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Do you have a sofa in your living room that looks beaten up?
Does you dining table have scratches after years of use?
You can easily get your furniture back in shape and looking fresh with a few quick DIY tricks.
Your furniture is one of the most used and important household items. Drinks are often spilled on it and leaving blemish, sometimes pets claw the fabrics or even tear it or leave their hair on it. Also, prolonged lounging often leaves furniture cushions misshapen and flat. Nonetheless, giving your furniture proper maintenance will ensure it looks fresh, clean and last longer. When your household items are properly maintained you will find it easier to clean your new home and make it livable.
Here are relevant tips on how to maintain your furniture appropriately:
Wood Furniture
If your furniture is made of wood, make sure you keep the humidity around 40 percent. The air in your home can affect the appearance and state of your wood furniture. You can use a humidifier in the winter months to guard your pieces from drying out. Also, an air conditioner or a dehumidifier will prevent wood from expanding or swelling due to moisture.
Wash wood once in a while with water and non-alkaline soap. You can use a soft sponge or soap to remove old wax accumulation, and then dry straight away. Leaving your wood furniture wet can cause can cause marks or damage to the piece. Keep the wood furniture away from heat or sunlight. Placing your wood furniture close to fireplaces, radiators, windows and heat vents can cause severe damage to the piece. Polish your wood furniture with paste wax twice in a year. You should apply the wax using a soft cloth and rub carefully in the direction of the grain.
To guard against water damage and spills, always use placemats and coasters. Also, you can use mayonnaise to wipe off water marks. Carefully rub about two tablespoon of mayonnaise on the watermark then cover it lightly with a cloth, your water mark would absolutely disappear.
Upholstered Furniture
If you own an upholstered furniture vacuum it once in a week to prevent the accumulation of dirt, grime and dust that can make the fabric appearing dingy or dull. Also, use the special brush attached to your vacuum to release the dirt and hair particles that are hidden inside the fibers of the fabric.
You should flip and rotate the cushions on couches every month. This will prevent them from becoming flat or uneven and allow an equal amount of wear and tear. Regularly fluff them up to allow them keep their shape. You can also consider taking them outside and beating off dusts the vacuum couldn’t shake off.
You can avoid spills on your furniture by limiting meals in the living room. But whenever there is a spill, don’t rub, always blot. The fewer spills you have on your furniture the longer they will keep looking new.Have your upholstered furniture cleaned by experts every one or two years. Invite furniture cleaners to your home. They will deep clean your furniture and spray protective coating on it to guard it against spills and stains. You should also consider taking your cushions cover to the dry cleaners, but never use your washing machines for washing them. If you do, it can cause fabric deterioration, shrinkage and fading.
Leather Furniture
If you have leather furniture in your home, make sure you keep sharp objects away from it. Leather is easily torn or punctured by rough edges and points. Also, keep your leather furniture away from direct heat or sunlight. Prolonged sunlight exposure can cause the color of leather furniture to fade over time. Place your leather furniture at least two feet away from any heat source. Heat can make the leather to dry out and become brittle.
You should clean the leather at least once in a week with a mild soap, soft dry cloth, and water. Ensure the cloth is slightly damp, rub carefully and lightly to remove dusts, crumbs, oil and dirt. In case of any spill, blot the liquid instantly to prevent it from soak in.
Whenever you intend to clean the furniture, always clean an entire cushion equally. Cleaning just one small spot and leaving the rest will cause spotting. After cleaning, wipe dry the leather chair with a clean towel. Also, to protect your leather chair from cracking, apply leather cleaner about four times in a year.
By following these tips, you should be able to keep your furniture looking brand new, even after years of use and abuse. Our furniture takes a lot of beating over years of use and if you’ve moved a few times, that could be extra strain on it. Learn how to protect your furniture during a move and make sure your stuff never looks beaten up.
