On the one hand, cleaning your furniture can seem like the most fun activity in the world: you get to do something related to housekeeping and improve your living space at the same time! But on the other hand, if you don’t know what you’re doing and follow these tips, your effort will turn out poorly. To avoid these mistakes, read on for a list of ways to clean up without ruining any furniture pieces.
Tips On How to Avoid Ruining Your Furniture While Cleaning It
- Always start with a clean surface and move from there. Those grimy fingerprints just won’t come off otherwise!
- Don’t use anything that is not designed for cleaning purposes (like sponges and cloths). You can use them to clean greasy spatters, but they will be rinsed off immediately and leave behind only a dirty film.
- Before you begin cleaning, cover the furniture with a dust-free cloth or place it in front of a fan to dry (and keep the furniture still).
- If the surface needs attention, use special tools designed for the job. For example, if you have to remove baked fat or cooking grease from your oven door handle, use an oven mitt as an extension of your hand. You won’t scratch it with a sponge.
- Don’t try to clean things that don’t need it. If a surface is in good shape and unsoiled, don’t use cleaning products on it.
- After you are done with your cleaning session, do not let everything dry overnight! Wipe up the water and follow up with a quick drying action. For example, use cloths or paper towels to absorb any extra moisture. Then leave the room for an hour or so until the surface dries completely.
- Use soft brushes to get rid of dust, or use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment on furniture surfaces (like tables).
- Don’t use cleaning products on delicate surfaces. The liquids can damage them and remove their protective coatings.
- Do not be too aggressive with cleaning. If you scrub too hard, you will permanently damage the material.
- If you have children or pets around, take extra care when cleaning. They can mistake your cleaning products for toys or food!
- Have a small vacuum cleaner around so it’s easy to clean up dirt and dust that gets scattered while you’re working on a surface.
- Always check which types of liquids are appropriate for use on a particular surface before applying anything to it. Some traces of cleaning agents can get absorbed into the furniture and cause damage.
- If you are cleaning wood furniture, you should never use a chemical cleaner on it. They will turn the wood very porous and cause it to stain deeply over time. Just rinse off the dust regularly with water and allow it to dry on its own.
- Always take into account the materials used in creating a particular piece of furniture, like iron or plastic. Some have different cleaning requirements than others, and may even be damaged by using certain materials for cleaning.
Conclusion
To sum up, cleaning your furniture is fun and easy, but you have to be careful not to ruin it in the process. Use common sense and take into account the materials used in creating a particular piece of furniture. And have fun!