Please read these instructions carefully. They are instructions and precautions in caring for your new furniture purchase. You must follow these instructions or those provided by the manufacturer or Retailer in order to assure that your furniture is kept in the best of condition.

Regardless of what type of furniture you own, proper care and maintenance will go a long way toward increasing the lifespan of your furniture, preserving its appearance and, as a result, increasing your enjoyment of your furniture and maximizing your furniture investment.

Preventing Damage to Your Furniture

One of the best things you can do to help your furniture last a very long time is to follow some damage prevention tips for the type of furniture you own. In addition to accidental stains and scratches, furniture is susceptible to environmental factors, such as exposure to excessive sunlight, high or low humidity levels, heat, cold and dust. Sudden changes in the environment can be especially problematic.

Because furniture is available in a variety of materials, including wood, plastics, metals, upholstery and leather, it’s important to remember when caring for your furniture that most furniture pieces are constructed of multiple materials. For example, leather and upholstered sofas are usually constructed on wood frames. Even "all-wood" furniture may be constructed from multiple species of wood. Finishes vary widely and may include elements of stain, paint, resins and non-wood laminates.

Although most prevention tips apply to all types of furniture and the materials used to construct them, how you care for individual furniture pieces and the types of products or methods you use for cleaning and preserving them will vary. You need to know what types of commercially available products are appropriate for the materials used in your furniture and you need to exercise care not to get cleaning products specifically designed for one element of your furniture – such as brass – on nearby or adjoining areas that could be damaged by them – such as wood.

Dusting and Vacuuming Your Furniture

Although dusting materials and techniques may vary depending on the type of furniture you own, dust is an abrasive and sticking to a regular dusting regimen – typically once a week – is strongly recommended. The longer dust stays on your furniture the more likely it is to cause problems and the more difficult it will be to remove.

While you may think you already know how to dust your furniture, the tips contained in this Furniture Care section will come in handy when it comes time to dust because they’re specific to the type of furniture being dusted – wood, upholstery or leather.

Weekly vacuuming is recommended for leather and other types of upholstery. Without vacuuming, soil and dirt accumulate and can get embedded in cracks and crevices in your furniture and under or behind cushions.

Getting into the habit of plumping or fluffing loose furniture cushions and pillows, and rotating or reversing cushions during your weekly vacuuming will help your furniture wear longer and more evenly, and can result in increased comfort and improved furniture appearance.

Cleaning Your Furniture

In addition to routine vacuuming and dusting, avoiding spills and accidents will go a long way in keeping your furniture clean. Properly spot cleaning fabrics and waxing wood furniture also helps to keep your furniture looking better longer.

Today’s quality furniture includes features that help preserve its appearance and lifespan, making furniture care easier than it’s ever been in the past. Manufacturers go to great lengths in testing different cleaning methods on their products and you should always consult your furniture manufacturer’s care instructions first before using any product that could end up causing damage. Standardized labeling within the furniture industry has also made it easier for consumers to better understand how they can best care for the furniture in their homes.

Although the information contained on this page applies to wood furniture, keep in mind that most wood furniture pieces contain components of other materials, such as brass, plastic, leather and fabric. The composition of a single piece of wood furniture may include a variety of materials, including several species of solid wood, veneers and laminates. Finishes vary widely and may include elements of stain, paint and resins.

Wood furniture often contains non-wood components that require different methods of care and respond to different cleaning agents. You’ll want to consider all of the materials in your wood furniture for proper overall care.

Preventing Damage to Wood Furniture

In addition to accidental stains and scratches, wood furniture is susceptible to environmental factors, such as light, humidity and dust. Here are some tips you can use to provide a better environment for your furniture:

Changes in the relative humidity – especially sudden changes – are the biggest concern for wood furniture. Experts suggest that the ideal range of home temperature for wood furniture is 70 to 72 degrees with humidity levels kept within a range between 40 and 60 percent. If exposed to relative humidity in excess of 70%, furniture and finishes can crack when the humidity level drops suddenly and the piece contracts.

No amount of furniture oil will prevent wood furniture from drying out if the relative humidity remains below 30% for an extended period of time.

Air conditioner use in the summer and humidifier use in heated homes during the winter will help control the environment greatly. Dehumidifiers should be used in rooms that are typically damp or during times of high humidity when an air conditioner is not in use.

Keep table leaves near the table to which they belong when not in use so they are exposed to the same environment as the table and will expand and contract at the same rate.

Keep wood furniture away from heat vents, radiators and fireplaces to prevent it from drying out. Use a shield or diverter on heat vents if necessary.

If you need to store your wood furniture, it’s better to store it in an unheated space since humidity will not vary as much at lower temperature.

