Top Tools and Practices for Your Furniture Care

After a home construction or renovation, the next important task of a homeowner is to find the best furniture pieces that fit their home.

Furniture, especially those made from high-quality wood, marble and stone is a significant investment.

The price for each piece can range from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand!

Thus, once you have your dream furniture at home, you should learn about the best ways to protect them and make them last.

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Top Causes of Home Furniture Damage

But before we proceed to the best tools and practices when it comes to taking care of your furniture, you should first learn about some of the most common causes of damage in your beloved pieces.

Take a look at these guide on How to Buy Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Moisture

It happens all the time – food and beverage spills. And mind you, they all can damage your furniture. Moisture also causes wood to rot and mold to grow.

Always serve food with a tray and wipe any water or fluid immediately off your precious furniture.

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Water, Fire & Smoke Damage

Moisture is a surefire furniture wrecker. Wood can last for a very long time as long as it does not get exposed to water or even a speck of moisture.

Indoor flooding can cause a huge amount of damage to your home furniture pieces but they may still be salvageable with immediate drying with tool like an air mover.

But to minimize the risk, always take safety precautions when leaving your home unattended or whenever there is a storm or flood warning in your area.

Fire and smoke damage can cause discoloration in your furniture pieces.

Dust

These tiny particles may seem harmless but if you don’t frequently dust your furniture, it can form a filmy layer that can scratch your furniture surfaces.

Extreme Temperature

Sun exposure, humidity, and dryness also take a toll on your beloved wood furniture pieces. Heat causes wood to dry out and crack.

Key Tools & Practices for Furniture Care

The furnishings in your living room may have different maintenance requirements from that of your living room, kitchen, and bathroom.

There are just plenty of things to consider, such as the humidity, moisture, and temperature in each of these areas, as we mentioned above.

Read more: 8 Pieces of Space Saving Furniture That Every Small Space Needs

Living Room Furniture Care

For instance, the living room might have the best ventilation but your furniture items may be at risk of sun damage.

Blinds and window coverings may not be enough to protect your furniture against the damaging effect of heat and sunlight (which include discoloration or fading).

Consider installing UV window film and rotate your furniture from time to time so all of its sides are equally exposed to sunlight.

Using a dehumidifier at home is a great idea. Also, make sure that your wood furniture is regularly dusted and waxed to prevent them from cracking and warping.

Bedroom Furniture Care

On the other hand, bedroom furniture is prone to wear and tear due to high usage. Avoid using a damp cloth to clean your furniture pieces.

For a safe and thorough cleanup, make use of the right kind of cleansers that don’t cause moisture retention.

Installing a dehumidifier especially during the rainy season is also a good way to keep your bedroom furnishings reasonably dry.

Kitchen Furniture Care

Kitchen furniture, especially the cabinetry, requires attentive cleaning and polishing because they are prone to grease and grime buildup.

They can be cleaned occasionally using a soft cloth dampened with warm water but should be wiped down with a dry cloth immediately after. Be sure to wipe spills immediately.

Use a blotting approach rather than the wiping approach to prevent scratches. Moisture is a common problem in the kitchen too.

The cabinetry near the sink and dishwasher is more vulnerable to it. Dry surfaces immediately where water has spilled.

Also, very high temperature and humidity levels can cause wood to expand and contract so proper ventilation is important most especially in the kitchen.

Use pads, cloth, or felt when placing hot items (such as pan or pot) on the counter, and lift objects rather than dragging them to prevent scratches on the furniture surfaces.

Marble, Stone, Glass & Leather Care

Furniture made from these materials also require extreme care and proper handling. Follow the following tips to clean them and extend their lifespan:

Marble & Stone

While marble and stone are solid materials, they are also porous and can get stained easily.

Alkaline substances, such as citrus juices, alcohol and soft drinks can stain marble and stone so make sure to wipe off (using blotting approach) any spills immediately.

Avoid using abrasive cleaners on marble. You can use soap and water or some specialized cleaning solution to clean this type of surface.

Glass

Glass tabletops and furniture pieces are delicate and prone to breakage and scratches. Use a good quality glass cleaner, a lint-free cloth or some rumpled newspaper or coffee filter when cleaning glass surfaces.

Always check the weight limit recommended by the manufacturer and avoid placing heavy objects at the edge of glass tabletops or counters.

Leather

Like wood, avoid placing leather furniture items near windows or where they can be exposed to sunlight and high temperature.

Always maintain a reasonable distance between these furniture and heat sources. Dust leather items regularly using a soft cloth.

You may clean it with a vacuum but make sure to choose the soft brush attachment. Leather easily catches stains so avoid placing items like pens and other household products near it.

Read more: How to repair and take good care of your leather furniture?

Upholstery

Heat and moisture can heavily damage upholstered furniture. Airborne pollutants can damage your upholstery too. With this, proper ventilation can help.

Vacuum upholstery items regularly (at least once a week). Consider adding fabric protectors as they help reduce the absorption rate of moisture.

Make sure to clean spills or stains promptly as well. Extend the lifespan of your home upholstery by turning over the loose cushions to prevent wrinkling and indentations right away.

Home furniture and furnishings are all significant investments. Keep in mind the best practices, recommendations, and tools discussed in this post to ensure that your home furniture stays beautiful, functional and brand new-looking for the years to come.

Read more: How to remove a stripped screw

Written by Kukun staff. September 20, 2018

Home remodeling at its finest. With expertise in all fields involved in nurturing your home, whether is decor, design, construction, or remodel, our team of experts is here to walk you through the process by providing amazing content on a regular basis.