Correct and Effective Ways to Clean and Preserve Home Furniture

Cleaning furniture isn’t as easy as wiping the surfaces. It involves a complex process to make the piece more attractive and at the same time lengthen its lifespan. While cleaning your entire home’s worth of furniture can be quite a huge undertaking, it doesn’t have to be stressful.

Do you want your furniture pieces to look like new? A professional cleaning service in Dubai gives you these correct ways to clean furniture and bring back their former glory.

Leather Furniture

1. Vacuum

To limit the risk of damage, use the soft brush attachment to vacuum leather furniture. Remove cushions so that you can vacuum and reach every nook and cranny of the furniture piece.

2. Use mild soap and water

Mix 1-2 tablespoons of mild leather detergent into a small container of warm water, or use an alternative homemade cleaning solution suitable for leather. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture then wring it out to get a damp cloth. Next, wipe the dirty areas of the leather furniture and pat dry with a clean cloth.

Always begin with the mildest cleaning solution and only use a suitable stronger cleaner if dirt or stains still remain.

3. Re-moisturize the leather

Apply a leather cream to your furniture. This will buff your furniture piece and give it a shiny-like-new appearance.

4. Keep leather out of the sun

Avoid cracking and dryness by keeping your leather furniture out of the sun. Constant exposure to sunlight isn’t good for leather even with your diligent upkeep. Consider moving armchairs and couches far from open windows or close the blinds or curtains when no one’s in the room.

Upholstered Furniture

1. Check tags

Most upholstered furniture will need a special kind of cleaning. If you still have the tag that came with your furniture, you can use that as reference. Usually, you’ll find the following directives on it:

• W – Use only a water-based detergent
• S – Clean with a water-free product
• WS – Use either a water-based or water-free cleaner
• X – Professional cleaning only

2. Vacuum

A simple way to keep upholstered furniture clean is to vacuum them regularly. Don’t miss out on cracks and crevices of the furniture like the areas where the arms of the sofa meet the back. To conveniently vacuum all sides, consider taking all the cushions off.

For microfiber furniture with a fiber density that makes them stain-resistant, run over a brush before you vacuum to remove dirt and debris easily.

3. Dampen stains using a sponge

Use a sponge to rub your suitable cleaning mixture into the furniture piece. As you work, pat dry the upholstery with a cloth. Allow the detergent to sit and penetrate the furniture for several minutes especially on tough spots.

To avoid long cleaning sessions, act quickly when spills occur. The aim here should be to absorb as much liquid as possible before it starts to soak in.

Wood Furniture

1. Determine the wood finish

If you’re unsure about your furniture’s wood finish, start with a mild cleaner then move towards stronger cleaning methods depending on the reaction of your furniture. Patch test cleaning substances in a discreet area if you have any doubts about their suitability.

A general rule for cleaning wood furniture is not to use too much water and when you do, don’t leave it for long. Water can cause your furniture to crack and warp.

2. Wipe dust

Use a clean cloth to wipe and remove dust and dirt on the surface of the furniture. As much as possible, avoid using real feather dusters as their quills may scratch the wood.

3. Remove stains using mild soap and water

Mix 1-2 tablespoons of mild dish detergent into a small container of warm water. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture then wring it out to get a damp cloth. Next, wipe the dirty areas of the wood furniture and pat dry with a clean cloth.

Use mild soap and water first before using other cleaning products because it’s gentler on wood. If the dirt or stains remain, clean the wood using mineral spirits like paint thinner.

4. Pour some turpentine mixture

Rub a turpentine mixture along the grain of the furniture and some onto a steel wool pad. Once you finish, polish it using a soft rag. This will increase the durability and gloss of your wood furniture and prevent cracking and drying. Make sure you rub the oil thoroughly and allow your furniture to air dry.

Work with a professional

Does cleaning furniture sound too complicated? This is only natural as you’re not only removing dirt, you’re also preserving the condition of your furniture pieces. If cleaning furniture is too much on your own, you may want to book a cleaning service and let the professionals handle the job.

AUTHOR BIO

Mohamed Samad is the Founder & CEO of Matic Services. He started the company in 2016 after a series of small start-ups within the home services sector. Prior to that, Mohamed was Vice President at Greenstone Equity Partners, where he spent 24 months building the UAE business from 2011-2013 with its founder.