How To to Extend the Life of Your Furniture
If you have recently moved into a new home and had to deal with the furnishing task, you certainly know how difficult and time-consuming that process can be. Not to mention the hole it has probably made in your budget. If you had thought straight, you could have considered upcycling your old furniture. This is an excellent way of making old furniture look like new.
When we buy furniture for our homes, we tend to choose stylish and modern pieces as well as those that would be durable. However, no matter how high quality your furniture is, time and everyday usage inevitably leave some trace on it. The only thing you can do to prevent your furniture from fading is its proper maintenance. That is why we have decided to share seven ways to extend the life of your furniture.
1. Make a habit of proper cleaning
Some people like to change their furniture pieces from time to time. However, even if it sounds like a good idea, not everyone can afford such financial undertakings. At least not that often. That’s why most of us would turn to tricks to make our furniture last for as long as possible.
About the vacuuming
Vacuuming Photo by Gustavo Fring
You may have removed all the crumbs from your sofa when you cleaned your house a few days ago. However, do you remember the last time you vacuumed all your upholstery? If you can’t say the answer, you are close to buying a new sofa or couch.
Mind the chemicals you use
It is not true that you can use just any cleaning product to remove dirt or stains from your furniture. On the contrary, this is the point where you have to be very careful. Every furnishing element has its washing instructions. Take a close look at the label with these instructions before you make any cleaning steps.
Mild, furniture-friendly products are the best option here. They are not aggressive and cannot damage furniture surfaces in terms of discoloration or losing shine. Thus, for example, putting some baking soda on your couch or armchair will help you remove the odors and loosen the stains. And, when it comes to scrubbing the stains, using an abrasive scrubber is forbidden. Otherwise, don’t be surprised by the scratches that may appear after such a cleaning solution.
Shaving the furniture fabric shaver
Have you ever heard of furniture shaving? Well, it’s time to learn something new about furniture maintenance.
Use a razor to remove the snags that can appear on your sofa or your armchair after some time. That will save you from the pulled-out threads and make your upholstery look new again.
Mind the pests
Vacuuming your furniture at least once a week is the first step of proper maintenance. By doing it, you will remove all the hidden dust and dirt that have been piling on the surface. However, if you miss this step or don’t do it regularly, you may soon notice spots or discoloration on certain parts of your upholstery.
However, sometimes you may notice the wooden furniture is fading even if you clean it thoroughly and regularly. If that happens, you probably need to check it for the presence of pests. Termites can damage your tables, couch and chair legs, or even your closets. So, if you want to extend the life of your furniture, make sure you do the appropriate pest treatment the moment you notice something strange is happening to your wooden pieces.
2. Fix it on time
How durable and strong your furniture will be, depends on the material it is made of. If those materials are sensitive to water, for instance, and they still get in contact with it, make sure you react as soon as possible since every late reaction can cost you some serious repairs later on.
On the other hand, furniture damage often occurs during the relocation process. Packing furniture for the move is a task. And, even if you give your best to have it ready to go, accidents may always happen. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up on your nightstand just because it got some scratches on the way to your new home. Instead, try to fix it immediately. And, in most cases, you’ll manage to save it in the end.
Don’t forget to give it a second chance
People tend to throw away their furniture when they find it is not modern anymore. And if, above all, it has some scratches or stains, chances are low that they’ll decide to keep it. However, with some proper treatment and some imagination, you can restore it and give it a completely new function. So, even if you see that some of your furniture is no longer to be used, you may consider giving it a second chance. You can never know when the old rustic sofa you plan to get rid of will become trendy again.
3. Use all the pieces evenly
Every home has some furnishing elements that are used more often than others. Thus, in one living room, you will find a sofa that is worn out, while there is a brand new armchair in the corner of the same room. I
f you want to make your furniture last longer, you can’t let this happen. Use all your pieces evenly. Sit in a different place in the living room each day, and make sure you rotate the chairs in your dining room, too.
What’s more, when it comes to cushions, try fluffing them every day and rotate them from time to time. That way, you will make sure you are using both sides equally.
4. Find the best place for your furniture- one of the ways to extend the life of your furniture
Not just every place is suitable for putting your furniture there. If your upholstery is exposed to sunlight and UV rays all the time, chances are high that it will do some damage to the fabric.
Therefore, it would be good not to place your favorite armchair next to the window. Still, if that is your favorite reading corner, protect it by using curtains or blinds when you are not spending time there. What’s more, if you have two or more armchairs in the room, and you don’t mind which one you are sitting on, you can rotate them and thus extend their life.
5. About the stains
One of the most common stain protectors is furniture covers. Once you put those covers on your chars or sofa, you will no longer panic when your kid spills some fruit juice on them. Accidental spills may always happen. What’s more, most of these stains you can never remove.
However, stain-proof agents will work if you hate seeing covers or decorative blankets on your furniture. Apply them on your sofa, or hire a professional to do the job for you. It may cost you a bit, but the effect is guaranteed.
6. Pets are not allowed
Do you have a cat or a dog that you keep inside your flat or house? Well, if they are permanent residents of your home, you should know that it will not help you extend the life of your furniture.
The dirt, urine, dander, and hair your pets leave behind can damage your furniture. However, those are not the kind of problems you can fix quickly. In most cases, pet owners have to give up their furniture pieces and toss them, even though they are not that old.
Leather furniture, for example, is sensitive, especially in the presence of your furry friends and their sharp claws. So, the next time you think about keeping an animal indoors, get ready for a lot of furniture shopping.
Consider the use of pet friendly furniture as an option
Nor are food or drinks
Food and Drinks Photo By Andrea Piacquadio
However, keeping pets is not the only danger threatening our furniture’s long life. We and our careless habits can be harmful, too. Food and drink leftovers we miss cleaning usually stay on our furniture tops for a long time.
Eventually, all of that can attract insects or cause mold. So, if tomorrow you decide to put your meal on a plate and head with it to your living room, think twice. Kitchens and dining rooms are made for some reason.
7. Professionals are sometimes the best choice
Professional Cleaners Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
Nowadays, keeping your home clean has become a topic. Women and men all around the globe use different methods and chemicals to maintain their households. Still, getting some professional help is sometimes a must. This is especially true when it comes to the point of deep cleaning.
In usual conditions, you can deep clean your upholstery once a year. However, if you have small children or cannot give up having a pet, you should do it more often.
So, if you decide to employ these easy ways to extend the life of your furniture, it’s possible to have it almost forever. Not only would they preserve your favorite pieces, but they will also save you a lot of money. You can have a living room with furniture that looks like it has just come out of the store. However, you won’t spend a penny on it.