Tips to take care of your Furniture

Buying furniture is one, maintaining your furniture is yet another task but an extremely rewarding one. The cost of furnishing a house is high, hence it is important to make sure that the furniture is well taken care of. The most common is wood furniture, with its vintage charm, it adds allure to your home. It is for this very reason, that its maintenance should be given extra care and affection. For doing so, it is important you know what helps and what does not. Here I’m sharing a few tips that sure would help you maintain your furniture.

How to take care of Wooden Furniture-

1. Dust it well- I know, many of us aren’t really a fan of dusting, but the chore is one of the best and the most basic way to take care of your furniture. After all, a sparkling piece of furniture makes for a sparkling room. I’d recommend regular dusting, with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth, to ensure that the loose dirt does not settle on the furniture. If you could clean your sofas, tables etc. on a bi-monthly basis, that’d go a long way.
2. Minimal exposure to sunlight- You should not have your wooden furniture exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods. It results in “Spotting”, where bright and dark spots appear across the section. You might want to consider covering the furniture if it is placed where sun exposure cannot be controlled. Exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time could also cause the shine and lustre of your wooden furniture to start fading.
3. Be mindful of temperature- You should avoid using extremely hot/ cold objects on your wooden furniture for better maintenance. Such objects, tend to leave an impression that they may distort the original texture of the surface of your furniture.
4. Let it age with grace- Like wine, furniture too ages with time and you need to let it age gracefully. You might notice your furniture acquire new character in its years, like some wood might lighten, while others might darken over time.
5. Oil and Wax Regularly- Oiling and waxing wood is highly recommended, since, this not only adds a protective layer onto the furniture but also enlivens its appearance. If you could wax your wooden furniture once in three months, it’d be amazing.
6. Use warm water for cleaning- You should use warm water, and a mild soap to clean your wooden furniture. Ideally, you should not soak it for longer periods of time. Clean with a clean cloth until the dust wears off, and wipe off the residual moisture using a dry cloth.
7. Treat wear and tear- Even with the best care, your furniture can sustain injuries. For minor scratches use a polish. If the damage is extensive, you would need to resort to some drastic measures, like painting. Painting a piece of damaged furniture would breathe new life into it and prolong its life.
8. Remove tough stains- Despite your efforts, your furniture might get stained. No matter what kind of stain you have, be sure to clean it as quick as possible. The longer it stays, the harder it will be to remove.

I’ll share some tips to get those tough stains out (hope it helps)-

• For white water rings from wet glasses- Apply a paste of equal amounts of baking soda, and white toothpaste. Rub it onto the stain until it’s gone. Then wipe off, and buff it with a dry cloth.
• For dark spots from water damage- Gently blot the stain with a cloth soaked in vinegar.
• For crayon marks- Apply mayonnaise over the area. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before rubbing clean with a damp cloth and buffing with a dry cloth.

These tips will help you keep your furniture in good shape and you can enjoy having them for a long time. Through these simple maintenance routines, your furniture will move from one generation to another while in perfect condition.