If you clean your furniture regularly, it will not only retain its attractiveness, but it will also last much longer. When cleaning your home, cleaning furniture may require some effort, but this is a completely solvable task. As a rule, it is enough to regularly clean and vacuum the furniture, and clean it more thoroughly every six months, and as a result, your furniture will look like new.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Cleaning upholstered furniture
Step 1. Vacuum the furniture
Vacuuming your upholstery regularly is the easiest way to keep your furniture clean. Pay particular attention to grooves and creases, such as where the arms of the sofa meet the back. Also, remove the pillows and vacuum them from all sides.
Due to its high density, the microfiber material does not absorb dirt and debris well and is easy to clean with a brush. Use a brush to clean such furniture before vacuuming it
Step 2. Check the labels
Sometimes it is necessary to use a cleaning product available from a store. If it is indicated that the upholstery can be cleaned with water-based products, this can be easily done at home. If you do not find a label, consult a specialist.
- W means you can use a water-based cleaner.
- S means that a water-free product such as dry thinner should be used.
- WS means you can use either a water-based cleaner or an anhydrous cleanser.
- X means that this furniture can only be cleaned by a specialist, although it can be vacuumed. Consider this when buying furniture.
Step 3. Prepare a homemade water-based cleaner
Use a liquid dishwashing detergent to do this. Pour water into a spray bottle and add a few drops of liquid (not powder) dish soap. You can also add quite a bit of white vinegar and a few pinches of baking soda to remove the odor. Shake the mixture well to dissolve the ingredients in the water.
Step 4. Test the cleaner in a small, inconspicuous area
Moisten a sponge with the mixture and run it over the back or underside of the upholstery, where it is hidden from view. Then wipe the area with a dry cloth and wait until it is completely dry. If the color of the upholstery has changed, do not use a cleaning solution. If this is the case, consider contacting a specialist.
Step 5. Moisten the dirty areas with a sponge
Use a sponge to rub the mixture over the upholstery, and when it works, blot the upholstery with a dry rag. Wait a few minutes for the mixture to soak into the dirty areas.
Step 6. Try to remove stains immediately
The best way to avoid the need for extensive cleaning of furniture is to immediately remove dirt from it, before it has eaten into the upholstery. If liquid gets on the furniture, blot it rather than scrubbing it off. Do not scrub the furniture, or the liquid can penetrate even deeper into the upholstery - instead, try to remove as much liquid as possible before it is absorbed.
Method 2 of 5: Cleaning Leather Furniture
Step 1. Vacuum the furniture
As with upholstery, vacuum your leather furniture regularly to keep it clean. At the same time, remove pillows in order to penetrate into all corners and crevices.
Step 2. Cleanse the skin with a vinegar mixture
Take a bucket and mix equal proportions of vinegar and water. Dampen a rag with the solution, squeeze out excess liquid and wipe the furniture. When doing this, rinse the rag more often to avoid smearing the dirt, and then wipe the furniture with a clean, dry rag.
- A mixture of equal parts lemon juice and potassium hydrogen tartrate is ideal for cleaning white and beige furniture. Rub this mixture over the dirty area and wait for it to take effect. After 10 minutes, wipe off any remaining solution with a clean cloth.
- Ink stains and mold can be removed well with rubbing alcohol. Apply alcohol to a cotton swab and wipe the stained area with it, and then blow dry on a high temperature setting.
Step 3. Use vinegar and linseed oil to clean your skin
Mix one part vinegar and two parts linseed oil. Shake the solution well, apply it to the skin and wait 10 minutes. Then wipe off the liquid with a clean cloth. You may need to do this several times.
Step 4. Do not expose your skin to direct sunlight, otherwise it may dry out and crack
Sunlight is harmful to your skin, even if you take good care of it. Keep swivel office chairs and leather sofas away from windows, or cover windows with curtains or blinds when leaving the room.
Keep leather furniture at least 0.5 meters away from heat sources. Constant heat can age the skin and cause it to crack
Method 3 of 5: Cleaning Wooden Furniture
Step 1. Determine the type of finishing
When in doubt, start with a mild cleaning agent and then work your way up to tougher ones, depending on the reaction of the wood surface (or lack thereof). If you know that the surface has been stained, painted or other specific treatment, an appropriate cleaning method should be applied.
A general rule of thumb for cleaning wood furniture is not to use too much water, and if you do need water, you should not leave it on the wood for long periods of time. Under the influence of water, wood can warp and crack
Step 2. Wipe the furniture with a clean rag
Wipe off dust and loose dirt from the wooden surface. Do not wipe wood furniture with leather rags, as they can scratch the wood. Use a soft cloth.
Step 3. Rub the wood with mineral spirits
Mineral spirits such as paint thinner are excellent at removing grime and grime. Dampen a cloth with mineral alcohol and gently wipe the furniture with it. Use mineral spirits in a well-ventilated area. Wipe off any remaining alcohol with a damp cloth.
