There is nothing more exciting than picking out a new living room or bedroom set for your home. Beautiful furniture can change the entire feel of a room. But it is important to take proper care of your new furniture to make sure it lasts a long time. These simple maintenance and cleaning tips can help you keep your furniture looking new for years to come!

Furniture Care Tip #1

Heat, moisture and sunlight can be harsh on upholstery and wood surfaces. It can cause fading and even damage the material. But you can easily avoid these problems by placing your new furniture out of direct sunlight. Don’t put your furniture directly in front of or under a window. If you have no choice, use window coverings to reduce your furniture's direct exposure to the sun. Also, keep furnishings away from heat and air condition vents, and make sure you use coasters and placemats on your dining room furniture and accent tables to prevent water and heat damage.

Furniture Care Tip #2

Keep your new furniture's look by rotating pillows and cushions on chairs and sofas on a regular basis to maintain their shape. People often sit in the same spot, and over time furniture can become misshapened. Vacuum and clean your surfaces and fabric weekly to maintain a fresh look and prevent dirt and grime from getting embedded over time. Dusting and polishing wood surfaces ever 4 to 5 months will help maintain that new furniture look as well.

Furniture Care Tip #3

No matter how hard you try to protect your furniture, spills and accidents will happen. Often furniture is treated with dirt and water repellents before it leaves the factory, plus you can usually get additional stain protectors when making your purchase. These will definitely help, but they are not a substitute for acting fast when a spill occurs. The first thing to remember is to follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. In many cases, you can blot spills gently with a clean cloth or sponge. Do not rub -- rubbing the area can often cause more damage. If this does not work and you need to use a cleaner, once again, consult the manufacturer's incstructions on the types of chemicals that may be used. Make sure you test a small amount of it on a hidden area of the furniture first to see how it will react. When you are ready to use it on the spill, blot and move in a circular motion trying not to oversaturate. Lastly, if you are still unable to remove the spot, call a professional to come properly clean the furniture.

Following these helpful tips on cleaning, care and maintenance will help you keep your furniture looking new for a long time.

Category: Furniture 101