Furniture Care
Like all things in life, furniture requires a bit of care to stay looking good through the years. Inevitably, your furniture will age and wear, but for every type of furniture, there are some things you can do to keep it in its best shape for as long as possible. Click on the appropriate link below for tips on how to keep your furniture maintained:
Hardwood Furniture:
- For every day cleaning, a simple damp cloth works well
- Avoid any polishes that contain wax, silicone, solvents, or abrasives; we recommend Guardsman products and sell them at the store
- Apply polish to a cloth, not directly on the furniture
- Polish with the grain, not across the grain, to avoid cross-grain scratches
- Do not allow water or any liquid to sit on the wood surface for an extended period of time
- Clean spills as quickly as possible using a blotting motion rather a wiping motion
- Periodically rearrange any items that sit atop hardwood furniture so as to avoid unsightly patches/silhouettes from sunlight aging
- Vary which dining table leaves you use to ensure even aging and wearing
- Avoid placing furniture in direct sunlight or near a heat source such as a register or fireplace
- Do not place hot items on top of your furniture; use coasters, trivets, placemats, felt pads, etc. whenever possible
- Avoid placemats and tablecloths that are plastic or rubber or have non-skid backings
- Always pick up your furniture when moving it, never drag it
- Place your furniture on a level surface to prevent uneven settling and wracking
If you want to know more about protecting your hardwood furniture, check out our blog!
Upholstered Furniture:
- Pay careful attention to the cleaning code on your fabric furniture; it will tell you what methods of cleaning are and are not suitable
- Treat stains as quickly as possible
- Blot stains, do not wipe
- Clean from the outside of the stain towards the center
- Do not use large amounts of water or cleaning solutions to treat stains on leather as these could cause further damage
- Regularly vacuum your furniture
- Avoid placing furniture in areas where it will be exposed to prolonged direct sunlight or direct heat such as from registers or fireplaces
- Flip/rotate/fluff any cushions to prevent indentations and sagging
- Dust and clean leather furniture once every few weeks
- Treat leather furniture with a conditioner every six to twelve months
- Keep dyed and printed materials off of leather furniture as the leather could absorb inks and dyes
- Always pick up your furniture when moving it, never drag it
- Place your furniture on a level surface to prevent uneven settling and wracking
If you want to know more about protecting your upholstered furniture, check out our blog!
Outdoor Poly Furniture:
- If powerwashing, keep the pressure low and keep the nozzle about a foot away from the surface
- A soft-bristled brush, soap, and water can also be used to clean in place of a powerwasher
- Store furniture inside or cover over winter to reduce the need for cleaning
- Do not place hot objects directly on the poly surface as doing so may cause melting
- Check periodically for any loose screws or bolts and tighten as necessary
- Always pick up your furniture when moving it, never drag it
- Place your furniture on a level surface to prevent uneven settling and wracking
If you want to know more about protecting your outdoor poly furniture, check out our blog!
Outdoor Wood Furniture:
- Be sure to know which type of wood your furniture is made from; care needs can vary
- If powerwashing, keep the pressure low and follow the grain of the wood
- A soft brush and non-bleach cleaner can also be used in place of a powerwasher
- Store furniture inside or cover over the winter to preserve the wood and reduce the need for cleaning
- Finish well initially after purchase and refinish every other year as long as you have the piece
- Pressure-treated pine furniture should be finished with a penetrating deck stain; cypress furniture can be stained or painted
- Keep cypress furniture in covered areas
- Check periodically for any loose screws or bolts and tighten as necessary
- Always pick up your furniture when moving it, never drag it
- Place your furniture on a level surface to prevent uneven settling and wracking
If you want to know more about protecting your outdoor wood furniture, check out our blog!