Take Care of Your Furniture’s Fabrics and Leathers
Whether it’s leather or fabric, your furniture’s lifetime will be extended with a little TLC. Furniture made from uncoated leather should get a dusting. An art gum eraser will take care of minor stains and deposits, but don’t use a leather cream, conditioner, or saddle soap on uncoated leather as these products can change the leather’s color or appearance. Washable slipcovers protect your furniture’s fabrics, particularly during the hot summer months, when sweat and suntan lotions might soil furniture’s arms and seats.

Take Care of the Arms
Arm caps might save you an arm and a leg over the long run. Sofa and chair arms get the brunt of abrasion and body oils from constant contact with bare skin. Arm caps, tailored to fit snugly over sofa and chair arms, offer a natural looking barrier as they are most often made from the same fabric as the furniture, and can be washed or dry cleaned as needed. You protect your car’s carpet with mats. Do the same for your furniture with Arm Caps.

Mix It Up and Flip It Over
We tend to go to our favorite chair or spot on the sofa over and over, but with time the imprints of such routine begin to show themselves. It’s a good idea to flip loose cushions regularly and to rotate sofa, sectional, and loveseat cushions so that wear is evenly distributed. Rearranging furniture will not only keep your living area looking fresh, but will also help to share the wear that your furniture gets over the years.

Sometimes You Gotta Do More
It’s always a good idea to regularly dust your wood furniture, but as time goes by a more thorough cleaning might be in order. Soil, oil, and cigarette smoke will take more than a dusting to remove. Mix a solution of oil soap and water as instructed. Moisten a natural sponge and gently stroke the furniture to loosen unwanted deposits. Rinse with a sponge soaked and wrung in clear water and then dry with fresh cleaning cloths.

Dusting Basics
Dust fine furniture with a lamb’s wool duster or with a lightly moistened cotton cleaning cloth. Fine, blown-in dust can be pulled-away with a Microfiber cloth. Feather dusters are novel and neat but a broken quill can scratch delicate finishes so be careful or don’t use. And dust often... frequent dusting removes dirt before it can settle-in more deeply. It’s always best to consult a professional before dusting or cleaning antiques.

More From Talk Radio 960 AM