Furniture is an important part of our everyday lives. When taken care of, the life span of furniture can be extended much longer. Although accidents are inevitable, there are ways to keep your furniture looking as good as the day you brought it home from the store. After you’ve spent a lot of money on your favourite new furniture item from a store like furniture in fashion, you want to make it last as long as possible! Taking care of the furniture you currently own can save you money instead of having to always buy something new.

1) Keep furniture out of the sun

Direct sunlight can fade and cause different materials to rip and crack over time. It’s best to place your furniture a few feet away from open windows where direct sunlight won’t directly hit it. Another option is to get protective covering to drape over your furniture, if necessary. Being in the sun for an extended amount of time can distort the original color in your furniture.

2) Furniture can’t withstand extreme heat or cold

Some materials are sensitive to temperature and humidity. It’s best to store your furniture in a neutral temperature room where it won’t be exposed to extreme heat or cold. Try to place your furniture away from vents that would cause extreme temperature changes.

3) Be careful to use the correct cleaning solutions

Using the wrong cleaning solution for a certain type of material can cause permanent damage. Most furniture comes a specific cleaning code that will recommend what type of product you should use on the specific material.

How to care for your specific type of furniture:

Upholstery

Upholstered furniture comes in hundreds of varieties and each type of fabric may have its own specific method of care. In addition to reading about your furniture’s cleaning code to better understand how to clean your fabric, you migh also wish to find cleaning services similar to this Upholstery Cleaning Melbourne company that can professionally clean upholstered furniture. Also, these general tips are helpful for any and all kinds of upholstered furniture.

Rotate seat and back cushions if possible to keep one spot in a cushion becoming worn.
Regularly vacuum with an attachment to rid your upholstery of dirt and dust to extend the life of your furniture.
Clean stains immediately before they have a chance to seep deeper into the fabric.

Although it can be scary to think about stains and dirt that light colored upholstery can attract, there are ways to combat everyday wear and tear. Stains can be a real nuisance to many products within our homes, including carpets. Thankfully though, there are many homemade stain removal formulas that can be used to help get rid of these stains. At The Great American Home Store, we offer many family friendly fabrics that are perfect for homes with kids and pets. These fabrics make it easier than ever to remove stains with a simple mixture of soap and water. Ask for furniture with Revolution or iClean fabrics when visiting the store.

Wood

When properly taken care of, wood furniture can last for generations.

Wood contains moisture which can be dried out by leaving the furniture in the sun or in a warm setting for too long. Sunlight can also fade the coloration of your wooden furniture.
Place wooden items away from AC/heating vents to prevent loss of moisture.
Use a damp cloth to dust wood furniture instead of a duster since the duster can leave small marks.
Use household items such as olive oil, vinegar to remove scratches and scuffs.
Always make sure to use coasters and place mats on your wooden furniture to protect it from extreme temperatures that can cause damage. Avoid putting hot or wet items directly on the furniture such as hot plates or glasses with ice. This can cause white heat stains or water marks on wood furniture.
Remember that antique furniture needs extra care to be taken of it. For antique items of furniture as well as wax supplies, visit antiquesworld.co.uk for beautifully restored, traditional, antique furniture.

Leather

Leather is a timeless material that is loved by many. With proper care, leather can stay in great shape for years.

Dust your leather once per week with a dry cloth to remove dust from the crevices. Dust particles can dull your furniture by scratching it over time. Use a damp cloth to clean the dirt that has accumulated on the leather.
Seemingly harmless cleaners such as oil and mild soap may stain and remove color from the leather.
Be careful not leave magazines or newspapers laying on your leather furniture as the ink may bleed onto the leather.
Avoid putting fabrics with heavy dyes on leather for extended periods.

Mattresses

You spend a good portion of your life sleeping on your mattress, so it’s important to take care of it. Taking certain steps can extend the life of your mattress and keep it sanitary.

Buy a mattress protector to defend against dust, bacteria, pests and moisture that would get into your mattress if it wasn’t properly covered with a good mattress protector. Over time these things will build up and shorten the life span of your mattress. A mattress protector will extend the life of your mattress for a small investment that will save you money in the long run.
Regularly wash your linens and sheets.
Avoid standing or jumping on your mattress as this causes the materials in it to be put under undue stress that will break them down much more quickly.
Rotate your mattress at least twice a year to avoid body impressions and degradation of the materials that will lead to decreased support and ultimately having to replace your mattress much sooner.