Fixtures Care & Maintenance
Leather Upholstered Furniture
What most of us like about leather it’s the material’s perfect imperfection. Each piece of leather is unique, having its own set of marks, color tone, and flaws that make it one of a kind. Wrinkles, scratches, even stretch marks, they are all a natural occurrence in the leather, as they were imprinted on its surface long before the material turned into your favorite item. This is why they are not considered as being imperfections or defect, being natural characteristics of leather, which do not affect its quality and resistance in time. In fact, you should be proud of these particularities on your leather upholstered furniture, because they make it one of a kind and impossible to counterfeit or replicate. After all, what we love about leather is its natural aspect and feel, which are created by these particularities, impossible to copy by any modern material.
Tips for Leather Caring:
To make sure that your leather furniture keeps its beautiful aspect for a very long time, dust it as often as possible, also cleaning dust accumulations from its crevices. Once a week, wipe the leather gently with a damp soft sponge or clean cloth that leaves no lint behind. Leather is known for its sturdiness and durability, but this doesn’t make it safe from accidents. This is why sharp items should be kept away from leather items, and never be used or placed on them.
Direct sun light and nearby heat sources can also damage the leather. Thus, it is highly advisable to keep your leather furniture away from direct sun light, to prevent its color from fading. Also, keep it at a fair distance from heat sources, because too much heat will get the leather dry and brittle, susceptible to cracks and damages.
You should not use any kind of cleaners on your leather, except special leather cleaners. Soaps, detergents, and any other cleaning substances you have around the house are not suitable at all for leather. Even with a recommended leather cleaner, you should follow the instructions provided by the cleaner’s manufacturer, to avoid misusage that can damage your item. It is also worth nothing that leather conditioners provide extra protection for your leather, creating an outer layer that keeps unwanted spills and dust away from the surface of the leather. Still, before applying any leather cleaner or conditioner, test the product on a small part of the item that is not noticeable in case anything bad happens and the product turns out to be unsuitable.
It is important to note that you risk losing your product’s warrantee if you clean and maintain it in an improper manner.
Getting rid of spills, stains, and spots from leather surfaces
• Water spots
Water can make the leather dry unevenly and create color discrepancies on its surface. So, in case of a water spot, you need to immediately clean the leather by using a clean, soft, and damp cloth. Don’t just wipe the area where the water spot is, but gently wipe the entire leather surface, from one end to the other. This way, the leather will dry up evenly.
• Stains made by pet urine
There are special leather cleaners that were created to manage pet urine stains, removing the stain and sanitizing the leather. Each time you use such a product always follow the instructions provided by its manufacturer. And, of course, clean your leather item from one end to the other, so you won’t get a water spot, as mentioned earlier.
• Stains made by ink
Even though ink stains appear impossible to manage, a simple ink removing stick will do a great job. Have one around if you know that ink is in the house or office.
• Grease stains made by oils and food
When dealing with oil stains, don’t allow them to linger and clean them as soon as you notice them. Corn starch is the solution to this kind of stain, taking just a little corn starch and rubbing it on the surface of the leather until you can feel the surface getting warm. The method is effective because it allows the corn starch to absorb the oil, through the heat released by friction, before it gets permanently soaked in the leather. Once the operation is done, just brush the corn starch away or vacuum it, repeating the process until the oil is entirely gone.
• Stains created by water
Believe it or not, but leather stained by water is best cleaned with clean water. With the help of a sponge and clean water, which has the temperature of the room, you will get this stain off. Before proceeding, make sure to wring your sponge in the best way you can, so it won’t contain excess water. With gentle wiping moves, start cleaning the leather by moving from the water stain towards the exterior edges, until you dampen the entire surface of the leather.
Fabric Upholstered Furniture
Upholstered furniture can bring a note of elegance and a unique look to any indoor space; this is why we wanted to make sure that we provide a wide diversity of products and materials, so you can find something that resonates with your personal tastes and preferences. Regardless if you like cotton, wool, leather, faux leather, nylon, and others, we have the solution that suits your needs best. Together with the chosen product, you will also receive guidance of how to take care of it, so you will enjoy it for years to come.
