Do you consider furniture at home as something easily replaceable? That’s very unlikely. Considering how expensive quality furniture is, you need to take good care of it. Such furniture is like any other investment you make for keeping your home comfortable and good looking and investments need regular revisions and constant attention. Usually, all good manufacturers of furniture mention the materials used for making them and provide tips about its care. However, there are many ways of keeping your furniture upholstery and furniture in good shape.

For you furniture to continue looking good and almost new all the time, you really don’t have to keep it covered with covers. Nor does it mean that you can’t have you glass of wine or juice in its comfort. Here are a few practical tips to help you keep your furniture looking spick and span and some suggestions on upkeep of furniture and upholstery.

• Dust does not necessarily deposit on flat surfaces. Anytime you like to confirm that, have a closer look at your lampshades. Furniture upholstery attracts dust as well and the best way to get rid of is to use a vacuum cleaner. Make good use of the upholstery nozzle and crevice tool that forms a part of the kit that comes along with the vacuum you bought. Doing it periodically, at least once a month, keeps the dust from gathering and discoloring of your upholstery.

• You would know that different materials and textiles are used for making a variety of furniture. Using a vacuum is the most efficient and practical way of cleaning foam filled furniture, but can’t be used for down-filled cushions as most of them are not lined with down-proof ticking. As a result, use of vacuum on such items might pull the down out of the furniture, depriving your valued furniture of its feathers! You can only brush out dirt from such furniture.

• Did you realize that kitchen gases and fumes released while cooking don’t remain in the kitchen? Leave you kitchen exhaust fan running while cooking. It will prevent all the greasy grime and oil vapors from getting deposited on your upholstery and leave it odorless. Similarly, replacing the filters of your furnace periodically would reduce the dust particles from flying around the room before they settle on your furniture.

• Usually, it’s not difficult to guess the most frequently used seats in the house. For your regular furniture that attracts maximum activity, you could consider using arm and headrest covers that go well with your upholstery to take care of and save these from hair and body oils. Especially during summers, keep your furniture covered with throws made from terry cloth to save from harm that may be caused by lotions and oils.

• Professional cleaning is most desirable to get better cleaning and should be carried out at least once in two years. However, day-to-day maintenance can easily be carried out by using a suitable commercial upholstery cleansers and shampoos that are readily available in the market. These are easy to use and deliver satisfactory results. But be careful and know the fabric used on your upholstery and carefully read the instructions of the manufacturer.

• Yes, it’s true that even water can cause stains on your upholstery. These stains can be removed by using clean clear water , but ensure that the windows are thrown open and the fan or air conditioner is switched on for quick drying, else you might have a bigger watermark at hand to remove from the upholstery.

• Presoaking marks on upholstery with a mild cleaner prepared from half a cup of mild detergent allowed to foam with 2 tablespoons water does wonders. Work on the stain with a soft toothbrush and then straightaway dampen with a dry towel. Be careful not to wet any metal part of the furniture as metal might get rusted with water leaving a permanent stain. And, sometimes zippers might be made of metallic alloys that could act with water.

• Do not use vinegar or acidic formulations for cleaning upholstery unless you have tested them on some not so visible part of a piece of furniture.

Furniture with upholstery that utilizes modern synthetic fibers like polyester is easy to clean with hardly any risk of damaging the colors. Any piece of furniture that uses more than 50% cotton needs professional care while cleaning as it can be ruined by many of the common cleaners and even home-made cleaning formulas.

It will be good to consider the type of fabrics used on the furniture and upholstery that you intend buying. Look for materials that would best suit your needs and family. Following the tips and suggestions mentioned here will most certainly help you enjoy your furniture.