Furniture cleaning can be frustrating at times, especially when it seems like nothing works. In the midst of the aggravation, a person may ask themselves, “How can I…?” “What will work?” and “Where do I look?” All of these questions have simple answers and some of the answers have rather surprising solutions. Some of the solutions are already sitting in the kitchens of households all over the world and others are as simple as a trip to the supermarket.

Common Questions Asked and Answered

Q. How often should furniture be cleaned?

A. Furniture should be cleaned every year, but no later than a year and a half should exist between cleanings. However, each home is lived in differently, which can be a better indicator as to how often furniture should be cleaned. If the furniture begins to look dull, then that is a good sign that it is time for a cleaning. Waiting too long between cleanings can actually cause damage to the material.

Q. How can water rings be removed from wood furniture?

A. An oil-based furniture polish is a great way to remove set-in water rings from wood furniture. Even mayonnaise may do the job if left overnight then wiped off with a soft cloth the next day.

Q. What steps need to be taken before cleaning?

A. Remove any breakables that may be sitting near the furniture that is to be cleaned. Also, if there is anything sitting on top of the furniture, it needs to be removed to ensure proper cleaning. In the case of sofas and chairs, remove any pillows and also remove the cushions. However, don’t remove coverings from cushions. Vacuum them, beat them, do whatever needs to be done, but don’t remove the covers. Even though they have zippers, that doesn’t mean they are meant to be removed. The final task when cleaning sofas and chairs is to vacuum them out to get rid of any loose dirt and particles.

Q. How can a smoke smell be removed from wood dresser drawers?

A. First, rub the entire wood surface with denatured alcohol. If that doesn’t work, apply a coat of shellac to the interior of all of the woodwork as well as the inside and outside of the drawers other than the face. What the shellac does is seal in the odor so that it will not emit from the dresser at all.

Tips That can Make Furniture Cleaning Easier

• Rubbing vinegar on the surface prior to polishing will make wood furniture shine.

• When removing water stains from leather upholstery. Wet the entire area with a sponge and room temperature water to a seam in the furniture. Wet it less and less while working away from the stain. After wetting, treat with a conditioner.

• When removing sweat stains from upholstery, using a clean white cloth and white vinegar to work from the outside of the stain to the inside, followed by using the suds of a quart of warm water with ½ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid should do the job.

There are many different and very easy methods that can be used to eliminate stains in furniture and make it look nice again. Of course there are the shampoos that can be purchased at the supermarket, but something as simple as room temperature water and ½ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid can do so much for big jobs.

Proper care is crucial to keeping your wood floor in tiptop shape. There are three types of care you need to give your hardwood floors.

Preventative Care

Regular cleaning is preventative care for your wood floors. Keeping dirt, grit, sand, etc off your floor will obviously prevent it from causing scratches. It is good practice to place floor mats at entrances, whether they lead outside or just to another room in your home. They will trap a large percentage of dirt and debris before it ever touches your floor.

Use felt pads on the legs of all your furniture and be sure to pick it up completely off your floor before moving it. Too much sun can also cause damage to your wood flooring, use curtains or drapes to protect the wood from UV rays where ever possible.

Weekly Maintenance

Using a vacuum with a bare floor attachment is the best way to make sure all the dirt, grit, and other debris that makes it past the floor mat gets picked up before it can do much damage. Dust mopping is also a great way to keep you wood floor shining. Be sure to spray any cleaning treatment onto the dust mop head at least 24 hours prior to using it on your wood. Sweeping helpful if you don’t have time to vacuum thoroughly, just be sure to use a broom with fine bristles, you don’t want to scratch your floor while you’re trying to protect it!

Deep Care

Eventually you are going to need to give your wood floors a deep cleaning. There are many varying opinions when it comes to using any kind of liquid on wood flooring. Here are some suggestions, just be sure to make sure your floor’s finish is in good enough condition to protect your wood before you attempt any of the below cleaning techniques.

Water

Using a damp mop to give your floors a deep clean is actually okay if your finish is in good shape. If the finish is intact the water will never penetrate and touch the wood beneath. Make sure you use a wood cleaner with a neutral pH and you should be able to get your floors shining as if they were new.

Vinegar

Vinegar will make your wood flooring shine, but it won’t help with grease or dirt removal.