Taking care of your furniture is key to helping it last for years to come. Some types of furniture are easier to take care of than others, such as leather and wood, but if you following these steps should make it a breeze.
How to Properly Care for Your Furniture
1. To dust your furniture, use a clean, lint-free, soft cotton cloth. Wet the cloth lightly with water to allow the dust to adhere but not so much as to leave the surface of your table wet. Dust using gentle, oval motions along the grain of the wood. Turn or fold the dust cloth as soon as dirt is visible in any section.
2. Furniture finished with oil and wax will probably not need to be re-oiled unless it becomes dry from being stored in extreme cold or heat, or in constant direct sunlight or other drying conditions. If your piece does become overly dry, follow the following instructions for re-oiling.
3. Whether you have an all-wood piece of furniture or a furnishing made of a mix of wood, man-made wood, and wood veneer, you want to protect it from damage, maintain its perfect finish and keep it looking beautiful for years to come.
4. Cleaning leather furniture is an easy task that should never be overlooked. Leather demands, at the very least, the same consideration that is given to all fine wood furniture and should be cared for and maintained on a regular basis. Leather care performed correctly will preserve the natural beauty and suppleness of the leather, while extending its life dramatically. Neglecting your leather can prove very costly, particularly if it is antique leather.
5. Vacuuming with a dusting brush attachment gently removes dust from furniture surfaces, preventing buildup. If no vacuum cleaner, use a clean soft cloth, turning it often, or soft paper towels to pick up dust. Dust furniture before vacuuming floors. If the finish is water resistant, a barely dampened towel or cloth will pick up dust.
6. Further, if you use a laptop computer at your desk or table, be sure it does not overheat. This could damage the computer as well as the finish on the desk. In extreme cases, prolonged overexposure to intense heat from a laptop computer could cause the desktop wood to split or crack.