Furniture Care and Cleaning Tips

Wood || Leather || Upholstery

Woodcare

Preventative Maintenance For Wood

	Keep furniture out of direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause heat damage and bleaching of the wood.
	Keep the furniture away from heating and air conditioning sources. These sources affect the moisture content of the wood.
	Frequently move items resting on furniture that is exposed to the sun to prevent discoloration. Rotate pieces of furniture within a room from time to time.
	Dust furniture at least weekly. During periods of excess dust, such as the summer when windows tend to be open more, dust more frequently.
	To prevent gouging and scratching use felt backing on lamps, ashtrays, knickknacks and other items.
	In serving hot foods always use place mats under the plates and hot pads under the serving dishes. Make sure plants are in drip-proof pots and that they do not come in contact with the wood.
	When placing items on furniture and retrieving them always set them down and pick them up, do not slide them.

Home Remedies For Wood

	To Remove Old Wax: Use Stainsafe Wood Cleaner, allow to dry. If wax or residues are thick and heavily built-up, use mineral spirits and then Stainsafe Wood Cleaner. When finished, apply Stainsafe Wood Conditioner.
	To Remove Alcohol Stains: Apply paste of cigar or cigarette ashes and castor oil and rub with the grain until the stain is gone. Follow with Stainsafe Wood Conditioner. For heavier stains, rub with rottenstone and Stainsafe Wood Conditioner.
	To Remove Water Rings: Rub with a mixture of equal parts of olive oil and white vinegar, rubbing with the grain. Or apply cheese cloth that has been dampened with hot water and several drops of ammonia. Follow immediately with application of Stainsafe Wood Conditioner.
	To Remove Burns: Rub in a paste type silver polish, keeping clear of unmarred finish. Wipe dry. Clean with Stainsafe Wood Cleaner and apply Stainsafe Wood Conditioner.
	To Remove Candle Wax: Scrape gently and apply warm iron over blotting paper to absorb residue.
	To Remove Ink: Wipe with a damp cloth. If stains are old, apply a mild oxalic solution and ammonia.
	To Remove Dents: Wipe surface with turpentine and cover with a damp cloth for two hours to swell the wood fibers. Apply a warm iron over the cloth until indentation has disappeared. Applying a liberal coat of Stainsafe Wood Conditioner will restore the original beauty.

Wood || Leather || Upholstery || Top of Page

Leather Care

	Try to maintain at least two feet between your furniture and heat sources. Prolonged exposure to heat vents, radiators or fireplaces can cause your leather to dry out.
	Avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight. All materials will fade over time when placed in direct sunlight.
	Never use any harsh chemicals on any type of leather! Keep materials like fingernail polish, fingernail polish remover (acetone), paint, bleach and household cleaners away from your leather.

How often should you clean your leather?

	Once per week - Dust your furniture weekly or when you dust the other items in the room. One of the great benefits of leather is that you can fully remove the particles from the surface, making it ideal for dust- sensitive people
	Four times per year - Fully clean your furniture at least every six months. For pieces in high use rooms you should clean them every four months. It is important that you pay particular attention to clean all high usage and skin contact area such as seats, arms, front railings and inside backs.

Wood || Leather || Upholstery || Top of Page

---

Upholstery Care

Upholstery Common Sense

	Vacuum your upholstered furniture weekly, using a furniture brush and the extension that enables you to reach into corners for crumbs and dust.
	Direct sunlight will fade your upholstery, so keep the furniture out of the direct rays.
	Rearrange the furniture in your room from time to time, so that constant use won't wear out one piece of furniture much more quickly than the others in the room.
	Turn cushions and pillows around on a weekly basis to extend the life of the fabric.
	Move houseplants and flowers away from contact with upholstery fabrics.
	If you plan to paint, refinish that antique table, or put on nail polish, be smart and cover your upholstered furniture to protect from spills.

Cleaning Your Upholstery

Before you try to remove a stain or soil from your upholstery, you should determine the type of fabric involved. Some manufacturers make this easy for you by placing cleaning codes on furniture. (You'll find the code either on the furniture hang-tag or on the manufacturer's label. If not, please call us to determine your fabric.) These codes indicate the type of fabric involved - cotton, wool, silk, and so on - and suggest the best methods of cleaning and spot removal.

Here's a handy reference list of manufacturers' cleaning codes:

	WS    This fabric may be cleaned with water-based cleaning agents and foams, as well as with mild, water-free dry cleaning solvents.
	W    Use water-based cleaning agents or foams only.
	S    Use only mild, water-free dry cleaning solvents.
	X    Do not use foam or liquid agents on this fabric. Vacuum or brush lightly to remove soil.

---

Wood || Leather || Upholstery || Top of Page

These Tips Courtesy Of