Prevention is the best cure, right? Over the years, your home furniture does go through a lot of wear and tear. That is why it is important to implement appropriate furniture care routines into your regular cleaning schedules. It does not matter whether the furniture item in question is a sofa, bedside table or bookshelf. All household furniture requires its own care and maintenance. Along these lines, spending a few minutes each week on maintaining your furniture will go a long way!
We are not going to pretend that cleaning is fun, but it is extremely beneficial and cost-saving in the long run. Here, we provide you with a few basic tips to extend the longevity and durability of your furniture.
General Furniture Care Tips
The first port of call is to consult a salesperson about how to care for the furniture you buy. It is essential to implement the right maintenance techniques for each unique piece of furniture from the get-go. It’s common sense that a leather couch would be cleaned differently from a wooden shelf, or a glass table. As such, it is important to ensure you are implementing the correct cleaning practices for each item.
When buying your furniture, ask the what’s, where’s, how’s and when’s of the products, techniques, and procedures you should apply to the item. In addition to this, most furniture comes with a physical brochure or care manual. Alternatively, maintenance information for different brands, materials, and styles can also be found online. Now, once you have all this information, it’s time to put it to use. You want to consider furniture care and maintenance as inseparable from all other housework. Integrating furniture care into your regular cleaning routine will ensure none of your furniture is neglected.
Polishing
When cleaning wooden furniture with strong chemicals, it is likely that the polish is slowly wearing off. Even though these strong chemicals are essential to preventing the growth and spread of germs and bacteria, it can often cause discoloration and premature aging. Keep furniture polish handy, and give those wooden items some tender loving care every once in a while. This will ensure your furniture maintains its new, shiny look while also providing necessary protection.
Vacuuming and Dusting
Dusting on a daily, or weekly basis is a good way to ensure that your furniture stays in good shape. Set aside 10 minutes to regularly dust down all your furniture. In addition, vacuuming your softer material furniture helps ensure dust and dirt don’t settle into the fibers and cause further discoloration and damage. This is even more important if your household is home to some furry friends who can bring dirt and soils in from outside. This will also help prevent the spread of unwanted germs and bacteria.
Avoid Exposure from the Sun
Natural elements are your enemy when it comes to furniture care. Sun exposure is probably one of the most damaging elements for wood and material furniture. As such, you should avoid placing your furniture near windows or wherever else the sun may pass through your home. Alternatively, you can protect your furniture by covering it with protective materials. Table cloths, carpets, and couch covers can ensure the longevity of your furniture and décor. Additionally, you want to ensure your furniture is not exposed to rain and moisture as this may cause your furniture to swell, bend and rot if not protected and cleaned frequently.
Remember the Crevices
You may be tempted to frequently clean the surfaces of your home furniture but people often forget the nooks and crannies collect dirt and dust. The corner pockets of your couches, the underside of your tables, and the back of your cupboards are all prone to getting dirty, too. Don’t forget to target these problem areas to avoid unnecessary build-up of unwanted particles and bacteria.
Protect Furniture from Pets
While pets are a great addition to your home, they are the number one culprit in damaging your furniture. Our furry friends are famous for clawing at home items, leaving dirty paw prints on our couches and traipsing mites, dirt and dust into the house. As you aren’t always there to prevent your pets from climbing onto your furniture, it is important to implement other means to minimise the risk of damage. Providing scratch posts, and designated pet beds or pillows, and having your animals regularly groomed will help maintain your furniture care.
These are only a few of the many tips and tricks you can implement to maintain your household furniture items. Once in a while, it is also advised that you hire a professional cleaning service. Professional cleaners are able to provide your furniture with the expert deep clean you may need every once in a while.