Keep products containing alcohol and harsh chemicals away from your furniture’s finish, including those found in colognes, perfumes and nail polish remover.

Dust is abrasive and accumulates in the “nooks and crannies” – carvings and grooves – and in any cracks in the surface of the furniture. As dust accumulates it gets more difficult to remove.

Use caution when moving your furniture. Enlist enough help so you can lift the furniture instead of pushing it laterally, which can over stress joinery, especially at the legs. Lift tables by their apron or legs rather than by their top, which could detach or loosen. Lift chairs by their seat rails and not by their arms or crest (topback) rail.

When transporting wood furniture in a vehicle, place the furniture on its back or top rather than its legs. Carefully detach marble tops and transport or store them on their edge, as you would a mirror.

Dusting Your Wood Furniture

Excessive accumulations of dust or not dusting properly can result in excess wear and may also dull the otherwise beautiful finish on your wood furniture. For new furniture, any care instructions provided by the manufacturer should override any other suggestions or ideas you might be tempted to try.

Paste wax can help beautify and protect wood furniture. Liquid wax also provides protection, but its coat is not as thick as a paste wax. You shouldn’t need to apply more than a thin coat of paste wax once or twice a year and dry dust in between waxings. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and precautionary measures listed on the paste wax can.

Wood Furniture Dusting Tips

Feather dusters are not recommended for use on wood furniture because they can’t be cleaned. Additionally, quill ends can become exposed and scratch the surface of your furniture.

Use a soft cloth for dusting. An old (but clean) cotton T-shirt or similar cloth or chamois is ideal. Don’t use cloths that are frayed or unraveling as they can snag on your furniture and cause damage. An artist’s brush or other natural bristle paint brush can be handy for dusting inside carvings and other hard to reach areas.

Clean dusting cloths right after use so you won’t be tempted to use a dirty cloth on your furniture when it’s time to dust again. Keep plenty of clean dust cloths nearby when dusting so you won’t use a dust cloth any longer than you should.

If you must use water during dusting, do so sparingly. Excessive amounts of water can warp or swell wood. A few drops sprinkled on your dust cloth should suffice. Consider using distilled water on antiques.

Dust in the direction of the wood grain using an oval pattern and once your dusting cloth gets dirty, turn it over, fold it or replace it with a clean one.

Lift lamps instead of sliding them across the furniture to prevent scratching the finish.

Many furniture oils contain linseed oil or other drying agents. When used repeatedly, they can create a gummy coating on the surface of the finish that darkens and hides the wood’s grain.

Most commercial furniture sprays and polishes contain silicone oil, although it may not be listed on the can. Silicone oil can make refinishing a piece more difficult and can seep into cracks. Commercial furniture polishes tend to smear. They also attract and entrap dust.

Once you find a furniture care product that gives you good results, stay with it. Using a wax on a piece previously oiled surface (or vice versa) can result in clouding and other problems with the finish.

Always use caution when cleaning brass hardware. Most brass furniture hardware is protected with lacquer and only needs dry dusting. If you decide to polish brass hardware it’s best to remove it from the furniture first to avoid damaging other parts of the furniture. Avoid brass polish that contains ammonia as it can cause long-term corrosion problems for hardware.

Light and Wood Furniture

The ultraviolet rays of the sun will damage a finish and bleach the wood underneath. Although some wood bleaching may be desirable for its ability to soften and enrich tones, especially to antique collectors, excessive light exposure is not generally good for wood furniture.

Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the finish on wood furniture to crack. Clear finishes may also yellow or become opaque in response to excessive light. In severe cases, excessive exposure to light can cause the cell structure of wood to break down.

Damage from light is cumulative and irreversible. Therefore, efforts to control your wood furniture’s exposure to excessive light and UV rays, or at least to reduce the amount of sun light falling on any single piece or section of furniture will be worthwhile.

5 Ways to Protect Wood Furniture from Excessive Light

Here are some tips you can use to avoid exposing your wood furniture to excessive, harmful light levels:

Use shades, draperies or blinds during sunny times of the day, or consider strategically placing bushes or awnings outside your home.

UV-filtering window films or tints can also help on windows, sliding glass doors and skylights.

Consider covering furniture with sheets or blankets if you leave your home for part of the year. Don’t use plastics to cover your furniture as they can trap condensation and damage your furniture.

You may not appreciate how easy it is to care for and clean Leather furniture. Taking proper maintenance and care steps and following a few tips will maximize your enjoyment of the leather furniture in your home for many years to come.

