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As Spring approaches and you’re ready to deep clean your home, don’t forget to add your indoor furniture to the checklist.
While indoor furniture is away from outdoor elements, there is still a lot of potential wear and tear and maintenance needs depending on the type of material you have on your furniture. Not to mention the indoor pollutants like dust and grime that can still accumulate.
Deep cleaning your indoor furniture will not only make you feel better, but it will also help maintain your furniture pieces for longevity.
Before you get started, make a list of all the items you’re planning to clean. This could be sofas and sectionals to coffee tables and dining tables. Then, checkout the following tips and tricks for spring cleaning and maintenance for your indoor furniture.
General Cleaning
The first step of your indoor furniture spring cleaning is to, well, clean. This means giving everything a good once over to remove dust, grime buildup, dirt, and even the hidden cereal that’s found its way into the cushions.
Fabrics & Leather
A handheld vacuum is a great tool to use in any sofas, chairs, or sectionals to pick up any food items, animal fur, and other items that have fallen through the cushions. Remove the cushions and vacuum underneath first.
For fabric pieces, we always recommend checking to see if there are special instructions on how to properly clean your specific material. For any stains, if not listed, consider an equal parts mix of baking soda and water.
For leather pieces, you can wipe down with a microfiber cloth to remove dust and buildup. You can also get leather wipes to clean after you dust to get any stuck on buildup. Unlike fabrics such as cotton, linen, etc., leather furniture needs to be maintained more often to avoid cracking and peeling.
Wood
For pieces like dining tables, accent and coffee tables, or other wood-furnished pieces, you will follow similar steps. First dust or wipe off with a dry cloth. Then take a damp towel or rag with a mild soap and warm water to wipe away excess buildup. Make sure it’s damp and doesn’t leave water behind as you clean. If you have a lot of wood furniture, a humidifier may be a good investment to help keep your wood from getting to dry, especially in the wintertime months. This will help avoid any cracks and structural damage.
Spot Cleaning Stains
It happens. The accidental food or drink spill or possibly a pet stain. The most important part of spot cleaning is to get it done as soon as possible.
Fabrics
Don’t fret if the wine spills on the couch. The first step in spot cleaning is to use a mixture of dish soap and cold water and to blot the stained area. DO NOT RUB as you will likely spread the stain. You want to pick the stain up and out, not more it around.
One option to consider is also using steam to loosen the particles. Whether you have a handheld steamer (or even the steam setting on an iron), steam can help loosen those particles up before you begin to clean with the soap mixture.
If you have a stubborn stain, you may need to consider a stronger cleaner than dish soap. There are options, but again, it’s always best to consult with any special cleaning instructions that came with the furniture.
Design Tip: Performance fabric is a great option when you want fabric, but also durability. Built to withstand more everyday wear and tear and more resistance to stains and spills, this is a great option for those with kids and pets to avoid having to spot clean as often!
Leather
For small, simple stains, using mild dish soap and warm water will do the trick. When removing a stain, rub your cloth in circular motions, not back and forth. This will help reduce any damage and wear and tear on the leather.
For tougher stains, like grease or ink, you’ll likely need a heavier duty cleaning solution, such as baking soda or rubbing alcohol. Baking soda is handy for grease stains. Sprinkle some over the spot and let it sit for a few hours as it absorbs the grease. For ink stains, use a small cotton ball and gently dab (not rub) the stain until it eventually lifts.
Faux leather is another option that is easier to clean, but less durable if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option and want a leather look.
Wood
From water stains to ink and more, wood furniture isn’t incapable of staining and the need for spot cleaning. For water stains, use a non-gel toothpaste and rub until the stain is removed. If it’s still not budging, add in some baking soda in equal parts to the toothpaste. Make sure to wipe everything clean with a damp cloth once the stain is removed. For other tough wood stains, baking soda and water are a great combination.
As with all stains, they may not come out the first go around. That’s okay. You just need to be patient and repeat the process again. Each cycle will continue to loosen up any stains and eventually remove them.
Make sure for any spot cleaning that you completely clean and dry the areas properly to avoid any stains for your cleaning.
Maintenance Cleaning
While some materials such as leather and wood need more maintenance, it’s still a good idea to get in the mindset of maintaining your furniture through general cleaning on a consistent basis. We recommend a good dusting, vacuuming, and wipe down at least once a month to help keep your furniture looking new and clean.
Fabrics
For fabrics, vacuum monthly to get rid of crumbs and dust (especially on pieces that aren’t used very often).
Leather
For leather, it’s important to condition on a regular basis to avoid cracking and peeling from dry air. Make sure to check with the manufacturer on both the leather conditioner to use and how often you should be conditioning.
Wood
Similar to leather, wood furniture can need some extra TLC to ensure durability and longevity. Ask the manufacturer on the best practices for each piece on types of polishes and protectants to avoid cracking and drying out. Make sure to also ask the frequency in which the polish should be used.
For all of your indoor furniture needs, stop into one of our nine Watson’s locations or call to speak to one of our design experts. We offer the largest selection of furniture for every room that can be customized to your budget, style, and comfort.
