If you see furniture as an investment, you understand that treating and cleaning it is part of a balanced maintenance schedule that will add life, lustre, and time to your fine furniture pieces. Here are a handful of tips to help take good care of your fine furniture.
One of the most reasonable motivations behind purchasing high quality, fine furniture is that it has the utmost potential of living a long life and could actually turn around and save you money in the long run.
Finer, high-quality furniture is generally made of durable materials and possesses a natural finish, true to its form.
Oakwood, leather upholstery, and fine fabrics all need a little TLC from time to time, and they all have their own list of precautions we must follow when handling them.
A lot of cleaning products have damaging ingredients!
For example, if your furniture cleaner says “removes wax build up”, it likely has broken glass in it. And then don’t forget about harmful chemicals; if it dries out your furniture, it’s bad news.
Here are some preventative care and cleaning tips for your fine furniture.
Leather Sofa
Cleaning leather sofas need not be overly complicated, and this is one of those “less is more” scenarios. Scope out areas that need attention, and ignore the rest. There are a number of reasons we might be cleaning our leather upholstery, so let’s consider how we clean up each individual mess.
Spot-Test First
Before you get all excited and start cleaning vast sections of your furniture, test out your cleaning product on a small section of your furniture, out of sight. Your cleaning product may wind up bleaching or damaging your furniture, and it’s best to discover this before you slather it all over your sofas and other fine furniture.
Mould and Mildew
No harsh chemicals are necessary for cleaning up mould and mildew; all you need is a half water half vinegar solution and a solid wipe with a cotton towel. Don’t drench your leather, use your vinegar and water solution sparingly.
Saddle Soap
The best saddle soap for cleaning leather contains beeswax and can be rubbed with a warm and mildly damp cloth. Give it a good rub-in, and then wipe away any excess cleaner that may be lingering around. Saddle soap not only cleans but also protects leather, too.
In a Pinch!
If you’re in an emergency situation, toothpaste has just the right amount of abrasiveness and cleaning power to eliminate stains immediately after they’ve occurred. Don’t scrub it in too hard mind you, as it may damage your leather.
Wood Furniture
When it comes to wood furniture, a lot of damages can be avoided with one simple precaution; ensure that humidity is always 55% – 65% – year ‘round. The number one enemy of fine wood furniture is a lack of or too much humidity. Direct heating and central air are all contributors to a lack of humidity in your home. Consider a humidifier during the winter if you live in a seasonal climate.
Cleaning and maintaining your wood is easily accomplished with a range of waxes and lemon oils. If it’s wax, it’s good. If it’s a chemical, it’s likely bad. And like I said if it says “removes wax build-up”, stay away. It’s likely full of broken glass dust – bad for you, bad for kids who put their mouths on things, and bad for your furniture, too. You can always tell when someone uses this sort of finish or cleaner.
