Do you remember when you bought your first couch or chairs for your living room? You probably felt excited and proud to finally decorate your very own space exactly how you wanted it, and were determined to keep your furniture looking nice. But over time the furniture might have gotten dirty or dusty because you were too busy or just didn t know the best way to clean it. If you are procrastinating about cleaning your living room furniture because you just don t know how, don t worry! Couches and chairs are actually fairly easy to maintain if you follow a few simple guidelines.
DON T use harsh chemicals to clean upholstery. Many of these chemicals come in cans marked Furniture Cleanser . But if you want your living room furniture to look new, avoid them. Chemicals often remove protective layers from upholstery, resulting in prematurely worn out furniture, and some so called furniture cleansers create an environment friendly to dirt and dust. The only good thing about harsh chemicals is that they leave your furniture smelling nice, but what good is it if the upholstery is destroyed?
DON T steam clean living room furniture. Steam cleaned furniture may look dry when it is still wet deep in the fabric. This unnecessary moisture can cause mold to grow, soil to build up, and a variety of unpleasant odors. In addition, steam can destroy the upholstery, leaving the furniture unprotected from future problems with dirt or stains.
DO vacuum your furniture regularly. You should vacuum at least once a week, if not more. This stops dirt, dust, and debris from getting deep into the fabric of the furniture. Don t get lazy about your vacuuming, though for maximum benefit you need to move the cushions and vacuum underneath. You also want to vacuum inside any cracks or hidden areas to make sure you ve gotten rid of all the dirt.
DO spot clean as soon as a spill or other accident occurs. The worst thing that can happen to your furniture is for it to be stained permanently because you didn t clean something up quickly enough. Remember to stop the stain from spreading by attacking it from the outside in; never blot from the center outwards.
Use a clean paper towel or cloth to absorb liquid stains, and don t ever rub or brush the stain. As always, avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning up stains; soap and warm distilled water is your best bet for dealing with accidents. If something solid should dirty your furniture, use a dull knife to scrape the debris off.
As you can see, furniture maintenance is not difficult. The key is to remember that your furniture must be deeply cleansed in order to last; dirt and debris tend to seep into it over time, which ruins the fabric. When you clean, make sure to go as far beneath the surface as possible; move the cushions and clean the crevices.
If you follow these simple guidelines and use common sense, there is no reason your furniture shouldn t look as good as new for years to come.
Author Resource:
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer.
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