Dana is a furniture specialist and interior design aficionado.
Cleaning Tips For Your Living Room Furniture
Buying living room furniture is a big investment that requires a lot of search time and preparation. Daily use can have a great impact on the longevity and look of your furniture, and you want to make sure you properly care for it in order to extend its use for as long as possible. Here are some great cleaning tips to keep your furniture looking as fresh and beautiful as the day you bought it.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Stay clear of upholstery cleaners that use harsh chemicals or toxins to clean your furniture. These furniture cleaners may leave your furniture smelling and looking clean for some time, but there are risks associated with cleaning your furniture with them. For starters, these cleansers are typically full of harsh chemicals and toxins that can actually cause more harm than good to your furniture. Additionally, they are known to actually foster resoiling, resulting in more cleaning. These cleaners may also remove the protective layers of your furniture fabric, resulting in furniture that looks more worn, as well as causing harm to your upholstery.
Stay Clear of Steam
Steam cleaning initially sounds like a great idea when it comes to cleaning your furniture. However, it is important to consider what moisture can do to your furniture. Excessive moisture can cause odors, mold, and soil build-up. When steam cleaning is done the excess water must be sucked up, which can take days to fully dry. Even when the fabric appears dry on the surface, the moisture can still be present deep down. Steam cleaning may also strip your furniture's upholstery, leaving it more prone than before to stains and soil.
Bring Out the Vacuum
Vacuuming your furniture regularly is a great way to clean debris and dirt off of your furniture before it has a chance to seep down and cause problems. Vacuuming will also allow you to prolong the need of more extensive and deep cleaning. Vacuuming should be done at least once a week. Make sure you not only do the visible parts of your furniture; you will also want to make sure you vacuum under the cushions and in the crevices of your furniture.
Spot Clean as Soon as Possible
Accidents happen frequently, and most likely your furniture will not be able to avoid them. Spills are likely to occur, and can lead to permanent stains if not taken care of quickly. Here are some ways to take care of these spills quickly and properly:
- Always blot from the outside to the center of a spot. Doing so will control the spread of a spill
- Test your fabric in a hidden area to make sure the color doesn not come off with the stain, or that a ring is not caused by the cleaning agent.
- If the spot is liquid, use an absorbent white cloth or white paper towel to gently blot up the excess.
- If the spot is solid material, remove the excess by lifting it off with a dull table knife or spoon.
- Never rub, scrub, or brush a spill.
- Never use strong chemicals such as bleach, solvents, or acids unless they are recommended by a specialist.
- Never use sudsy detergents, as they leave a soapy residue that attracts dirt.
- Avoid using tap water. Use distilled water or plain seltzer water. Minerals in common tap water can cause rings, even on treated fabrics.
Know Your Furniture Needs
There are a wide range of furniture fabrics and styles available. It is important to know which ones may or may not be best for your particular lifestyle. A leather sofa may not fair well with a home full of cats, but can work great with children because it is simple to clean and wipe spills. If you are decorating a room that will be low traffic and more for entertaining you can choose virtually any furniture fabric. You should also be aware that certain fabrics are more resistant to sunlight damage than others. If you need help finding out what fabrics fit your lifestyle, our trained associates will be happy to assist you at any store location.
The sofa and other various items that comprise the living room are often the center piece and the focal point for guests that you invite into your home. You want to make sure you are caring for them properly in order to keep them clean and increase their life. Following these tips will assure that your living room furniture is properly maintained and cared for.
- Related Articles
- Related Q&A
- Decorating with Slightly Unusual Living Room Sofa Furniture
- A Short Living Room Sofa Furniture Update
- Discount Living Room Buffet Furniture Can Save You Money During These Financial Hardships
- How to Breathe Life Into your Living Room
- Pine Furniture In The Living Room
- Contemporary living room furniture
- Elegant Living Room Furniture
- Stylish Living Room Furniture Choices




Modern Sofa Shopping Survival Guide – Getting Things Right from the Start
By: Mark Ferrer | 05/12/2009One of the major purchases you will make as a homeowner is the sofa. How else can you make a living room without the right furniture? And if you're buying a modern sofa, you’ll definitely need some major help.
