How to Care for your Furniture

We believe in buying less and buying better when it comes to furniture. If you’re investing money in a new sofa, armchair, cabinet or table, you want to know it is going to stand the test of time. Choose high quality furniture made from natural materials, curating a home filled with beloved pieces that won’t date and will just get better with age. But it’s not just about picking out quality pieces – you also need to look after and care for your furniture if you want it to last for years to come.

General Care for Prolonging the Life of your Furniture

Regardless of the piece of furniture, there are some general rules that apply to everything. Leather, velvet, other fabrics, wood and glass furniture all require specific care, but these are the standard rules that we advise for all of our furniture:

• Treat stains and spills immediately
• Regularly clean and protect your furniture
• Be careful when placing other objects on furniture
• Read up on the specific care for your furniture

How to Care for Leather Furniture

Each hide of leather is unique with natural scars, blemishes and features being part of its appeal. These small ‘imperfections’ are one of the reasons we love our leather furniture, as each chair feels personal. We also love how leather ages over time, bringing character and a classic elegance. There are things that you can do to ensure that your leather furniture ages beautifully though:

• Avoid exposing leather furniture to direct and prolonged sunlight and heat sources as this may result in fading. If your leather chairs are positioned in a room exposed to strong sunlight, make sure you can draw the curtains during the brightest time of the day.
• Blot (never rub) spills with a dry absorbent cloth.
• If you are using a damp cloth, immediately wipe dry with a soft dry cloth.
• Vacuum with an upholstery attachment or use a soft brush to regularly clean.
• Avoid sharp objects on and around your leather furniture.
• We recommend contacting a specialist leather upholstery cleaner for advice on cleaning your leather furniture. If you are cleaning your leather chair yourself, never use solvent-based cleaners. Opt for a separate cleaner and conditioner product such as the Leather Master range. This will help to remove grease and the conditioner will bring back the natural lustre of the leather. Wipe rather than rub when cleaning. We recommend cleaning in this way at least once a year.
• When using a leather care product for the first time, do a test on an inconspicuous area first as this is at your own risk.
• Keep leather furniture at least 30cm away from a heat source such as a radiator.
• Dust regularly with a soft lint-free cloth or brush to avoid the accumulation of dirt, grit and dust.
• Accept and love the natural creases and wrinkles that appear as your leather furniture ages. This is part of the appeal of leather – it just gets better and better with age!
• Regularly turn and flip your cushions to maximise their life. Shake and plump cushions daily to keep them looking their best.
• Never place hot items such as hot drinks, hot water bottles or laptops directly on leather furniture as they may cause dark marks.

How to Care for Velvet Furniture

We offer several different velvet fabrics across our made-to-order ranges, with velvet being one of our most popular fabrics every year. The beauty of velvet is how it reacts to the light, so make sure you order fabric samples to check how the material appears in your home in direct sunlight, artificial light and shadow. Ask our team for specific details on the different varieties of velvet that we offer, but here are our general care tips for our velvet furniture range:

• Gently vacuum your sofa in the direction of the pile weekly using an upholstery attachment. Vacuuming without an attachment could damage your sofa.
• If you have any pressure marks on your velvet sofa, these can be removed by gently brushing in the direction of the pile. If they are persistent, contact a professional upholstery cleaner to have them lightly steamed.
• Avoid exposing velvet furniture to prolonged direct sunlight and direct heat from radiators or fires. Close curtains on bright sunny days and always position your velvet furniture away from direct heat sources.
• Shake and plump your seat cushions daily to keep them looking their best, and regularly turn and flip them to prolong the life of the fabric.
• If you spill liquid on your velvet furniture, soak it up immediately by gently blotting with a white, dry, clean and highly absorbent cloth. Do not use water, do not rub and do not put too much pressure on the fabric.
• If you have a stain on your velvet furniture, we recommend using a professional dry-cleaning service. Ensure you use a reputable service and that they have a good knowledge of velvet upholstery.
• If you decide to try a stain-removing product yourself, this is at your own risk. Do a test on an inconspicuous area first.

How to Care for Glass Furniture

Glass furniture such as glass-topped coffee tables and glass-fronted cabinets is perfect for bouncing light around your home, but you need to be careful of two things: protecting the glass against cracks and regularly cleaning the glass to keep it shiny and free of streaks. Here are our top tips for caring for and protecting your glass furniture:

• Be aware that glass is fragile and is easily damaged.
• Be careful when placing items down on top of glass furniture. Never drop anything onto glass, always place lightly. Don’t drag items across the top of glass furniture.
• Avoid placing heavy items on glass surfaces.
• Close glass doors carefully and slowly. Never slam them shut.
• Use coasters, place mats or other protective barriers to reduce the risk of marks and stains on glass surfaces.
• To clean, use mild detergent and warm water, or a reputable glass cleaning spray with a soft micro-fibre or cotton cloth.
• After cleaning, wipe the surface with a dry cotton or micro-fibre cloth.
• Avoid impacts on the sides and edges of tempered glass, as this is where it is most vulnerable.

How to Care for Wooden Furniture

Wood is a natural product; therefore, each piece of wooden furniture will look unique. Any knots, burrs and grains are part of the beauty of the wood, and what makes your furniture special. Wood expands and contracts while acclimatising to its surroundings, so don’t be alarmed by any slight movement between panels or hairline grains within the grain. Timber surfaces will also change colour over time. Embrace the individuality of your wooden furniture! When it comes to caring for and protecting your wooden furniture, here is our advice:

• Never use abrasive cleaners or silicone-based products on wooden furniture. We recommend applying a soft beeswax using a cotton cloth, applying the wax in small circular movements. With a new soft cloth, buff the surface in the direction of the grain. Avoid using yellow dusters which leave fibres.
• Always use mats and coasters with cork or felt backings when placing hot items onto the surface of wooden furniture. Never use mats or coasters with plastic or rubber backings which can leave marks.
• Clean up any spills or stains immediately using an absorbent cloth.
• Never use sharp items such as knives directly on the surface of wooden furniture.
• Avoid placing wooden furniture directly next to a heat source such as a radiator or fireplace. The heat can cause solid timer to warp, crack or split.

Browse our furniture collection and get in touch if you would like advice on caring for a specific piece of furniture: enquiries@roseandgrey.co.uk