We all naturally want our home furniture to last a long time and stay in great shape, and while themes like furniture construction and material play a big role here, another important theme is the care you give your items. Furniture that’s cared-for properly will last years and even decades without issue; on the other hand, furniture that’s left to fend for itself, so to speak, will often wear down much faster, costing you time and money.
At Guild Hall Furniture & Interior Design, we’re here to not only offer a huge range of quality home decor, from living room and dining room furniture to any other part of your home, but also to provide clients with basic expertise on everything from interior design to care of their furniture. In this two-part blog series, we’ll look at some general care tips for various furniture materials you may have in your home, ensuring you know exactly how to manage your care needs in each of these areas.
Why Furniture Care Matters
Before we move any further, it’s important to understand a little more about why taking care of your furniture is so important. After all, we all have busy lives, and it can be easy to forget or simply not have the time needed to properly take care of everything in your home, from clothes to personal items and, yes, even furniture.
It’s tempting to see furniture as relatively indestructible, after all, it’s not like clothing where spills and other accidents can cause permanent staining or damage. However, this isn’t actually the case at all – furniture is just as susceptible to spills and other issues as any other household item, and if these are not dealt with quickly and properly, they can cause serious damage. In addition, themes like regular dusting and vacuuming are important for all types of furniture, not just floor coverings like carpets and rugs.
In short, then, taking the time to care for your furniture is an important part of ensuring it lasts for as long as possible.
Wood Care
Wood is one of the most common furniture materials, and with proper care it will last and look beautiful for decades. Here are some basics:
- Polishing or waxing: Depending on the type of wood and the finish, you may want to occasionally polish or wax your wood furniture. This helps to protect the wood and keep it looking shiny and new.
- Cleaning: You can use a damp cloth to wipe down most wood furniture, but be sure not to saturate the wood – a little moisture is fine, but too much can cause damage.
- Stains: If you spill something on wood furniture, it’s important to deal with it quickly. Use a clean, dry cloth to blot up as much of the spill as possible, then follow up with a mild soap and water solution. Wipe the area clean, then dry it off – if you can, place a fan next to the furniture to speed up the drying process.
- Dusting: As with cleaning, you’ll want to use a dusting cloth or brush to remove any dust buildup on wood furniture. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies, as dust can accumulate here and be tough to remove.
For more on home furniture care, or to learn about any of our home furniture options or interior design services, speak to the staff at Guild Hall Home Furnishings today.
