Our home is like our retreat, we want it to be the place where we feel most at ease and comfortable. Consequently, everything in our house has to be perfect. Working on your furniture’s appearance shouldn’t be a unpleasant and time consuming duty.

Even if your furniture is expensive, you picked it up at a tag sale, or it’s a precious family piece you’ll want it to simply look great as years pass by. You just need to follow some easy but regular steps, in order to have your furniture looking striking for years.

One of the first rules in making sure your furniture is protected, is to make sure it’s not close to heat sources or sunlight. These will dry out the furniture, discolor upholstery or paint finishes, rot fabric fibers.

Unfortunately, most of us had the surprise to discover a water mark on our favorite high board , or a stain on the favorite velour covered armchair. You can’t prevent it from happening, but there are solutions! Here are some tips on keeping your furniture clean and neat, to have it looking it’s best for years.

You don’t have to break the bank to buy expensive cleaning products in order to get great results. All is at hand. Dish washing detergent, a vacuum cleaner, a cotton cloth, a sponge, that is all you need to clean your furniture.

Wood Furniture

The first rule in keeping wood furniture looking great is: protect it from sun exposure and switches in humidity level! A major factor in wooden furniture’s deterioration, is a high level of humidity.

You should regularly, if not daily clean your furniture. Your mother was right: Dust frequently! You shouldn’t use a feather duster as it will only throw dust in the air, besides a quill could scratch the surface of the furniture.

Don’t use lot of water when you clean your furniture. Don’t soak or wet wood furniture. Water will often cause staining or swelling, when it penetrates the finish.

The best way to dust your wood furniture is to use a cotton cloth. Experts say that a dry cloth will not clean well, and that you ought to moisten it so that it’s easier for the dust adhere to it.

Leather Furniture

One of the primary things you should do to keep your leather furniture looking good, is the same as for wood furniture: Protect it from sun and heat, and from changes in humidity levels. Leather dries and can crack with time, and you should keep it at least 2 feet from a heat source.

For the best results use a soft cotton cloth or a damp sponge. It’s not advised to use detergents when cleaning leather. Make a solution of dish washing liquid and warm water. Use the suds only, scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush and then clean with a damp cotton cloth or a sponge.

For persistent stains, use a combination of 1/4 white vinegar and 3/4 water, and scrub with a soft cotton cloth.

Upholstered Furniture

Beside the golden rule of keeping furniture looking good : protect it from sun exposure, it’s advisable to vacuum the upholstered furniture regularly.

To clean stains use a solution of ¼ laundry detergent or dish detergent to 1c warm water. Use only the bubbles and a cloth and rub a small part of the upholstery. Let dry for a few minutes, and if the color fades or the fabric shrinks , then stop and leave it to the professionals, so you don’t ruin it. If not, do the rest of the upholstery.

Take into consideration these advices and your furniture will be the focal point of your house for years. This chore doesn’t have to be time consuming or irritating, if you do it on a regular basis. This way you won’t have to invest in new pieces, and you will be able to enjoy your favorite furniture for a long time.