“It was sad to see the table cracking,” says Kal. “Caring for your furniture is really basic stuff; but I'm surprised how many people don't use common sense.”
When you buy a classic furniture piece – like an upholstered tub chair, a chest of drawers, or a pedestal dining – you're making an investment in your home. But to retain the furniture's beauty and value, it needs continuous care. Looking after your furniture will not only keep these pieces looking great today, but also see them through wear and tear over the years. The pieces might even become family heirlooms someday. Here, furniture experts, like Kal, offer a little advice on furniture care 101 – how to keep your prized furniture in prime shape:
Upholstered furniture
- Fluff and rotate seat cushions daily to promote even wear.
- Vacuum seats frequently using an upholstery brush.
- For spot cleaning, avoid using toxic materials, like those containing carbon tetrachloride. Instead, use a mild, water-free upholstery solvent or dry cleaning product. Follow manufacturer's instructions for each product and use cleaning products you are familiar with; otherwise you could do more damage to the furniture than good.
- Test upholstery cleaners prior to use: simply turn an upholstered chair upside-down and spot-test on the bottom of the chair.
- Professional cleaning is recommended for soiled upholstery, (for example, wine stains) high-end and light-coloured furniture.
- Do not clean cushion covers separately from the chair or sofa, as fabrics may become discoloured and no longer match.
- Do not place dark-coloured upholstered furniture, or those made in fabrics like silk, in direct sunlight. Sunrays will discolour the upholstery.
- Dark-coloured upholstery is recommended for homeowners with kids and/or pets, so that wear, tear and dirt will be less visible.
- Check to see if upholstered fabrics contain built-in Teflon or other protective agents, meant to withstand accidents (spills bead up and can be wiped clean with a slightly damp cloth). If not, consider Scotch Guarding.
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2 Comments
I have a tip for the care of teak and rosewood furniture. Instead of using teak or rosewood oil,which is highly flammable,you can use unscented baby oil. Apply to a clean dry cloth,the baby oil will clean,moisturise and polish. Paul Houle Practising Restorer of Furniture and Wooden Artifacts
What to do when teak surface does not respond to cleaning and oiling for a better finish? My dining table is looking the worse for wear. Have tried stripping the old oil and start fesh but still uneven patches and too shiny.