Furniture Placement
To keep your furniture looking new, try to keep all furniture out of direct sunlight, dampness, dryness, heat, or cold. These conditions can damage wood furniture and upholstery. Sunlight will fade furniture. Do not cover heater outlets with furniture or rugs. Keep furniture away from heaters, radiators and humidifiers. Arrange furniture for easy passage through your home.
Furniture Usage
Always use coasters and placemats. Clean up any spills at once. Some plastic or rubber mats may not be compatible with some finishes. They could stain or make the finish become soft. Always look for a furniture safe label.
Dusting and Cleaning
Dusting your furniture should be a frequent event. Dusting keeps dirt from settling on and scratching the furniture surface. Duster’s come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most common duster is a very soft, lint free clean cloth. Treated cloths are also available. The cloth may also be lightly dampened with water to keep the dust from being distributed through the air. Feather and wool dusters work perfect for small and tight places.
What not to do,
Do not use harsh cleaners such as bathroom, tub & tile cleaner, bleach, ammonia, pine oil or all purpose cleaners. These may damage furniture finishes. Do not expose unfinished wood to water. Do not let water stand on your furniture Do not soak furniture in water or cleaning solutions.
What to do,
Wood
Use furniture friendly cleaners or a solution of mild detergent and water. Remember, wood and water do not mix. Dip your cloth in mild soap and water, wring the cloth till almost dry, wipe the area. Rinse and dry with a clean cloth. Follow product directions when using commercial cleaners. Be sure you know what finish your furniture has.
Popular finishes include, Lacquer, Polyurethane, Shellac, Varnish, Oil or paint. New furniture should come with a "furniture care" information sheet or booklet. These will give you directions for the proper care of your
furniture. If you are familiar with your finish, follow the appropriate steps for cleaning
Upholstery
Spot cleaners can be very effective for upholstery cleaning. Steam cleaning may be required for hard stains. Vacuuming fabric will remove light dirt and dust. Leather should always be cleaned with a high quality leather cleaner.
Furniture Polishing
Furniture usually does not require polishing more then 2 – 3 times a year. Always use a polish recommended for your type of finish. Do not mix different polishes, If you need to change, thoroughly clean all of the previous polish before applying a new polish. Products with a high percentage of oil may make the surface smear. Wax products provide a hard finish and lasting protection. Only use wax made specifically for furniture. Follow manufactures directions.
