Clean furniture can easily make any room in your home look more attractive. Keeping your furniture regularly free from dirt, stains and other marks also helps prolong its lifespan. Furthermore, the spotless vibe that comes from clean furniture helps bring a more positive ambience to the house.
Cleaning the furniture is no easy task. However, with the right information and efficiency, you should be able to successfully wash and wipe your furniture clean without stressing yourself too much. In this article, we will try to make your task easier by sharing a few secrets when it comes to keeping the furniture clean. We spoke to a specialised cleaning service on their best tips for keeping further in cleaning.
Different Materials Require Different Cleaning
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is believing that all kinds of furniture can be cleaned the same way. While all furniture will definitely benefit from regular vacuuming, additional cleaning methods need to be used depending on the material of the furniture to ensure that it is thoroughly cleaned. Refrain from using all-purpose cleaning agents on everything inside the house, sometimes the chemicals can even damage the furniture if it’s too strong for the surface.
Upholstered Furniture
As stated earlier, the easiest way to keep your furniture clean is to regularly vacuum them. Vacuum through the cracks and crannies of your furniture, especially in areas where crumbs and dirt tend to accumulate. Take cushions off and be sure to vacuum both sides. If your upholstered furniture is made of microfiber material, you can try to brush through it first before vacuuming to let loose any stuck dirt or debris.
A smart way to clean upholstered furniture would be to first read the cleaning tags on it. For instance, a W label means water-based detergents are recommended, while an S symbol means only water-free products like dry cleaning solvents or simply dry cloth can be used to clean it. It might be a good idea to consider reading these tags as well before purchasing any furniture in the future.
This applies to all types of furniture: when cleaning with a detergent mixture, make sure to test it first before applying it to the whole furniture. Scrub a small amount of the mixture on a part of the upholstery that normally can’t be seen, like its backside or underside. Wipe the same part dry and let it air for a couple of minutes, then check back if there’s any discolouration or other effects on the texture. If any unwanted effects are present, you can either try a different cleaning agent or have it cleaned professionally.
Stains are hard to remove in upholstered furniture, so if ever a spill occurs the best thing would be to treat the stain before it sticks very badly. Remember to gently blot the stain instead of rubbing or scrubbing it against the surface, as that will only make it worse by possibly spreading the stain. Try to absorb as much stain as possible on your cleaning cloth before it becomes immersed in the fabric.
How To Clean Leather Furniture
Leather furniture is the most vacuum-friendly kind, so be sure to capitalize on that by keeping a scheduled cleaning routine with the vacuum. Leather is more easily affected by harsh chemicals, so always start with the mildest cleaning detergents. best method is to use proper Leather cleaning products and it will keep your leather Furniture brighter & long lasting too.
Only try a stronger cleaner if the stain remains after the first attempt, but make sure you observe how the surface reacts to the chemical. You don’t want to ruin a good leather by burning through it with your detergent.
Use warm water with the cleaning agent to lighten the chemical effect on the leather. You can also opt to use soapy water or a basic vinegar mixture first before trying any detergent mixtures. Regardless of your cleaning agent, never soak your rag or cleaning cloth in it, just dump it enough by gently blotting it against the agent.
Always follow through with dry cloth after you wipe leather with your cleaning agent. If the stain is made from ink or mildew, you can use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol instead, as it has shown to do well against these types of marks. Don’t forget to dry the area afterwards by using a blow dryer or another piece of dry cloth.
How To Clean Wood Furniture
Wooden furniture is easy to clean: just avoid using water. Water causes wood to warp, discolour and eventually crack if left in too much contact. Simply use a dry cloth to wipe off the dust and dirt from its surface. If there are stains, start with mild soap and a small amount of water, just enough to dampen the cleaning cloth. If the stain is still there, you can try to rub the surface with paint thinner. Paint thinner is also ideal against the grime.
After cleaning the surface, you can use lemon oil to buff the external a little and give it more shine. You can also use furniture wax as needed for that extra flare.
Prevention is better than cure, and that applies to cleaning as well. The sooner you try to remove a stain, the better your chances are. Maintain a regular cleaning schedule to avoid heaps of dirt from accumulating underneath surfaces. Your furniture should be treated as an extension of your home and not just as decorations.