Cleaning furniture is one of the easiest household chores you can face. If you have invested in expensive furniture or bought something valuable at a low price, you will want to keep its beauty, shine and good condition. Good care and frequent cleaning have been necessary to preserve furniture over the years. Reading the instructions for the furniture you have acquired is also good. Many people find reading unnecessary, but you will know what to do and how to treat the furniture in many cases. However, the manufacturers have not worked in vain to provide you with this information.

To preserve your furniture over the years, it is imperative that they are not exposed to direct sunlight and is away from appliances that emit heat. That will protect them from lightening, drying of the wood and skin, and the rot of upholstery.

If you notice a stain on the back of your favourite chair or desk, we can’t blame anyone for that. To avoid this, we will give you some valuable tips on how to clean your furniture and keep it as new, regardless of the weather.

Painted furniture

Daily care

Painted furniture is the easiest to keep clean. It is enough to wipe with a towel soaked in water once a week to remove accumulated dust and dirt. If you leave wet stains, go with a dry cloth because if the water gets stuck in the form of a stain, it can leave permanent damage – swell the paint or damage the varnish.

Special cleaning

If your painted furniture has visible surface stains or scratches, proceed to fix them after cleaning. Applying water and detergents to an “open wound” can worsen the situation. Make sure that you do not damage the furniture when cleaning.

Restore any furniture that has scratches or a whole stain, and after each painting, apply varnish so that it can return to its original new look. Use detergents that do not allow dust retention.

Wooden furniture

Wooden furniture creates a homely and cosy atmosphere in the interior. It radiates luxury and class, adds elegance to the atmosphere and emphasizes the merits of the room when chosen with taste and thought. However, to preserve such furniture, it is necessary to take great care of it.

In every home, the first care of wooden furniture is to keep it clean. Furniture cleaning with a polishing agent and a soft cloth is better. However, there are some risks to humans, as these preparations are carcinogenic and highly flammable because they contain processed petroleum raw materials.

Daily care

Instead, you can replace them with natural substitutes. You can clean wooden furniture with tea. Black tea is suitable for this activity, and you can prepare it almost the same way for consumption. The difference is that you should extend the time for brewing tea to 30-60 minutes to release all the cleanser’s tannins. The tannin polishes the wood perfectly.

Use a towel to polish the furniture regularly. Use a little furniture polish on a towel and rub the surface to get a mirror shine.

When choosing furniture cleaners, use the same type for each room, oil or wax base, to avoid stains. Wipe in the direction of the wood particles when possible.

If you love antiques and have them in your home, you should familiarise yourself with their particular needs.

Special cleaning

When it comes time to remove stagnant wax, we recommend using mineral alcohol or synthetic turpentine with a soft, lint-free cloth. Clean the entire stain with the liquid, not just the contaminated area.

Leather furniture

Daily care

The skin has the property to dry and tear because it is a sensitive material. Therefore, we recommend that the leather furniture be at least 2 meters from heat sources and away from direct sunlight. Cleaning is done regularly with a damp sponge or soft cloth.

Special cleaning

Use a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar with 1/2 cup water on a soft cleaning cloth. Then wash with leather soap and give a pleasant smell to the furniture surface. Finally, wipe with a soft dry cloth.

Sofas

Daily care

Also, keep upholstered furniture away from direct sunlight, as most fabrics will fade. Vacuum their surfaces at least once a week. Beat the pillows regularly on both sides. For extra cleanliness, wash the pillowcases at least once a month.

Special Processing

When cleaning and keeping furniture clean, wipe off the stains as soon as you see them. Timely stain removal has always been the law when cleaning the furniture.

Furniture of another type of material

Daily care

This type of furniture (plastic, alloys, wicker) is also sensitive to external factors, so it is essential to protect from the sun and keep away from heat sources. Regularly dust them with a towel and vacuum cleaner. Go through the cracks in the cladding.

Special Processing

To keep your furniture from fibre scattering, pollution, and rapid ageing, you need to regularly clean its surface and places that are difficult to access. For this purpose, you can disassemble it (if allowed) and wash each element separately. But if it is a whole construction, then special sprays with a nozzle are sold for them, which spray the detergent and manage to remove the dirt from there.

The furniture is the one that creates comfort and cosiness in our home. They should be practical and arranged with sense to not narrow our space but to create the feeling of space.

No matter what furniture we choose when arranging our home, whether lacquered or natural wood, metal, plastic, etc., they require maintenance so you can keep them new for longer.

If you take good care of your furniture, it will last for years and continue to look great. Just clean them regularly and follow the basic tips for their treatment. This way, you will save a lot of money, and you will be able to enjoy your furniture for the rest of your life.

A romantic dinner or an excellent way to save electricity or lack of electricity at home can end in a stunning candlelit pleasure. Getting wax on different surfaces is unpleasant because cleaning it is often complicated and takes time and effort. If wax gets on the carpet by some unfortunate accident, you can apply a few quick tricks to help remove it. It is not an ordinary stain you usually deal with, such as organic food or chemical stains caused by makeup, for example. However, cleaning candle wax stains from your carpet is a way. And we will teach you that today! 