How to Buy Handmade Amish Furniture
By: Amanda Fern | 04/12/2009Shopping for Amish furniture at a store is usually like navigating the ocean. There’s so much going on! Furniture at every step! How are you supposed to pick out THE piece for your living room? Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think. The store is usually laid out in 1 of 2 ways. Read our article to see why shopping for Amish furniture need not be so difficult.
Chesterfield furniture is an enduring sign of quality
By: Davis Morris | 04/12/2009The traditional meaning of ‘couch’ is a piece of furniture with one half of the back end raised up. More like a day bed or a chaise longue than a modern couch, perhaps. In old French language the term ‘couch’ meant ‘to lie down’.
Coloured Glass Desks From Office Furniture Specialists
By: Jenny Pilley | 04/12/2009There are many different aspects to office furniture that makes items unique. Whether you want specialist chairs, glass desks or storage solutions there is so much to choose from..
Giving your kitchen a new look for less
By: Charlie | 04/12/2009The kitchen is a place where many hours are spent by the family. It is the room which we congregate in for special occasions, family meals and coffee in the morning. It is also one of the dirtiest room in most homes.
Wicker Sofa
By: Monty Armstrong | 04/12/2009Themes in patio furniture are easily as important in the decorating of your house as your indoor furniture. More people are choosing to spend a lot of their spare time outside. Whether cooking out for the family or entertaining guests, gone are the days where terrace furniture consisted of nothing less than a couple of webbed or plastic lawn chairs. Today most families have complete sets of terrace furniture including chairs, tables, couches, loveseats, tables with umbrellas and mo...
Kids Bedding
By: Monty Armstrong | 04/12/2009Bringing home a newborn is a very special time. Grandparents, other siblings, Aunts, Uncles and cousins frequently gather to meet the latest member of the family, bearing gifts of each possible kind. But the no 1 thing on the new parents' minds is the security of their small one. Come visit us right here for more info on Toddler Beds. We are the greatest source of info on Baby Furniture Cribs today. http://baby-furniture-cribs.org ...
Feng Shui Home Tips
By: Christa | 04/12/2009A good antidote against an exposed overhead beam is to use the symbolic Pa Kua method.Hang two flutes ,each tied with red thread ,on the offending beam.
Why and How to Choose Your Perfect Recliner
By: Dana - Roomful Express Furniture | 07/01/2009 | FurnitureRecliners make great additions to any living room. They are useful, comfortable, and come in a wide range of styles, colors, and fabrics. Read on to discover why a recliner is great for your home, and what to consider when choosing the recliner that is perfect for you.
Caring for and Cleaning Your Leather Furniture
By: Dana - Roomful Express Furniture | 15/12/2008 | FurnitureLeather furniture is one of the best fabrics to choose from for your living room furniture. It is easy to clean, durable, and comes in a wide range of styles and colors. If taken care of properly, your leather furniture can last for years to come and look, smell, and feel as new as the day you bought it. Continue reading for some great tips on how to properly care for and clean your leather living room furniture.
Keeping Your Living Room Furniture Clean and Looking New
By: Dana - Roomful Express Furniture | 28/11/2008 | FurnitureLiving room furniture is a big investment, and you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Here are some tips to help keep your furniture looking as great as the day you bought it.
The Futon: a Perfect Addition to Any Home
By: Dana - Roomful Express Furniture | 12/11/2008 | FurnitureFutons are great addition to any home, and work well in living rooms, bedrooms, recreational rooms, and even offices. They are durable, lightweight, easy to move, stylish, and great for sitting or sleeping on. They are perfect for overnight guests, small spaces and apartments, and for those who cannot afford an expensive sofa or bed.
Points to Consider When Buying a New Sofa
By: Dana - Roomful Express Furniture | 07/11/2008 | FurnitureBuying a sofa for your home can be a major investment - not just of money but of the space and design choices that you will be able to make in your home. A good sofa will allow you to live comfortably with it, on it and next to it. You'll have to live with your decision on what is likely to be the largest piece of furniture in the room for a while, so make sure that you make a good choice.