Any furniture you buy can literally last a lifetime but even the highest quality furniture can be prone to scratches, scuffing, and abrasions if it’s not properly cared for.
So below we have four simple tips to take care of your furniture and to preserve that just bought look! Remember that it is always a good idea to ask which cleaning products are best suitable for the upkeep of your furniture when you first purchase it.
Tip 1. Dusting
Dusting is one of those simple cleaning tasks we all tend to forget about or leave to another day as let’s face it no one likes to dust right? But it is one of the best ways to take care of your furniture. Airborne particles can gradually build up and leave a not-so-sightly film-like layer on your furniture which can, believe it or not, cause scratching on the surface.
But if your dust your furniture frequently this can avoid such a build-up from happening. The best clothes to use are either a soft cloth or a microfiber cloth or even an old t-shirt.
Tip 2. Keep Your Furniture Clean
Dusting is not always just enough to keep your furniture clean so you will need to clean your oak furniture regularly. But never ever use one of those all-purpose cleaners, as this can cause irreversible damage to your oak furniture’s finish and leave a film of glue on top.
So, all you simply have to do if you find a sticky patch or that piece of dirt that just won’t shift with good old dust is simply to dip a cloth in water with a touch of washing up liquid, wring it out as much as you possibly can and just gently wipe the area that needs that extra clean.
Then all you need to do is just get a damp cloth and go over the area you have just cleaned and then follow it up and wipe clean with a soft dry cloth.
Tip 3. Protecting Your Furniture
Nearly all everyday furniture polishes will provide your furniture with a lovely smooth and shiny finish and will offer some sort of protection for your furniture. Some tips when using these types of furniture polish products never use too much as it can cause a build-up of dirt and dust and cause a dirty film to form on your furniture.
So use just a couple of sprays and a good old rub and buff and this will stop such build-ups from happening and it will leave your furniture looking clean and fresh. Never use polish with other products such as wax polishes as this can leave you with an unsightly mess.
Tip 4. Removing Those Tougher Stains
Even though you have taken as much care as you possibly can with your oak furniture sometimes despite all your efforts inevitably your furniture will get stained at some point!
Despite whatever the type of stain always cleans it as soon as you possibly can. The reason being is that the longer you leave it, it may become even harder to clean!
So for white rings left by a wet glass just simply apply an equal measure of white toothpaste and baking soda, apply to the stain, and rub until it’s disappeared.
For darker spots caused by water try simply to gently blot the stain with a cloth soaked in vinegar
For your children’s crayon drawings and marks simply apply some mayonnaise over the colored area, leave it for a bit then rub clean with a damp cloth and then dry with a dry cloth
For white rings from wet glasses, apply a paste of equal amounts of white toothpaste and baking soda. Rub it into the stain until it’s gone. Then, wipe off the furniture and buff it with a dry cloth.
For dark spots from water damage, try gently blotting the stain with a cloth soaked in vinegar.
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