Care of materials
Wood Furniture Care
1. Take care not to scratch your furniture. Walnut dining room tables and other pieces, such as sideboards, coffee tables, and side tables are vulnerable. Use tablecloths, place mats, and coasters to protect the flat surfaces wherever possible.
2. Dust with care. Use a microfiber tack cloth when dry dusting or dampen a soft cloth with a dusting product to avoid microscopic dry scratches. Lift vases, centerpieces, picture frames, and ornaments off the surface instead of pushing them aside while dusting or polishing.
3. Wipe spills off immediately to prevent milky stains forming. Do not place hot cups, pots, or serving dishes directly onto wooden surfaces; they can discolor lacquer or resin-based finishes and cause waxes to melt.
4. Remove milky water marks as soon as possible. Try rubbing shallow spots off with a soft cloth, or wear rubber gloves and immerse a piece of cheesecloth in very hot water. Ring it out and make a pad. Then, dampen the surface with a few drops of household ammonia. Rub briskly and lightly until the marks disappear. Finish immediately by applying a generous amount of linseed oil. Buff the surface with a dry soft cloth until the oil disappears.
5. Protect most finishes by applying furniture wax or silicone-based polish to the surface twice a year. Don't wax pieces finished with a polyurethane varnish, as this could cause unsightly wax buildup. If you have any oiled pieces, apply a thin film of linseed oil once a year and rub it into the wood until the oily feel disappears.
7. Re-Oil Dry Wood
If furniture has been stored and becomes overly dry, you may need to re-oil it. Begin by cleaning it with Murphy’s Oil Soap or another appropriate cleaner, and then prepare the surface with #0000 steel wool, always working with the grain. Liberally apply your furniture oil and let it soak into the wood for about 15 minutes. It you are going to apply a protective coating, let your furniture set for at least 24 hours before proceeding.
Marble Furniture Care
Clean with Care
If you have marble countertops or a marble dining table you’ll need to clean it every day. Marble coffee or side tables may not need to be cleaned daily but will still need regular cleaning. To clean your marble, wipe down the surface using a non-abrasive cloth or sponge and a mild soap (like dish detergent) and water. When cleaning, make sure you don’t use vinegar, Windex or bleach — these acidic substances will eat into the marble and dull the stone. It’s also important to not use abrasive cleaner or pads since it can scratch the surface of the marble.
Use coasters and placemats
Glasses, mugs and hot plates can leave unwanted stains on the surface of your lovely new marble table. Investing in coasters and placemats will not only look great, but will prevent those pesky stains from spoiling your furniture.
Seal
One of the most important things you can do for your marble is to seal it. Even if your piece arrives sealed already, you’ll need to re-apply a sealant every six months, or at minimum once a year. When water stops beading on the surface, it’s time for a fresh coat. Remember that sealing your marble will help to repel staining agents but it doesn’t make the marble totally stain-proof.
Remove Stains
If your marble gets stained you’ll need to use something a little stronger than just soap and water. Organic stains like coffee or juice will usually lift after placing a paper towel soaked in bleach over the spot for 24 hours. Oil and grease stains can be removed by combining acetone and baking soda to make a thick paste and again letting it sit on the stain for 24 hours. After the stain has cleared up, clean the marble surface as normal and re-apply sealant, as the acids used for cleaning will cause damage to the sealant. Any etching in the marble can be fixed by using a marble polishing powder.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners
This includes cleaners which contain acid, such as vinegar and lemon juice. These may react with the lacquer. It is best to use a mild detergent or a soapless cleaner to care for your furniture.
Upholstery Furniture Care
Depending on the type of fabric, upholstered furniture may require varying levels of maintenance and care. If you have leather furniture, keeping it clean will be fairly simple. Here’s how you can take care of your leather upholstery:
• Vacuum regularly to get rid of dust
• Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe it down
• Treat it with leather conditioner once or twice a year
• Use a dry cloth to wipe all spills immediately
• Use cleaning products that are suitable for leather
When compared to maintaining leather upholstery, keeping a fabric sofa in good condition may require a little bit more effort and care. Fortunately, you can ensure your sofa always looks brand new by using the following tips:
• Protect the upholstery by applying a fabric-protecting finish after you purchase the sofa
• Use only non-toxic cleaning agents specifically made for your type of fabric.
• Deal with stains and spills the moment they happen by blotting gently with a towel
• Brush and vacuum regularly to remove dust and dirt from the fabric
• Remove cover (in most cases covers are removable) and wash* it according to manufactory instruction
Most of fabric sofas have loose, removable covers that can be taken off individually and cleaned. This means that you can access all the areas of your upholstery for more convenient maintenance, while also being able to machine wash each cover should the care label allow for it (always check beforehand to be sure. However, not all fabrics are machine washable. Make sure to check the label for the care codes before washing your upholstery:
DC - Dry Clean Only
S - Clean only with a dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate. Do not use water. Some fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned.
SW - Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent or a mild dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate with liquid. Some fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned.
W - Clean only with water based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. Do not over wet. Do not use solvents to spot clean. Some fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned.
WS - Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent or a mild dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate with liquid. Some fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned.
X - Do not clean with water or solvent based cleaner. Use vacuuming or light brushing only.
Velvet upholstery needs regular brushing too
The majority of upholstery fabrics only require a regular cleaning regime, but velvet sofas require an extra step to keep them looking and feeling great. To preserve the material’s natural sheen, you will need to go over it with a clothes brush or a specialist velvet brush, which will help it develop an antiqued ‘crushed’ appearance that will only improve with age. The best time to do this is immediately after vacuuming or when dry after deep cleaning.
4 simple rules for mattress maintenance
1. Turn the mattress from head to toe after the first month of purchase and upside down after another month. Perform the same operations every 3 months and so on throughout the life of the mattress. This facilitates a better settlement of all the materials that make up the mattress.
2. The mattress must always be protected during use by a mattress cover. The cover should always be placed between the mattress and the net in order to protect the mattress from the dust that forms on the floor.
3. The mattress must rest on a rigid surface (beech plywood slatted base, perforated plywood shelves) in order to ensure perfect support without deformation and perfect underlying transpiration.
4. The handles placed on the sides of the mattress must not be used for transport actions. In fact, they are not designed to support the total weight of the product but only for movements and rotations of the mattress.