4 rules for caring for wooden furniture

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No matter how carefully the furniture is used, sooner or later it will need cleaning. Turning to professionals is not a bad idea, but cleaning services do not always provide quality guarantees, and you will have to pay a considerable amount for the service. To avoid unnecessary expenses, you can clean furniture yourself.

Traditional methods

In order not to harm the wooden surface with chemical reagents, use natural folk recipes.

Choose care products based on the problem that arises. You can read about the effects of this or that composition and create a good cleaning product yourself.

Turpentine, vinegar and linseed oil

This method is only for wood furniture that is not painted, as it may damage or remove the paint.

To carry out the procedure, you will need white vinegar, turpentine, a soft cloth, an old toothbrush, boiled and cooled linseed oil, rubber gloves, paper napkins, cardboard boxes and a vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning Wooden Furniture - Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Start by choosing a work area that is very well ventilated. It is best to carry out such cleaning outdoors in the shade so that the unpleasant odor does not seep into the house. If it is not possible to remove the furniture, close one room and open all the windows wide.
2. Prepare your work area. Place oilcloth, large cardboard sheets from boxes, or fabric under the cabinets. Wear rubber gloves and it is advisable to buy a mask to protect your respiratory tract from caustic fumes.
3. Place your wooden furniture on your work surface and start wiping it down with paper towels to remove some dirt. Then use a vacuum cleaner with a special attachment.
4. Next, mix linseed oil, turpentine and white vinegar in equal proportions. Soak a soft cloth in the prepared solution and begin to remove dirt from the surface of the wood. Don't get it too wet.
5. Continue cleaning with cloths only until the dirt is gone.
6. Clean the corners of the structure with a toothbrush. Dip it into the solution and carefully work all the grooves.
7. After removing all dirt, simply wipe the wood with a soft cloth. There is no need to rinse, leave to dry and then go over it with polish or buff with a rag.

Discard any remaining cleaner and any cloths used for cleaning. This product is highly flammable, so discard them immediately after finishing the procedure.

Melamine sponge

The melamine sponge copes well with almost any dirt. This universal remedy has recently entered human life, but has already gained considerable popularity.

The melamine sponge removes traces of pens, felt-tip pens, grease stains, paint and other contaminants. It can be used on metal, wood and plastic.

How to use melamine sponge:

1. Moisten it with water.
2. Hold it between your palms and gently squeeze out the water.
3. Use the tip of a sponge to rub the dirty areas (to save money). All wooden furniture can be treated.

You should work with rubber gloves, a mask and goggles to protect your eyes. Pieces of melamine may fly off during cleaning and enter the respiratory tract or eyes. This substance is dangerous to human health and it is better to prevent its penetration into the body.

Iron

If the furniture is in the kitchen, or simply without a tablecloth, and something often gets on it, for example, drops of fat or oil when cooking, you can remove them using a regular iron.

How to properly clean wooden furniture from grease stains:

1. Preheat the iron by setting the lever to the lowest temperature.
2. Cover the problem area with a soft cloth.
3. Place the iron over the stained area for 5-10 seconds. The heat will melt the fat and it will transfer to the fabric.
4. Change the material and repeat until the entire stain is gone.

Difficult to remove stains require repeated applications or aggressive chemicals to remove.

It is recommended to use mineral spirits, talc, sawdust and other substances that can absorb it as cleaning agents to get rid of grease stains.

Lemon juice

You can remove dirt from furniture at home without using chemicals. Lemon juice and olive oil do this job perfectly.

For cleaning you will also need a soft brush and cloth; rubber gloves are not necessary.

How to clean:

1. The work area should be large so that it is easy to maneuver around the furniture. It would be nice to arrange it outdoors or in the garage.
2. Remove the main dirt with towels and a vacuum cleaner.
3. Mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice.
4. Dampen a soft cloth with the solution and gently wipe away the dirt.
5. This mixture will not damage the finish, but will clean perfectly.
6. After going over all surfaces of the wood, wipe it with a clean, lint-free cloth.

Before use, it is advisable to test the effect of olive oil and lemon juice on an inconspicuous area.

Red wine

A very expensive and unusual way to clean mahogany is the same color as wine. Even if you buy the cheapest drink, it will still be expensive compared to other products.

How to use it? First, remove all dust from the surface with a soft cloth or slightly damp sponge. You can vacuum it to be sure. Then soak a cloth in red wine and wipe the wood.

Red wine also masks scratches and scuffs on furniture.

