.

Vinyl, Polyurethane, and Silicone

It’s best to clean these surfaces with a mild solution of water and detergent made of water and dish soap. Rinse thoroughly with a clean, damp cloth, and dry. You may also want to moderate scrubbing with a soft brush to loosen debris

Furniture Stain Cleaning Tips

Besides routine care, you want to also know how to remove stains from your furniture. Different types of stains will require different treatments.

Blood

Blood stains are best treated with cold water and table salt with a combination of 2 tablespoons of salt to 1 quart of water. Rinse and blot with a towel.

Candle Wax

Scrape away surface wax with a spatula or dull knife. You can also cover the wax with several layers of paper towels and use a warm iron.

Chewing Gum

Freeze the gum with ice and then remove with a spatula or dull knife.

Chocolate or Coffee

Put lukewarm water on a sponge to remove.

Ink or Markers

Use rubbing alcohol to remove these types of stains.

When it comes to fruit juice or berry stains, you’ll want to treat those with warm water.

By following these tips for furniture care and stain removal, you can extend the life of your furniture and keep your home fresh and clean!

Are You Looking to Rent Furniture in North Carolina?

If you’re looking to rent furniture or other home items, contact Executive Furniture Leasing. We offer a variety of furniture rental packages for customers across North Carolina including Greensboro, Burlington, High Point, Asheville, and Wilmington. Call us today at  336-851-1351 or fill out the contact form below to get started.

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