Furniture Care
Furniture Care Is Imperative For Longevity
Buying furniture is not something that we do every day. In fact, we give a lot of thought to the style, the look, and the maintenance of various pieces we are looking for to include in each room. Regardless of how expensive or inexpensive, a piece may be, furniture care is imperative for longevity.
Upholstered pieces, depending on their use, are often subjected to a lot of wear and tear. Family room couches and sofas are fine examples of this. They are usually completely covered in fabric and used for many hours each day. Scotch guarding your piece at the factory level is probably the best solution to maintain the fabric.
If that was not an option, a Scotch guarding home application is the next best thing. Be advised that some products may actually alter the color of the upholstery, therefore you should try it in an inconspicuous place first.
In order to extend the life of your upholstered furniture, perhaps you should invest in some arm covers. These are slips that cover the arms, which often get brushed upon, and become soiled quicker than the rest of the piece due to unclean hands.
Wood furniture also require special care. Wood becomes damaged if something wet is placed upon it for a long period of time. Therefore, always have coasters nearby to encourage people to use them. The biggest problem with wood pieces is white rings and other water spots. In fact, the best way to treat this problem is to use a clean and smooth, lint free cloth that is placed on top of the stain and pressed with a medium to medium-high-heat iron. Lift the cloth after each pressing and repeat until the rain has disappeared. This is also a good method for foggy patches on wooden coffee and dining tables and other types of furniture.
As for dining tables made of wood, it is important to protect the product from heat, which comes from hot dishes. As well, it is important to protect it from liquids that may spill onto the top. A good heat resistant cover, topped with a tablecloth should do the trick. For extremely hot dishes and platters, ensure you place special coasters beneath them for extra protection.
Glass tables also require care. Although it will not form problem stains, they may get easily scratched. Therefore, it is recommended that you trust your table prior to cleaning it with a glass cleaner and paper towel. Also, it is advisable to put felt stickers beneath any decorative art or any other type of item that will be sitting atop the glass table, to avoid scratching when moving it.
Regardless of the type of furniture finish you have, a little care and maintenance will help your furniture to last longer. Being negligent will only result in having to replace the pieces way before you may really want to. This will result in either having to live with damaged furniture or in spending more money to buy pieces.
