Furniture Care & Maintenance

UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE

Dirt and dust act like glass particles, cutting small threads and fibers of the fabric causing a dingy and worn appearance. All yarns, regardless of their reputation or grade, are subject to this abrasive action. To keep your upholstered furniture looking new longer, vacuum your furniture once weekly. You should vacuum the seat cushion, inside arms, and inside backs. This is one of the most important things you can do to eliminate fabric problems.

At the same time, rotating the seat cushions once a week will help them maintain their shape. This is especially important if you frequently sit in the same position.

Animals such as cats and dogs are extremely abrasive on upholstery fabrics and they should not be allowed on your furniture. Fabric manufacturers will not honor warranties of any type if evidence of pet use is found.

Never expose upholstery fabrics to direct sunlight for any lengthy period of time. Cover your windows using sheers or UV block tinting. This will help to prevent dry rot and fading.

Never remove cushion covers even if they have zippers. These zippers are for the convenience of the manufacturer only.

To successfully clean fabric, it is important to determine the type of fabric and the recommended cleaning code. In all cases, blot up spills immediately with a clean cloth.

Cleaning Code:

W: Use a water-based cleaning agent or foam.

S: Use a mild, water-free, dry cleaning agent.

WS: Either water-based cleaning agent, a dry cleaning solvent or foam type cleaner may be used.

X: Do not use a foam or liquid cleaner of any type. Vacuum or brush lightly to remove soil.

If you take the time to vacuum your upholstery, rotate your cushions, and adhere to these simple guidelines, your new furniture will give you many years of quality service.

LEATHER FURNITURE

Taking care of your top grain cowhide leather upholstery is easier than caring for many fabrics. For normal use, dust and vacuum weekly and avoid direct sunlight. In addition, direct exposure to heating vents can damage your leather furniture as well. Heating vents can cause the leather to dry out and crack.

For soiled areas, just moisten a soft cloth or sponge with mild soap, such as Ivory or Castile, and lukewarm water, and apply gently to all soiled portions of the leather surface. Remove any lather, and wipe with a clean damp cloth. Dry with another soft cloth, rubbing gently to restore the original luster.

Never use polishes, oils, ammonia, cleaning fluids, solvents, or detergents to clean leather upholstery. Using any of these may cause smears, color streaking, and/or damage to the leather surface.

As a general rule, use leather cleaners at least every six months to remove dirt as well as the gradual accumulation of body oils and perspiration.

If your leather is a NUBUCK or SUEDE leather that is open grained, STOP THERE.

If your leather is PIGMENTED or TOP COATED, you may use one of our available leather conditioners to restore its original luster and suppleness.

WOOD FURNITURE

Our wood finishes are extremely durable and resist most household liquids, yellowing, and cracking. Never expose your furniture to direct sunlight as this will dry and subsequently crack the finish as well as adversely effect the color of the stain.

Humidity will effect all wood furniture, causing it to contract and expand. Your furniture is built with this in mind and, for this reason, will have expansion gaps in extension tabletops, apron seams, and drawer frames. It is recommended, however, that you attempt to keep humidity changes to a minimum by using air conditioning in the moist summer months and humidifiers in the dry winter months.

DO NOT use plastic or rubber back placemats or tablecloths as they contain chemicals that are harmful to your wood finish.

DO NOT drag items across top surfaces but rather lift them. Minor scratches can generally be removed by using a very fine (#0000) steel wool, lubricated with polish, and rubbing with the grain. BE CAREFUL not to rub through the finish.

DO NOT use silicone wax polishes as these can lead to finish cracking. The polishes that we carry have natural and organic oils with cleaning emulsifiers. The oils nourish and revitalize the finish while the emulsifiers dissolve dirt, dulling film, and sticky fingerprints.

DO NOT over-apply polishes as they will create a buildup and actually attract dust. We recommend using polish full strength every 2-3 months. Dining tables may be cleaned after meals with a damp dishcloth followed by towel drying. DO NOT leave concentrated moisture sit on the surface for lengthy periods of time. Remove spills as soon as possible.

DO NOT stand up table leaves in a closet as they may warp. Rather lay them flat down under a bed for storage.

Custom fitted Table Pads are available to fit any table surface and, when ordered within 10 days of your delivery, are offered to you at a discounted price. Simply call our office, and we can order the exact pad for your table in the recommended color to blend with your table finish.

White rings, which appear from setting something wet on a finished surface, are the result of water vapor penetrating the finish and then drying, leaving a separation void in the finish; which appears white or cloudy. To remove the white rings, we recommend the following steps. Proceed with caution, as there is the potential of removing the finish if not done properly.

1st: clean the area(s) with Murphy's Oil Soap and water, mixed as directed.

2nd: take an old white T-shirt and cut the back off, now fold it into quarters, & make a ball out of your quarters, with a flat hard pad on one side. It should be about the size of your hand.

3rd: Dampen the flat side of the pad lightly with denatured alcohol, (which can be found at any hardware store). Pass the dampened pad across the blemished area(s), using light quick strokes. The white spots should be gone. If not, dampen your pad a little more, use a bit more pressure, finding the right combination, and it should work. This process is melting the finish back down into itself. Caution: If you notice ridges in the finish start to appear, stop immediately. You may have gone too far.