Daily care of solid wood furniture

The basis of basic care for wooden interior items is timely dust control. This is done 1-2 times a week. If emergency extraordinary cleaning is required, it must be carried out as quickly as possible after contamination: wood is a porous material, so dirt “eats” into the surface, and further getting rid of it can be a difficult task.

• Unpolished furniture can be wiped with a dampened and thoroughly wrung-out cloth. If there is severe contamination, use a soap solution. After this, wipe all surfaces dry with a dry cloth.
• Polished furnishings do not tolerate moisture. If you wipe them with a damp cloth, the natural shine will disappear and streaks will remain. In this case, remove dust using dry microfiber cloths. If wet cleaning is necessary, use diluted ammonia essence (1 part dissolved in 6 parts water).

Natural wood is wiped in the direction of the pattern - this way dirt will not clog into the pores.

The surface of polished and varnished furniture tends to become electrified, so dust settles on it quickly. To combat this nuisance, you can purchase special cleaning products for interior items with an antistatic effect. The components they contain create a surface film that prevents the attraction of charged dust particles.

You can regularly refresh wooden furniture using vegetable oil, a few drops of which are placed on cotton wool and wrapped in cloth. Use the resulting swab to wipe all surfaces. For polished items, we recommend a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice (it can be replaced with wine vinegar) in a 1:2 ratio. This composition is applied with a spray and wiped the surfaces with a piece of soft cloth.

If tarnishing of wood furniture is noticed, a product containing wax is suitable to restore the natural shine.

Do not use abrasive materials when caring for wood furniture.

Methods against cigarette smoke

Wooden furniture quickly absorbs the smell of cigarette smoke, which is difficult to remove by simple airing.

If you bought an old chest of drawers and the inside stinks, don’t put things in it, clean it first.

To work you will need vinegar, water, soda, coffee grounds, a soft cloth, a spray bottle and a vacuum cleaner.

Products for cleaning wooden furniture from cigarette smoke:

1. Start by mixing ½ cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Apply the product to the surface and wipe immediately to prevent moisture from penetrating deep into the wood. Repeat until the smell completely disappears.
2. Baking soda also absorbs odors well and can be applied in several different ways. It can be combined with water and sprayed directly onto the surface and inside of the drawers. Allow the mixture to sit for a short time, about 24 hours. For best results, seal the baking soda boxes inside. Then it is simply removed with a vacuum cleaner.
3. For minimal cleanup, place a bowl filled with fresh (unused) coffee grounds nearby or inside. Leave it inside for a few days. This is a way to rid furniture of the stench, and the inside will smell of a faint aroma of coffee.

If possible, move the furniture outdoors, open it completely and let it air out. The smell will naturally dissipate.

Newspapers also absorb odors and can be placed inside. The process will take longer, but this method is one of the most accessible and cheapest.

How to clean a sofa from stains

It happens that wine spills on the sofa or a greasy sandwich falls, leaving a stain. In such cases, you do not need to wash the entire sofa, but only the contaminated area.

Coffee

Traces of spilled coffee can be easily removed with laundry soap. Rub soap onto the stain and rinse with a clean, damp cloth.

Red wine

Immediately pour a layer of salt onto the red wine stain. Rub with a rag or brush.

Putting furniture into the hands of dry cleaning specialists is not cheap. But if you know how to clean upholstered furniture at home, you can easily avoid unnecessary costs. Using little tricks, you can remove simple and complex stains on sofas and armchairs yourself and without much effort.

It’s quite easy to learn how to wash a sofa and protect it from dirt and grease - a vacuum cleaner is used for this, as well as traditional methods in compliance with certain rules. Using dry and wet cleaning of the entire surface of the furniture, including the armrests, you can clean the sofa without streaks, quickly and efficiently. To clean a greasy sofa yourself, let’s arm ourselves with recipes and get down to business – cleaning the furniture correctly!

Rice. 1 - Cleaning the sofa with a washing vacuum cleaner

Dry cleaning

Upholstered furniture requires regular and high-quality care, which extends its service life. At home, it is easier to do dry cleaning with your own hands than wet cleaning. Before using the vacuum cleaner, go over the surface with a brush, then remove all crumbs and debris. When vacuuming, pay special attention to hard-to-reach corners and places.

Upholstered furniture can simply be knocked out. Wet and wring out the sheet, cover the chair with it, and actively knock out the dust. When cleaning upholstered furniture in the kitchen, it is important to remove solid dirt. Use a dull knife to scrape off any remaining stains from the kitchen ottoman. After this, you can use a vacuum cleaner.

