Cleaning Furniture

Dirty, grubby and poorly maintained furniture can ultimately decay if not taken the correct cleaning approach. Just like flooring, there are many types of different material furniture, whether it's wood, glass, wicker etc, and it's vital to know exactly what you're particular furniture is before actually cleaning and using specialised products; to find this important information out, simply read the manufactures instructions;

Wipe down wooden furniture with a duster to prevent the build up of dust and once a month apply a coating of wax or polish to larger items such as tables etc to protect it and heighten the overall appearance.

Unpolished and unprotected wood furniture will benefit from the odd coat of Beeswax, not wax polish, as this natural product will assist in re-nourishing the item and therefore extending the longevity and again, overall appearance of it by giving it an excellent shine, sinking deep into the root of the wood. Make sure that use one cloth to apply the product and a second clean cloth to wipe away and buff, as this will enable you to get maximum efficiency from the beeswax with no excess left over.

Placing fabric furniture such as upholstered chairs, away from direct sunlight - for example, away from a window - will maximise it's wear, as constant natural sunlight will ultimately weaken the fabric and fade the material to a dull and pale colour, which looks unpleasing to the eye.

Due to the fine wire-like strands of wood that make up Cane or Wicker furniture, it tends to be a tricky items to clean and maintain with any regular cleaning equipment, so try dusting the entire piece of furniture with a damp paintbrush, which is able to get into all those narrow grooves. Every now and then, give it a quick going-over with regular soapy water, rinse with fresh, clean, cold water and leave it to naturally dry out in the sun.

Moulded on candle wax can be a nightmare to remove, but try heating the wax back up with a hairdryer and then simply wipe up the now-removable liquid with a disposable paper towel before it has time to reset again. Follow this procedure up by mixing a combination of vinegar and warm water, which will then remove the excess wax and any stains that it left.