The leather used in your leather furniture needs very little care with normal usage. That’s because leather is a natural product that has already been permanently preserved during the tanning process. Still, there are a few steps you can take to avoid permanent damage to your leather furniture and to keep it looking its best.

Preventing Leather Furniture Damage

Like other upholstery fabrics, leather is susceptible to damage from excessive exposure to sunlight, heat and high or low humidity levels. While you should always follow your leather furniture manufacturer’s specific care instructions, here are a few tips to help protect leather furniture from damage:

Prevent color fading caused by the sun’s UV rays. Like other upholstered and wood furniture, try to place your leather furniture in locations where it will not be exposed to excessive sunlight levels. Use shades, blinds or draperies to help block UV rays. Consider using window tinting or film to block UV rays that might otherwise harm your leather furniture.

Maintain a safe distance between your leather furniture and heat sources in your home. Prolonged exposure to heat can damage both your leather furniture’s upholstery and the framing used in the furniture.

Prevent cracking and mold formation by maintaining proper climate levels in your home. Excessively low relative humidity levels and high heat can lead to cracking in leather upholstery; excessively high humidity levels can promote mold growth. All of these conditions are also harmful for the wood frame of your furniture.

Keep sharp objects away from your leather furniture. Sharp objects, including pets with sharp claws, can create tears and scratches in the leather upholstery. While small tears and scratches are not usually difficult to repair, it’s best to avoid them in the first place.

Avoid resting newspapers and magazines on the surface of your leather furniture. Printers’ inks can leach into the leather under prolonged contact with newsprint or glossy magazine covers. Avoid using harmful household products near your leather furniture. Avoid spills and damage that may occur from ink pens, nail polish, nail polish remover and other caustic substances.

Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Leather Furniture

One advantage of leather furniture is that under most conditions, regular dry-cloth or dusting with a lightly dampened cloth and vacuum cleaning in crevices are all that’s necessary to keep it clean. Here are a few tips for cleaning and maintaining the beauty of your leather furniture.

Dust leather furniture weekly. Use a soft, white cloth to dust and clean your leather furniture. You can also use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum and you may want to use the crack and crevice attachment for hard-to-reach areas. A slightly damp cloth may also be used, especially for high usage and skin contact areas, including arms, seats and back cushions.

Fluff and turn detached cushions regularly for even wear and for helping to minimize any “comfort wrinkles” that may develop in the leather.

Blot spills immediately with a soft clean cloth. If necessary, dry with a clean, soft towel. Allow to air dry. If water is used, use a small amount of clear, lukewarm water and clean the entire area where the spill occurred.

Do not apply water to oil or grease spots. Clean up excess oil, butter or grease with a clean, dry cloth. Given time, oils and grease often dissipate into leather on their own.

If you must use a cleaner on a stubborn spot, use one that’s chemical free. First check your manufacturer’s care instructions for suggestions. Cleaning products specifically made for leather furniture are available commercially, although not all of them work. Ivory soap often works well. Do NOT use furniture polish, any ammonia-based cleaning products or any abrasives on leather. Always pre-test on an inconspicuous area first.

If spots or stains persist, consult a professional leather cleaning service. Better safe than sorry, since additional attempts may cause permanent damage or discoloration.

Don't worry about small scratches and scuffs. Small scratches in leather furniture often heal over time and become less noticeable. You can use a chamois or clean fingers to gently buff scratches and scuffs. Scuffs can also often be buffed out with leather cleaner/conditioner. Any noticeable deep scratches in leather upholstery can be touched up with a commercial leather dye touch up kit.

Apply a good leather conditioner every 6-12 months. Leather conditioners help keep leather furniture supple while also helping to seal the leather for protection against spills and stains.

Once you’ve purchased quality upholstered furniture, you’ll want to take the necessary steps to protect it from damage so it will last a very long time. The first step in buying upholstered furniture that will last is to select the right fabrics when you make your purchase.

Fabric selections should be based not only on beauty and comfort, but on the type of wear and abuse the upholstered furniture can be expected to experience in your home. Because each fiber has its own benefits, you’ll see a variety of blends used in furniture upholstery. Another factor for durability is how tightly the fabrics are woven. Common fabrics found in upholstered furniture include:

Nylon – Upholstery that includes nylon in the fabric is a great choice for furniture that will get a lot of usage. Today’s nylon is strong and has among the best soil resistance because of its acid dye resistors, so it wears better and cleans up easier than many other fabric choices.

Olefin – Olefin upholstery fabrics are made from solution-dyed yarns, so they are colorfast and excellent for withstanding sun fading. They also have a smooth hand feel, are resistant to most chemicals and possess good stain and soil resistance characteristics. Because olefin fabrics dry quickly, they resist damage from human perspiration and mildew. However, olefin is sensitive to heat. Although olefin is a man-made fabric, it is highly recyclable.