Glass Furniture
Glass furniture is modern, beautiful, and elegant, and helps open up indoor space. But, we all know that glass is more fragile and can get scratched easily. Thus, we need to keep an eye on it and protect and care for this type of furniture so that it will always look gorgeous.
• Caring for your glass furniture
Rough and hard object should never be slid on the surface of glass furniture, because it can cause permanent scratches and damages. Abrasive cleaners should also stay away from glass surfaces, because they can also damage the glass. When cleaning glass furniture, you should always start by removing dust and other debris off its surface. Not doing so can cause scratches to the glass’s surface during the cleaning process. The cleaning of the glass should always be performed with special glass cleaners, which can be found in almost any store. The glass cleaning solutions should be applied with a clean soft cloth, which is lint-free as well for best results. Warm water can also be used for this purpose as long as the cloth does not contain excess water and the surface is whipped dry.
Furniture Made out of Wood
It doesn’t matter what kind of wood furniture you have, because it is worth taking good care of it if you want it to keep its beauty and elegance as much as possible. With the right wood-caring tips, you will be able to do so.
Once a week you should polish your wood furniture, with the help of a lint-free cloth. Also, wood furniture should not be placed near heat sources or air conditioning, because it will lose its moisture and get cracked in time. Exposing it to direct sun light is not recommended either, because the wood can change its color, becoming lighter or darker.
If you want to use lamps and other accessories that end up being placed on your wood furniture, use adequate backing to prevent the furniture from getting scratched. Also, it is highly recommended to rotate these items from time to time, to keep them from staying in the same place every single day.
Before placing plates with hot food on wood furniture, the use of pads and placemats is highly recommended. Also, glasses with beverages should also have coasters underneath. And, by all costs, you should avoid placing magazines and newspapers on furniture that has a wood surface. The ink contained by these publications can end up staining the furniture, by getting in its finish.
Cleaning your wood furniture is important, but you should have in mind the fact that chemical substances and abrasives should not be used at all on wood surfaces, because they can be highly damaging. In case the wood furniture gets scratches, you can repair the damage with the help of special markers and crayons, which can be found in most home improvement shops. They are developed particularly for touching up scratches and other surface flaws, so there isn’t a better way to deal with it.
How to properly clean your wood furniture:
In case your wood furniture was stained by food, you’ll have to remove the stain as fast and possible, and finish by polishing the furniture with a clean and soft piece of cloth.
To make your furniture glossy again, all you need to do is to add one tablespoon of vinegar in one quart of clean water, and use this mixture and a soft cloth to clean the furniture’s surface. You should rub it gently in the same direction with the grain of the wood, until the surface gets dry. The final step is the application of wood polish or furniture oil, ideally one that does not contain silicone or crates waxy build-ups.
Water rings, created by the placing of water glasses on the furniture, can be easily removed if you mix cooking oil and white vinegar in equal parts, and rub the resulting solution in the same direction with the wood’s grain.
Both chewing gum and wax dripped from candles can be removed with ice. You will have to hold an ice cube over the previously mentioned debris until it hardens. During this operation, which will take a few minutes, you will have to immediately wipe all the water that will drip from the ice cube, to prevent the furniture getting stained by water. Once the wax or gum is hard, use your fingers to gently clean it away. The dull part of a kitchen knife can also be used at this operation, but with extra care. Use a generous portion of cream wax to finish and polish the affected area. The entire process can be repeated until all traces of gum or wax are gone.
Metal Furniture
Furniture elements made out of metal are highly popular, providing a space a rustic or industrial image, according to taste and preferences. Most metal furniture items are powdercoated, for a smooth and even surface. Even if metal is known to be a sturdy material, it still needs proper care for a prolonged life.
• Cleaning can caring for your metal furniture
A simple periodic dusting operation is more than sufficient when it comes to metal furniture. A dry and clean cloth is enough to remove dust from its surface, without the use of anything else. Abrasive cleaners and other chemicals can be very harsh on the surface of metal furniture, so avoid using them.
