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Keeping Your Living Room Furniture Clean and Looking New

September 3, 2010 Living Room Furniture
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Keeping Your Living Room Furniture Clean and Looking New

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 sucked 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 is a furniture specialist and interior design aficionado.

Choosing the Perfect Contemporary Garden Furniture

September 1, 2010 Garden Sofa
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Choosing the Perfect Contemporary Garden Furniture

Creating an elegant, contemporary garden, patio or porch can be a bit intimidating. What type of materials should you look for? What materials stand the test of time? Dressing your outdoor living area up for warm weather shouldn’t be a stressful ordeal. Take your time and enjoy shopping around. Chances are you already have something in mind; maybe you even have the perfect arrangement planned in your head. Shop around in town until you find the perfect pieces to make your dream a reality. Don’t forget to shop online for contemporary garden furniture too! The Internet grants great opportunities for furniture designers and sellers to provide excellent deals on the perfect contemporary furniture to match your needs.

Materials Used for Outdoor Furniture

European synthetic rattan is one of the newest and most common materials used in the creation of outdoor contemporary furniture. Rattan is the name used to describe about 600 species of palms in Africa, Asia and Australasia. Unlike their tall cousins, these palms are vine-like and bend easily; making them the perfect solution to creating wicker and other outdoor furniture. European synthetic rattan is created to be a nearly perfect match to natural rattan without cutting these magnificent plants from the underbrush of the rainforests.

Outdoor furniture has special characteristics that help it withstand most climates and still look great. Design is one key factor of course, but the actual material that the furniture is made of is the most important thing to keep in mind. Some materials that have a plastic coating, or any type of wood that isn’t weather treated, are very prone to rot, mould or mildew. Plastics are much less expensive and are often considered temporary solutions to a long-term issue. If you are unsure of the type of furniture you want or you simply need more time gathering information about your dream contemporary garden furniture, buy an inexpensive plastic set for starters. Plastics aren’t nearly as durable or expensive as other materials. If you’re looking for a set that would last 1 or 2 years until you buy a permanent set, a cheaper material would be the way to go.

When you’re ready to commit and purchase a more permanent set, choose something made from a durable material like teak, rattan or European synthetic rattan. Teak is a very light, natural wood that’s great for outdoor furniture. Rattan is a light weight vine-like palm that grows in the rainforests of Asia and Africa. European synthetic rattan is created to look and feel just like natural rattan without the risk to the ecosystem.

Garden Tables and Chairs

When selecting your garden tables and chairs, choose a style that fits your lifestyle. The purpose of your patio or garden furniture is to allow you the opportunity to relax and unwind after a tough week of work. If you aren’t comfortable with or in your garden furniture you won’t be able to truly relax in it. A full set of European synthetic rattan contemporary garden table and chairs will withstand all weather extremes and be beautiful for years to come. It’s a comfortable alternative to other types of wood-based wicker because it doesn’t splinter.

Parasols are a great way to provide shade if your garden or patio area are not protected by other forms of shade. They actually provide more than just shade and protection for human skin; they’re great protection for your furniture as well. The sun and rain can be very damaging to some finishes. A parasol over your garden furniture will not only help maintain the lasting beauty of your furniture, it will help prevent painful burns if your furniture overheats.

The garden furniture mentioned in this article is available on line from Go Modern, who have a great selection of garden tables & chairs, garden sofas, parasols & more. For white garden furniture The White Home is a good place to start.

Ms Mahony chooses & buys contemporary furniture for Go Modern & The White Home

the funnty thing Hebe and sister Hestia who went to France as puppy were so simular. Hebe’s owners wanted the name Hestia….so, we have Hestia in France…Hebe is Germany called Hestia. Very confusing even for me. Still, it is wonderful to see how Hebe sits on her garden sofa, obeserving her puppies and when needed corrects them.