The fastest way to remove wax stains from candles on the carpet

Here’s the best approach you can take to remove this waxy dirt from a brand-new rug or your favourite living room carpet. Follow the instructions below, please: 

It is elementary to remove wax stains from the carpet. You will only need water! Really, plain water for such a stubborn stain on your rug? Okay, you need a fridge too.  

Freeze some water. Apply a piece of ice directly on the wax stain on the carpet. Leave for about 10 minutes for the ice to freeze the wax stain, and you’ll be able to remove it even with your fingers. However, we recommend a knife! 

Here are a few more alternatives for removing carpet wax stains: 

If the ice cube method doesn’t work, you may be glad to know that there are other alternatives you can try. Check out some of them below, and don’t give up until you manage to restore your carpet completely: 

• Try scraping some of the wax with a knife. Then apply a dry detergent and leave it on for a few minutes. Vacuum the carpet, and it should now be spotless. It is very suitable for delicate and natural carpets. 
• The high temperature will melt the wax. This time, we will try burning! Put a sheet of paper on the stain and press the preheated iron. Make a few movements back and forth, and the wax will come out of the carpet and stick to the paper. 
• Anyway, consider using professional carpet cleaning services if none of the above work. It is possible when the stain is old! 

In most cases, the tricks we have explained work, but the best solution is always prevention, to be honest with you. So use candlestick holders and ensure the wax doesn’t spill over your precious rug! So be careful, and you will not have problems with wax stains or damage to the carpet! 

Remove gum 

I thought it was appropriate to mention cleaning the carpet of gum. It must have happened to you that the child had stuck gum on the carpet. At this point, you tell yourself that you will have to replace the carpet with a new one. On the contrary, there is a way to remove the gum. Take a glass of soda, soak a soft towel, and treat the gum with the towel. Repeat this action until the gum begins to break down. It will take time, but you will be able to clean it and not have to buy a new carpet. 

Remember that a stain will clear no matter what it is if you react quickly. If you cannot cope with cleaning the carpet, it is best to consult a specialist. Choosing professional carpet cleaning services can save you a lot of nerves and headaches, sometimes buying a new carpet. 

HOW TO REMOVE THE STAINS FROM YOUR CARPET IN 4 STEPS 

STEP 1 

Fresh stains 

Remove the accumulated dirt, then lightly soak the contaminated area with a clean, dry cloth. If the carpet contains cotton threads, do not rub the soiled part. Synthetic fibres tolerate rougher treatment. 

Dried spots 

Soak the stain with lukewarm soap-free water. When well soaked – soak with a clean, dry cloth. 

STEP 2 

If you have not managed to remove the stain, use a detergent. Follow the dosing instructions. Carefully treat the stain with a towel or soft brush. It is important to rinse the contaminated area completely with lukewarm water, as the detergent residues may collect more dirt. 

STEP 3 

If it is not enough to remove the stain, use a special remover. Do not use a chlorine-based one, as this can damage the carpet. Carefully dose the preparation. Start cleaning the stain from the edges to the centre. 

STEP 4 

If even a special stain remover does not help, follow the steps in the Stain Removal Guide when purchasing the carpet. Be sure to test a less visible part of the carpet. And always start cleaning from the edges to the centre of the contaminated area. 

HOW TO AVOID SOME PROBLEMS WHEN CLEANING CARPETS YOURSELF 

Most carpet manufacturers discourage us from cleaning our carpets ourselves because of the problems resulting from improper procedures. However, approximately 42% of people prefer to do it themselves. Usually, we want to take primary care of every rug we buy and use. But in some cases, the manufacturer’s warranty may be void if we do the cleaning ourselves due to improper washing. 

Some problems can occur as a result of the cleaning procedures that we perform ourselves. We need to be aware of these issues and follow the instructions carefully. Failure to follow these instructions may encourage the appearance of mould and mildew or damage to the back of the carpet. The two most common problems associated with DIY carpet cleaning are overwetting and the inappropriate use of detergents. 

• Ideally, the carpet should dry within eight hours. If it stays wet for more than twelve hours, mould can develop. If the carpet is still very damp, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a water filter to remove excess moisture. You can then use a hairdryer to speed up the drying time. Turning on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is advisable until the washed carpets are completely dry. 

• Excessive use of detergents is another common problem when trying to clean the carpets yourself. Exceeding the amount of detergent above the recommended solution proportion does not increase their washing efficiency. When using a higher concentration than recommended, detergent residues may remain in the carpet, allowing the carpet to age faster. 

Whether you are having a party at home or just eating in the living room, spills of food and liquids on the carpet happen suddenly, in most cases, inadvertently. Indeed, children often spill all sorts of substances on carpets, rugs, and bedding at home. The good news is that with our tips for effective carpet cleaning, you can deal with the problem, and you won’t have to move the sofa over the stain to cover it.

