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Dana - Roomful Express Furniture asked:


Cleaning Tips For Your Living Room Furniture



Buying living room furniture is a big investment that requires a lot of search time and preparation. Daily use can have a great impact on the longevity and look of your furniture, and you want to make sure you properly care for it in order to extend its use for as long as possible. Here are some great cleaning tips to keep your furniture looking as fresh and beautiful as the day you bought it.

  Avoid Harsh Chemicals



Stay clear of upholstery cleaners that use harsh chemicals or toxins to clean your furniture. These furniture cleaners may leave your furniture smelling and looking clean for some time, but there are risks associated with cleaning your furniture with them. For starters, these cleansers are typically full of harsh chemicals and toxins that can actually cause more harm than good to your furniture. Additionally, they are known to actually foster resoiling, resulting in more cleaning. These cleaners may also remove the protective layers of your furniture fabric, resulting in furniture that looks more worn, as well as causing harm to your upholstery.

Stay Clear of Steam



Steam cleaning initially sounds like a great idea when it comes to cleaning your furniture. However, it is important to consider what moisture can do to your furniture. Excessive moisture can cause odors, mold, and soil build-up. When steam cleaning is done the excess water must be ****** up, which can take days to fully dry. Even when the fabric appears dry on the surface, the moisture can still be present deep down. Steam cleaning may also strip your furniture’s upholstery, leaving it more prone than before to stains and soil.

Bring Out the Vacuum



Vacuuming your furniture regularly is a great way to clean debris and dirt off of your furniture before it has a chance to seep down and cause problems. Vacuuming will also allow you to prolong the need of more extensive and deep cleaning. Vacuuming should be done at least once a week. Make sure you not only do the visible parts of your furniture; you will also want to make sure you vacuum under the cushions and in the crevices of your furniture.

Spot Clean as Soon as Possible



Accidents happen frequently, and most likely your furniture will not be able to avoid them. Spills are likely to occur, and can lead to permanent stains if not taken care of quickly. Here are some ways to take care of these spills quickly and properly:

Always blot from the outside to the center of a spot. Doing so will control the spread of a spill

Test your fabric in a hidden area to make sure the color doesn not come off with the stain, or that a ring is not caused by the cleaning agent.

If the spot is liquid, use an absorbent white cloth or white paper towel to gently blot up the excess.

If the spot is solid material, remove the excess by lifting it off with a dull table knife or spoon.

Never rub, scrub, or brush a spill.

Never use strong chemicals such as bleach, solvents, or acids unless they are recommended by a specialist.

Never use sudsy detergents, as they leave a soapy residue that attracts dirt.

Avoid using tap water. Use distilled water or plain seltzer water. Minerals in common tap water can cause rings, even on treated fabrics.

Know Your Furniture Needs



There are a wide range of furniture fabrics and styles available. It is important to know which ones may or may not be best for your particular lifestyle. A leather sofa may not fair well with a home full of cats, but can work great with children because it is simple to clean and wipe spills. If you are decorating a room that will be low traffic and more for entertaining you can choose virtually any furniture fabric. You should also be aware that certain fabrics are more resistant to sunlight damage than others. If you need help finding out what fabrics fit your lifestyle, our trained associates will be happy to assist you at any store location.

 

The sofa and other various items that comprise the living room are often the center piece and the focal point for guests that you invite into your home. You want to make sure you are caring for them properly in order to keep them clean and increase their life. Following these tips will assure that your living room furniture is properly maintained and cared for.

Dana - Roomful Express Furniture asked:



Simple tips to assure you properly care for your Leather Living Room Furniture



When choosing a particular style of furniture for your living room, leather can be an exceptional choice. There are a wide range of leather sofas, leather sectionals, recliners, loveseats, and chairs available in various colors and styles. It is easy to clean, stylish, and quite durable when taken care of properly. Leather furniture is great at handling stains and spills, and typically does not require as much maintenance as other fabrics. This is not to say that leather furniture does not require any maintaining. It is "low maintenance", but certainly not "no maintenance."

Here are some great ways to care for your leather furniture:

Clean Stains Immediately

Make sure you take care of a spill immediately. If the stain is given time to sink into the fabric, it can be much more stubborn to cleaning. Additionally, it has a higher chance of reappearing months later. Blot the stain lightly with a soft cloth or towel. Avoid rubbing and smearing the spill, as this will spread the stain. It is best to clean spills on your leather furniture with warm water and mild soap. It is advised to avoid harsh cleaning chemicals that may contain solvents, bleach, or acids. Avoiding commercially available furniture cleaners is recommended as they tend to foster rapid resoiling.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

Placing your leather furniture in direct and constant sunlight can cause it to fade over time. It is best to place your leather furniture in a more shaded area of the room, or keep curtains closed when the sun is casting on the furniture.

Keep Away From Heat

Make sure your leather furniture is kept away from strong heat sources such as furnace vents. Exposure to heat causes your leather furniture to dry out, making it vulnerable to cracks and splits. It is recommended that you keep your leather furniture at least two feet away from potentially harmful heat sources.

Avoid Air Pollutants

It is best to not expose your leather furniture to potentially harmful air pollutants such as cigarette smoke and excessive cleaning fumes. Air pollutants can fade or change the color of your leather furniture, and sometimes even distort the fabric in other ways.

Dust Regularly

Keep your leather furniture debris free by dusting at least once per week. You can do this by wiping your furniture with a soft, dry cloth or gently vaccuming it. Make sure you dust in between crevices and under cushions where dirt and dust may hide. Dusting regularly will prevent your furniture from long-term damage from dirt and debris, and assure your leather furniture remains as fresh and new as possible.

Avoid Potentially Harmful Objects

Avoid sharp objects that may scratch or puncture your leather furniture including pens, needles, and animal claws. Although small scratches are fairly simple to repair, large rips and tears cause lifelong damage to the furniture It is also wise to avoid leaving magazines and newspapers on your leather furniture as the ink tends to bleed and may leave ink marks on the leather.



Following these simple steps for caring for your leather furniture will affect the life and condition of your investment. With proper care, your leather furniture can last for many years to come and look just like it did the day you purchased it. Leather furniture is easy to maintain and clean, but taking simple steps to care for it properly is often overlooked. Following the simple tips above will assure that your furniture will remain looking, feeling, and smelling new.