Although mineral spirits are harmless to most types of wood furniture, they should first be tested on an inconspicuous area (such as the underside or leg of an armchair) to ensure that they will not damage the wood
Step 4. Polished furniture can be cleaned with a turpentine solution
Pour three quarters of a cup (180 milliliters) of boiled linseed oil and a quarter cup (60 milliliters) of turpentine into a glass jar. Mix the solution well. Both ingredients can be purchased at your local hardware store.
Commercial furniture oil can be used for the same purposes
Step 5. Rub the turpentine mixture over the wood
Pour some mortar onto a wooden surface and a piece of steel wool. Rub the mixture along the texture of the wood. Then wipe the surface with a soft cloth. This solution cleans well both polished and unpolished surfaces. It adds shine to the polished surface and increases the service life, while the unpolished wood protects it from drying out and cracking. Rub the oil well over the surface and let it air dry.
While steel wool may seem too harsh, most polished furniture has a thick enough coating to protect the wood from damage
Step 6. Waxed and varnished surfaces can be polished with lemon oil
Dampen a rag with water, add a little oil and wipe the surface. Polish the surface well so that some oil remains on it.
Step 7. Apply furniture wax to unwaxed surfaces
Take cheesecloth and wax liberally along the grain of the wood. Then polish the surface with a clean cloth.
Method 4 of 5: Cleaning acrylic and plexiglass furniture
Step 1. Wipe the furniture with a clean rag
Furniture made from acrylic and organic glass is almost maintenance-free, but it is easy to scratch it with small particles of dirt and soot that have settled on the rags with which you wiped other furniture. Use a new or recently washed rag to avoid scratching your furniture.
Step 2. Do not use glass and window cleaners
While at first glance it might seem like glass cleaners are fine for acrylic furniture, don't use them. These products are not intended for this purpose and may cause acrylic or plexiglass furniture to crack.
Likewise, if anything sticks to furniture, do not use thinner. Only damp cloths and special cleaning agents are good
Step 3. Remove scratches with a plastic polish
These are the only cleaners that are suitable for acrylic furniture. If the furniture is scratched, a plastic polish will help remove the scratches.
Method 5 of 5: Cleaning Wicker Furniture
Step 1. Find out what material the furniture is made of
The definition of "wicker" does not mean a material, but a method of making furniture. Wicker furniture can be made of paper, rattan, bamboo or other materials - each of which has its own characteristics that should be considered when cleaning.
Step 2. Remove the pillows
They should be cleaned separately from furniture. Look for manufacturer labels on pillows that tell you how to handle them. Remove the entire piece of furniture from the pillows so that you can easily reach any surface area.
Step 3. Use the brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner
Be careful when cleaning fragile wicker furniture. Vacuum your furniture regularly to keep it clean, using the brush attachment.
Use a soft paint brush to remove stubborn dirt. Hard-to-reach areas can be cleaned with a toothbrush
Step 4. Rattan and bamboo furniture can be cleaned with a soft brush dipped in water, soap and ammonia
Mix one part ammonia and two parts water in a bucket, then add some liquid dish detergent (use a non-bleach detergent). A brush works best, although a rag can also be used.
- Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area before mixing the ingredients. When handling ammonia, use gloves and do not bend over the bucket of solution.
- The detergent must be bleach-free. When ammonia and bleach react, highly toxic fumes are formed. If you feel dizzy or nauseous while preparing the solution, move to fresh air immediately.
- Wicker furniture should be handled with care, even when cleaning. Hard brushes and other abrasive products can severely damage furniture and require specialist help to work with them.
- In the case of wicker furniture made of paper or grass, you can do without cleaning agents - just wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
- For wicker furniture, such a thorough cleaning is required only 1-2 times a year.
Step 5. Expose the furniture to the sun to dry
Wicker furniture can take several days to dry, but you should be patient, as this is a necessary measure. If the reeds, grass or bamboo remain wet, they will gradually loosen and return to their original shape.
- Wicker furniture must be dried properly. Also, make sure that it does not get saturated with moisture while cleaning. Never sit on wicker furniture until it's dry.
- However, do not keep wicker furniture in the sun all the time. If you keep wicker chairs or tables outside, change them throughout the year to prevent cracking.
Step 6. Do not keep wicker furniture in damp places
Although such furniture "loves" high humidity, moisture encourages mold growth and can deform the furniture. If you want your wicker furniture to last a long time, store it in climate-controlled rooms. The veranda is not the most favorable place for wicker furniture (unless you live in the desert).
However, if you do live in a desert climate, wipe your wicker furniture with a damp cloth from time to time. Without proper care, dry climates like the sun can cause wicker furniture to crack
Advice
- Furniture covers can be washed according to the directions on the labels.
- Pets can be trained not to come close to furniture, as it can leave marks from their fur, claws and saliva. If you have cats, brush them regularly to remove loose hair and dirt, and trim your nails. It is convenient to do this with a special wool removal roller.
- If you notice stains or dirt on the furniture, you need to take appropriate action immediately. Clean furniture regularly to make it last longer, and remove dirt in time before it is absorbed.