Cotton – Cotton has a soft feel, dyes well and provides fair resistance to sunlight. Stain resistance can be poor unless the fabric is specifically treated to resist stains.

Polyester – Most like cotton in appearance, polyester has good resistance to wear and sunlight and is somewhat sensitive to heat.

Rayon – Rayon dies well, has a soft feel and offers fair resistance to sunlight and wear.

Leather – Beautiful, comfortable, durable, elegant and surprisingly easy to clean and maintain. See the Leather Furniture Care page for tips on caring for your leather furniture.

Preventing Damage to Upholstered Furniture

The primary risks for upholstery damage and wear are sunlight, spills and soil.

Sunlight – If possible, keep upholstered furniture out of direct sunlight to avoid fading. You’ll especially want to avoid allowing the sun to shine on just a section of your upholstered furniture as any color fading that occurs will be uneven. If your upholstered furniture is near a window, use curtains, blinds, shades or window film to help keep the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) rays off of the fabric.

Spills – It’s only common sense to want to avoid spills on upholstered furniture. Depending on the soil resistance of your upholstery, spills can result in permanent stains, especially if they’re not discovered and treated immediately. This advice applies even to fabrics that have been specially treated for stain resistance.

Soil – If not removed regularly, soil can get ground into and embed itself in your upholstery. Regular vacuuming and brushing will prevent loose dirt from becoming embedded and difficult to remove. Upholstered furniture should also be protected from temperature and humidity extremes. Excessive heat is bad for upholstery because it causes the fabric to become brittle and, as a result, more prone to wear. Extremes of humidity or dryness can also be harmful to furniture because overly moist air may lead to mold growth and both extremely dry or excessively moist air can weaken or damage the wood framing used in your upholstered furniture.

Cleaning Upholstered Furniture

Special soil and stain resistant fabric treatments may have been applied to the upholstery fabric when your furniture was manufactured. Additionally, some commercially available fabric protectants can be applied at home. However, even treated upholstery fabrics need regular care to maintain their good looks and durability.

Always follow any available cleaning instructions provided with your upholstered furniture. Care instructions are often provided on a label attached to or sewn on the furniture. For example, you’ll find care instruction labels for most sofas under the seat cushions and care instructions for most upholstered chairs on the underside of the seat.

Standardized Upholstery Cleaning Codes

In most cases, care instructions follow the standardized letter coding adopted voluntarily by the furniture industry in 1969. One of four letters or letter combinations is commonly used, although you may occasionally encounter variations depending on the manufacturer:

W - To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is a recommended step in furniture cleaning. Spot clean, using the foam only from a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply foam with a soft brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry. Pretest a small area before proceeding. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.

S - To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean using a mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Spot clean using a mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Clean only in a well ventilated room and avoid any product containing carbon tetrachloride, which is highly toxic. Pretest a small area before proceeding. Furniture cleaning by a professional cleaning service only is recommended.

W-S (sometimes shown as SW) - To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean, with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or the foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or dry cleaning product, follow instructions carefully and clean only in a well ventilated room. Avoid any product which contains carbon tetrachloride, which is highly toxic. With either method, pretest a small area before proceeding. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.

X - Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust or grime. Water-based foam furniture cleaners or solvent based furniture cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, staining or distortion of the surface pile and, therefore, should not be used.

Upholstered Furniture Care Tips

Here are a few tips for keeping your upholstered furniture looking its best for a very long time:

Vacuum upholstered furniture regularly. Once per week is recommended. You can also brush lightly to remove dust and dirt. Use your vacuum’s upholstery brush attachment (making sure the brush is clean) and use the crevice tool to vacuum hard-to-reach areas.

Where possible, rotate and reverse cushions frequently. Fluff up loose pillows. This is easy to remember since you’ll want to remove loose cushions during vacuuming.

Clean spills and stains promptly – before they set. When spot cleaning upholstered furniture, follow the manufacturer’s directions and pre-test the fabric for discoloration and shrinkage on a less noticeable part of the upholstery. For cleaning an entire piece of upholstered furniture, professional cleaning usually provides the best results.

As a rule, removing cushion covers or arm caps for separate cleaning is not recommended. Doing so can damage backing materials and may cause fabric shrinkage and/or undesirable color variations with the rest of the upholstery.

Don’t use upholstery cleaners on non-fabric furniture elements. Wood, metal and other component materials in upholstered furniture may be damaged by any fabric cleaning or stain removal products you may use for spot cleaning the upholstery.