If you are located in an area near saltwater, it is important to note that furniture frames made out of iron or steel are prone to rusting, if they are exposed to excessive humidity.
Painted Furniture
If you want to bring a personal note to your interior space, painted furniture is the best solution that will reflect you style and personality. But, always pick a spot that is safe from the direct action of sun light, for placing this kind of furniture, to make sure that the colors remain fresh for years to come.
• Cleaning and caring for your painted furniture
Every week, take a clean but damp cloth to dust and clean your painted furniture. Remove all excess water from the cloth before using it, so that you won’t risk spotting the furniture with water. If water spots end up drying on the furniture, the produced damaged can be permanent. Abrasive cleaners and chemicals should not be used on such surfaces, because they can produce significant damages.
• How to clean stains and spots:
Stains and spots can be removed by mixing together hot water and a few drops of liquid detergent for dishes. Again, do not use the cloth soaked in this mixture, removing excess water before applying it on the furniture. The affected area should be cleaned by rubbing the cloth on it with circular movements and dried immediately after cleaning with the help of a clean towel.
Marble, Slate and Natural Stone Furniture
When it comes to furniture made out of natural stone, regardless of its type, everybody loves its elegance and amazing design. Stone furniture will always present various fissures, pits, and even color differences on the same surface, which are all the result of geodynamic activity that spanned over millennia. They are not considered are defects or imperfections, and will not affect the durability and quality of your furniture, being part of natural stone’s beauty. Still, even if this kind of furniture can last for a great number of years, proper care will preserve its appearance intact and will keep it from being damaged.
• Caring for Marble and Slate
Regular cleaning can be easily performed by mixing a little liquid detergent for dishes with warm water, and using a sponge to clean the marble or slate surface. Do not use the sponge with excess water and always dry the surface of the furniture by using a dry towel immediately after cleaning. If you want a more thorough cleaning, a marble cleaning solution would be recommended from time to time.
When placing glasses with beverages on the surface of this furniture, always place coasters underneath. Hard items, like china objects, silverware, and so one, should have placemats underneath them to avoid accidental scratching. You should not use any kind of abrasive cleaners or general cleaners, not even vinegar, lemon, or other bleaching agents, on the surface of marble and slate furniture. Cleaners that contain acids are also not recommended at all. If you want to use alkaline cleaners, you should make sure that are suitable for stone before using them.
Water should be removed from marble furniture, especially if pools formed, because it may end up staining your furniture. Etch marks should be removed as well, as recommended by most professional, and have the stone surface restored to its natural beauty. You can seal the marble’s surface, by using professional products, to keep it protected, but do follow the instructions recommended by the manufacturer when using such substances.
Cleaning the spots off marble and stone
In case there are liquid spills on the surface of marble or stone, use a soft clean cloth to remove the excess liquid, by gently dabbing the cloth in it. Also, make sure to turn the sides of the cloth as often as possible, performing the operation with a clean side. It would be recommended to use a cleaner specially made for marble or stone, for spraying the surface once the excess liquid was removed, although warm water will do as well if you don’t have such substances in the house. Finally, gently wipe the area with a clean cloth.
In case food was spilled on marble or stone, just remove the food debris by using a dry clean cloth and follow the steps presented earlier, for liquid spills, to get the surface clean safely.
Rugs
Rugs are made out of a wide variety of materials, some withstanding spot cleaning, while others should be dry cleaned at all times. Before cleaning a rug, it is always recommended to check the item’s tag and see the cleaning recommendations for that particular type of rug, mentioned by the manufacturer.
• Caring for Rugs
The rugs you have should be vacuumed with regularity, by using the lowest level of power on your vacuum cleaner and make sure you avoid the fringes of the rug during this operation to avoid any damages. Also, it would be best if you could rotate the rug around the room periodically, so that wear on the product is evenly spread. And, if possible, your rug should receive a professional cleaning treatment once a year, for removing any existent stains.
