How to care for different types of furniture materials

When you spend a lot of money on an item of furniture that you really like, you want it to last for as long as possible. To make sure that happens, you need to know how to care for it properly. It’s inevitable that at some point, our furniture is going to get dirty, dusty, or scuffed. So how do we handle it when it happens?

Here’s how to care for a few different types of furniture so that you can keep your beloved staples in your home for as long as possible!

What do you need to clean and care for furniture?

Generally speaking, to clean most types of furniture, you will need a soft cloth (for some furniture types this will need to be a damp cloth, for others, a dry cloth).

For leather and wood furniture, you will need furniture polish and a lint-free cloth.

It is safest to avoid abrasive sponges when it comes to most quality furniture, unless absolutely necessary.

In terms of cleaning products, always check with the furniture’s label or manual to ensure you’re using cleaning products that are safe for the material at hand.

Leather furniture care tips:

No liquids here!

Avoid using liquid cleaning products, the best method is to soak up any spillages as quickly as possible and then wipe clean with a clean cloth or paper towels. Too much moisture on a leather sofa can cause the material to dry out in which case you would use a reputable leather cleaning solution from The Leather Colour Doctor. Whilst clean furniture is important, the last thing you want is dry, crackable leather!

Get dusting

Dust regularly to prevent any build-up. This will help prevent stains and abrasion on the surface of the leather.

Avoid scratches

Keep sharp tools away from your leather sofa and do not allow pets onto the leather furniture as their claws can cause large rips and tears in the material. It is also worth avoiding metal hardware on trousers and shoes.

No heat

Do not position your leather furniture too close to radiators or in direct sunlight as it can cause the material to dry out prematurely.

Always do a patch test

The Sparkle Gang avoids using cleaning solutions on the material without testing beforehand on inconspicuous areas, as many cleaning products will cause discolouration.

How to care for wood furniture

When you’ve got wooden furniture, one of the most important things to remember, regardless of what kind of wood you’re dealing with, is that your furniture needs to be the right balance of dry and moist. Too wet, and wood will often grow fungus and mould. Too dry, and wooden furniture will often crack. This is why wood wax polish is so useful!

Oak furniture care tips:

Avoid excess moisture on the wooden furniture

Too much moisture on the wood surface may be absorbed by the oak. Any excess moisture or liquid should be quickly wiped up – clean up spills immediately!

Avoid hot items

Placing hot items directly on the surface of your oak furniture or any wood furniture can cause discolouration and stains to the wood furniture.

Make sure to condition your oak

Using a high-quality oak furniture polish or conditioner, make sure you are taking good and regular care of your furniture.

Invest in some coasters

By using coasters you can prevent hot items and moisture from being in contact with the oak wood surface on a regular basis, helping to protect the material.

Removing stains from wood

If you’ve managed to stain your wooden furniture, there are a few things that you can do to try and remove the stain. You can use a clean cloth with spirit on it and (after performing the all-important patch test) dab the stain with it.

If, after the patch test, you can’t use that spirit, try denatured alcohol. Follow the same process, blotting at the stain. Once the stain fades, dry the furniture with a dry cloth.

Care tips for fabric upholstery sofas:

Keep it plump

To help prolong the life of your sofa, make sure to plump the seat and cushions to allow air back into the interiors of the furniture and maintain sufficient lumbar support.

Dust free forever

Ensure that you dust regularly using a soft cloth or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to prevent any build-up of debris under the cushions and on the surface of the furniture.

Do not wash

Do not hand wash or machine wash sofa cushions without checking all the information first. You may well need to hire professionals.

No heat or direct sunlight

Avoid positioning your sofa near direct sunlight or a radiator as this can impact the colour and the softness and texture of the material.

Deal with spills immediately

Dab spillages dry with a dry cloth as soon as you spot them. Avoid using harsh chemicals and if you have to clean a particularly stubborn dark stain or the entire surface, seek professional help.

How to clean cloth sofas

Fabric sofas are gorgeous, they’re super comfy and soft – but plenty of people do not know how to clean them or remove stains so here’s some tips from the Cleanup Team!

If you’ve got a fabric upholstery sofa, the most important thing to do is to check the label that is usually stitched to one of the back cushions. Or, failing that, check the website or store you bought it from for care instructions. This should tell you what you can and cannot do in terms of cleaning.

If you see a W, you can use water-based cleaning solutions and non-tap water. S or P means solvent-based products, which likely means dry cleaning. WS or SW are a combination of the two, and the easiest sofas to clean.

Your sofa might also say professional cleaning only, in which case you will need to contact a local professional cleaning company. Alternatively, this might be represented by an X.

How to care for rattan furniture

Rattan furniture is so unique, it attracts a specific sort of person. But for people who have never had it before, it can pose all sorts of difficulties when it comes to figuring out how to care for it. Here are some all-important rattan furniture care tips.

First of all, figure out whether you have natural rattan or synthetic rattan. The former is much weaker when it comes to sun bleaching and mould growth in too high or too damp climates. Synthetic rattan, however, is fine in most temperatures.

When it comes to cleaning rattan, all you need is some mild dish soap and water. With natural rattan furniture, you should make sure you dry it completely after cleaning. You can leave it in the sun to dry, but no longer to avoid mould growth.