Your Spring Cleaning Tips and Hacks:
Part 9 - The Final Countdown:Taking Care of the Furniture
Over time, furniture collects all sorts of unpleasant things—think odors, dust, pet hair, dander, and bacteria. Even if your floors are spotless and your counters are shining, dirty furniture can still make your home feel, well, not-so-fresh. The good news? Giving your furniture a little TLC is easier than you might think.
Why You Need to Regularly Clean Your Furniture
Additionally, furniture is a perfect harbor point for bacteria, dander, and other forms of filth and when not properly cleaned, may even exacerbate health issues like allergies.
How to Clean Leather Furniture
Leather adds a touch of luxury to any room, but it does require special care. It’s important to frequently tend to your leather furniture, because when leather begins to wear it’s very difficult to restore and is obvious when it’s going bad.
Start by dusting or vacuuming the surface with a soft brush attachment to avoid damaging the material. Next, wipe it down with a damp cloth and a gentle soap solution—just make sure it’s not soaking wet. You want to clean it, not soak it. Get inside all the cracks, crevices, and seams which tend to build up random debris and in some cases food crumbs over time. Be sure to avoid using any harsh cleaners since leather tends to be more sensitive, it can be prone to damages depending on the type of cleaner.
Once dry, follow up with a leather conditioner to keep the material soft and crack-free.
Spring Cleaning Tip: Ensure you keep leather furniture out of direct sunlight, which can dry it out and cause fading and cracking, especially when drying.
How to Clean Fabric Furniture
Getting started cleaning the fabric furniture by removing any cushions and vacuum all over—don’t forget those sneaky crevices where snacks go to hide.
Check the manufacturer’s tag for cleaning codes (W, S, WS, or X), which tell you what type of cleaner is safe to use. For most fabric furniture, a mix of warm water and mild dish soap does the trick at cleaning the material. Lightly blot, don’t rub! If your furniture smells a little funky, sprinkle some baking soda over it, let it sit for 15–20 minutes, then vacuum it up.
Spring Cleaning Tip: Double check with your furniture manufacturer first, but a steam cleaner is a great tool that can help your furniture get a deeper clean while saving time and sweat.
How to Clean Wood Furniture
Dust is the enemy of beautiful wood surfaces, creating the perfect conditions to grow mold and other build up that can damage the wood and integrity of the furniture.
Start with a soft, dry cloth or microfiber duster. For sticky spots or grime, use a slightly damp cloth with a bit of dish soap—just be sure to dry it off immediately. Consider picking up a wood furniture-safe polish at your local hardware store or if the manufacturer has recommendations listed on their website or with the furniture’s manual. Occasionally reapplying the polish will let the wood shine and protect it from deterioration.
Remember: coasters and placemats are your friends when it comes to keeping stain-free and increasing the life of the furniture.
Spring Cleaning Tip: Avoid harsh chemical cleaners that can strip the finish and expose the wood.
What to Do with Furniture You Don’t Use
Ask yourself: Do I actually use this? Does it serve a purpose?
We tend to hold onto items that we don’t need whether for sentimental reasons or sometimes we simply forget they’re there. If you find that some of your furniture is taking up more space than actually being used, it might be time to rehome it.
If it’s still in good condition, consider donating it, selling it online, or giving it to a friend or family member. This is a great way to reduce waste and keep the furniture circulating and serving others.
If the furniture is sentimental to you or you’re not ready to part with it just yet, self-storage is a great short-term solution to keep your space clean and your furniture safe. A storage unit is a quick, easy, and affordable way to drastically increase your home’s storage capacity without the hassle of rearranging the entire home or having to make concessions of getting rid of other items just to clear more space.
Spring cleaning your furniture might not be the most glamorous task, but it’s one of the most rewarding. Your home will smell better, feel fresher, and look a whole lot more inviting.
What Else?
After going through this guide, take some additional time to walk around the home and find other tasks that may need your attention. Do any tasks specific to your home – do you need to repaint any of the rooms? Have you replaced air filters and any light bulbs? Now is the time to take care of tasks specific to your home.
Additionally, if there are any other tasks that need to be completed from the prior week’s cleaning extravaganza then now is the best time to take care of them as well.
That’s a Wrap!
Some people hang onto certain items in hopes of passing them down one day or maybe you want to hang onto items for your children as they grow older. A storage unit is a great way to stow away these items and give yourself more room around the house.
If you’re interested in getting a storage unit, then turn to West Coast Self-Storage for a high-quality storage experience. Our facilities have a proven track record of being clean, secure, and ready for move-in on the same day you reserve your unit. The seamless online move-in process is simple and straightforward, ensuring you can get the unit you need in a timely manner.