“Yesterday, my little son pushed the cup of coffee, and everything spilt on the carpet. I panicked because I did not know what to do. And we bought the carpet only a month ago. I soaked up the liquid immediately with a paper towel. The only thing I remembered I had at home was a pack of degreasers. I had heard I could clean the stain with dishwashing detergent, but I did not dare. I was worried it would get worse. Then I sprayed some of the degreasers, and later the stain was gone. However, I do not know if this method works for all types of carpets. Maybe I was lucky with mine.”

We often find such posts in forums where people share similar stories and look for a solution.
Food and liquid carpet stains are some of the most difficult to deal with. Although such cases are common, many people do not know the right way to fix them. There is more than one way. But it is important to learn how to clean these spills properly. Otherwise, you risk damaging your carpet for a long time and the unpleasant feeling of constantly looking at the stain. And so:

• Scrap up spilt food or liquid immediately. Pick it with a suitable object as much as possible to avoid deterioration. If the spill is more liquid, soak it with a clean sponge. Carefully pick up the fallen particles with your hands if it is harder food.

• Soak the area with a clean towel or paper towel. That will remove excess moisture. It will also reduce the likelihood of carpet staining. For better results, pour warm water on the spilt stain before soaking it up.

• Cleaning solutions can do a great job. When you spill something on the carpet, dissolve a teaspoon of detergent (without bleach) in a glass of warm water. In most cases, you can handle this tool quite quickly. Apply it on the stain and blot it with a clean towel. After a few soaks, the carpet will be clean.

But if the stains stick to the carpet, it is not good to rub it hard. Often when a contaminant gets on the carpet, we start rubbing the area, hoping to remove the stain. However, the actual result is a little different. Not only does rubbing not help, but it spreads them, and they become larger and more easily visible. Instead, the better tactic is to soak up. This technique is much more efficient and guarantees minimal damage and contamination to the carpet.

There is something else that can be useful. Always clean stains from the outside inwards towards their centre. This way, you will stop the stain from spreading to the side.

Do not despair at the wine stains

If you inadvertently spill red wine on the carpet, you may have already come to terms with the fact that it is permanently marked. However, this is not entirely true. There are ways you can clean the carpet even from such “aggressive” stains like this. For this purpose, as we said, you should not rub the carpet but absorb the stain to the centre. You need a towel, preferably made of soft cotton fabric. You should dip it well in baking soda.

Apply the baking soda over the entire stain with a gentle absorbent motion, and then let it soak for about 15 minutes. Then rinse the area with water and see how far the damage extends. Then pour half a glass of white vinegar, and fill the other half with tap water. Also, take a clean sponge. Dip the fungus into the mixture and rub the wine stain on the carpet.

You can then use baking soda again to rub the area once more and leave it to stand for a while, which must likewise be followed by rinsing and cleaning several times with water and white vinegar. Here we deliberately emphasize white vinegar, as its colour is the most neutral, and there will be no risk of other unpleasant traces and stains on the carpet.

The miracle of shaving cream

Surely you have not heard this because this practice is highly unpopular, but did you know that with the help of shaving cream, you can successfully clean different types of stains from your carpet? If you want to ask what stains, I can tell you that this is almost any type of stain, as long as the stain is not very old and has not coloured the flooring permanently.

The most effective are shaving creams as a spray, but others also work for this purpose. Spray the stain on the carpet with cream, then leave it like that. The required time for you to not touch the place is approximately 30 minutes, after which you can clean it with a dry cloth. If the place is still not in good condition, you can easily apply the above procedure with vinegar and water.

You can achieve good results by cleaning up spilt food and drinks at home and with everything that every household has. If you still do not believe you will succeed, you can safely order professional cleaning services. All stains are removed mainly with desire and knowledge of the composition of the tissue and the preparations used.

That is one of the first questions I get from new customers who are not quite sure about proper carpet maintenance. While there is no general rule and too many factors influence each specific case, twice per year would be a good starting point. Please keep in mind that this refers to home carpets only – commercial and business premises require much more frequent attention.

Why twice per year? No matter how often and efficiently you clean, dust and other small particles will inevitably accumulate within the carpet fibres. I’ve had cases of housewives who swear they vacuum clean their entire home twice per week – and still, the dust builds up on the carpet. Most people vacuum once per week, and some do it even less frequently – so you can imagine what their carpets look like within six months.

If you have pets in your household, dog or cat hair will end up on the carpet. Small children are even worse – they have no understanding or desire to keep to the notion of “keep it clean”, especially when a nice, fluffy carpet gives them the perfect playground.

Steam carpet washing eliminates all these problems, and more! The high temperature and built-in detergents effectively deal with a wide range of bacteria and germs and kill 99% of the hazardous allergens at home. The procedure washes away the residue that sticks between the carpet fibres and prolongs the lifespan of your floor coverings.

My suggestion to first-time customers is to plan their first annual carpet washing in late March/ early April and the second one just before the start of the cold season – in late October/ early November. If you stick to this schedule, you will be amazed by the results in the long run!