• Spot cleaning your Rugs
As mentioned earlier, before starting the cleaning process, it would be best to check the tag of the rug and see if spot cleaning is allowed. If the tag confirms and there is a liquid spill on your rug, take a clean cloth to absorb all the excess liquid out of your rug. By any costs you should not rub the rug. Do know that the majority of stains can be cleaned safely by using a mixture of carpet cleaning detergent and club soda, in small quantities.
If you have melted wax on your rug, all you have to do is to place a piece of brown paper over the stain and place a hot iron on top of it. Check on a constant manner to see if the wax is melting, which will allow the brown paper to absorb it with ease. Do this operation as many times as necessary until all the wax is removed.
For chewing gum on the rug, ice cubes applied on the gum will harden it and make it easier to remove, by breaking it off. To manage the last traces of chewing gum, use a carpet spot remover. And, finally, use a cloth damped in vinegar or alcohol and applied on the spot until the area is saturated with liquid. For managing ink spots, the solution is to apply hairspray on the spot and allow it to dry out. Then prepare a solution made out of water and vinegar and use a cloth to blot the stain away.
Mattresses
The high-quality mattresses we offer are low on maintenance so you can enjoy them in the most pleasant way possible. Still, a certain degree of maintenance is recommended, so that you prolong the life of your item.
• Caring for your mattress
Use a mattress protector made out of a thin material, so that air-flow in and outside the mattress is enhanced, allowing the accumulated heat to dissipate. If possible, avoid using quilted protectors for your mattress, as they can change the way you feel the mattress and can trap in excess heat.
If you feel the need to clean the mattress, do know that dry cleaners are not recommended at all. They may compromise the quality of your mattress and damage its upholstery. To remove dust and debris off your mattress, use vacuum cleaning only. If you want to get rid of a stain, a solution made out of clean water and very little soap can be used, allowing the mattress to dry completely out in the air. Also, if you have children, do not allow them to jump on the mattress, because this can lead to the permanent damage of the interior structure of the mattress, which will stop providing the same level of comfort.
Lamps
- Before cleaning any lamp shade or fixture, disconnect the power source (unplug from outlets)
- To clean lamps made of opaque stained glass, art glass or jadestone, as well as most metal lamp bases and fixture frames, apply a lemon oil-based furniture polish to a soft cloth, and wipe gently.
- To clean shades made of mica or fabric, wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth or a feather duster.
- To clean lamps or fixtures made of beveled or transparent glass, apply a household glass cleaner to a soft cloth, and wipe gently.
- For fixtures hanging near cooking areas in kitchens, that may have heavy layers of greasy buildup or dirt, we have found Mr. Clean Top Job® works best for cleaning. Apply the cleaner to a soft cloth, and wipe gently. After cleaning, reapply lemon-oil based furniture polish to the shade, for best results.
- To clean Lithophane porcelain lamps, apply soft cloth with warm soapy water. If stain exists on non-colored area, you can apply scouring powder. Clean and dry with soft cloth, like a fine piece of China. CAUTION: Hold lamp securely when cleaning because liquid makes porcelain slippery.
STEEL
Like a car, steel frames need to be cared for and maintained to preserve the finish. The corrosion of steel is unavoidable. Any frame areas that show signs of corrosion should to be attended to immediately. Use mild soap and water with sponge or rag for normal cleaning. Recondition the finish by: Using a clear liquid automotive wax. This will protect and restore shine to the finish.
If Covering Rust with touch up paint: Clean area with navel jelly. Let it set for a few minutes, then wipe clean with warm soapy water. Repeat steps if necessary. You may slightly abrade the surface with a fine steel wool pad in order for the touch up paint to better adhere to the metal. Please wipe clean before using touch up paint. When applying touch up paint, please use thin coats. Twice a year the frames should be washed with a solution of mild soap and water, and then a good quality automotive wax should be applied to the smooth surfaces. Use a clear liquid wax on all textured finishes.
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