Wet cleaning

It is used in cases where the furniture has become dull, has an unpleasant smell or has become stained. Wet cleaning can be done once every six months to a year. To do this, make sure that the coating can be wetted. Use a cleaning vacuum cleaner or steam generator. A soap solution is suitable from available means. If the coating is lint, use soap suds to soften the dirt.

Lacquered finish

Varnished wood also needs maintenance. When it is cleaned, it sparkles in the light.

If the condition of the cabinets is good, cleaning them is a pleasure. Therefore, you need to know the rules on how to care for wooden furniture.

Cleaning the varnished surface:

1. Wipe the entire surface with a dry soft cloth to remove dust.
2. If there are sticky places, wipe them with a damp cloth, then immediately dry. Avoid prolonged contact with wet fabrics. The varnish is not waterproof and will absorb water. This will damage the finish of the varnished wood.
3. To restore shine, apply solvent-based furniture varnish with a soft, dry cloth.

Do not use water or alcohol based cleaners as they will damage the finish.

If you apply too much varnish, wipe the wood with a rag soaked in mineral spirits or turpentine. Wear rubber gloves and dispose of rags.

Specialized care products

When purchasing professional care products on sale, you need to study their composition and purpose. Those that contain ammonia, solvents, and abrasive components are harmful to wooden furniture.

The most popular care products are polishes. They protect against dirt, smooth out minor damage and scratches, and add shine. Polishing agents with a tinting effect are available for sale. There is a separate line of polishes for varnished surfaces.

Professionals advise treating wooden interior elements with polish 1-2 times a month. The exception is countertops that are exposed to frequent impacts: weekly use of such a product is acceptable here.

To get rid of scratches, you can purchase special wax. It is rubbed into the damaged area, and if the crack is large, it is applied with a knife or spatula. After 15 minutes, the excess is removed. Wax pencils are used to disguise minor scratches.

Knowing how to properly care for solid wood furniture, you can enjoy aristocratic, elegant and safe interior items for many years: they will give comfort and warmth to more than one generation in the family.

Mold

Proper care of wooden furniture will not lead to problems such as mold.

However, if it is in a very damp room or outdoors, this misfortune cannot be avoided, but you can fight it if you take care of things from the beginning.

How to clean wood from mold:

1. Pour vinegar into a spray bottle and use against fungus. Spray it on the desired areas, brush the wood, then spray the problem areas again and leave for an hour. There is no need to rinse, when the vinegar has evaporated, walk over the surface with a dry cloth.
2. Treat areas affected by mold with hydrogen peroxide. Do not use it on dark surfaces. Peroxide brightens. After 10 minutes, walk over the surface with a soft brush, removing all traces of the fungus.
3. Use tea tree oil. Add 5-6 drops to 200 ml of water and wipe all surfaces overgrown with mold with this mixture.
4. Pine oil also copes well with fungus, and also smells nice. Dilute 1 tsp in a spray bottle. products with 1 tbsp. l. water, spray onto problem areas and leave to soak.

To prevent wooden furniture from becoming moldy, you need to take proper care of it. She needs good ventilation.

Additional tips for caring for and cleaning upholstered furniture

1. Using a vacuum cleaner is more of a supportive factor than a universal solution. It removes dust but does not remove stains. The exception in this case is a washing vacuum cleaner and cleaning foam.
2. Cleaning the sofa should be done from top to bottom, in the following order: first the back, then the armrests, then the seat and the bottom.
3. During the wet cleaning process, excess moisture should be removed with a paper napkin or towel to avoid the appearance of mold and mildew.
4. Using a steam cleaner or a washing vacuum cleaner, you can remove all stains without using additional products.
5. Upholstery made of velor, flock or nubuck should be treated with a rubber brush after cleaning.
6. To avoid cleaning the original sofa cover so often, you can use covers that can be easily removed and washed in the washing machine.

How to clean upholstered furniture

Today we will tell you about how to care for upholstered furniture at home. The simplest solution is to use the numerous cleaning products that are offered in a wide range at our hardware stores.

However, the main rule for their use here is to strictly follow the instructions specified by the manufacturers, so that instead of shining cleanliness, you do not end up with faded spots or streaks on your favorite tapestry.

It is also important to remember that you should not get carried away with cleaning with a vacuum cleaner, since it can damage the upholstery of upholstered furniture, especially if it is fleecy fabrics. Frequent use of a vacuum cleaner can damage the lint of the upholstery fabric.

It is better to wipe such upholstered furniture along the pile with a damp cloth dipped in warm water with a little soap added. If you use the wet cleaning method, remember that the upholstery should dry naturally.

Wet cleaning of upholstered furniture

How to remove stains from upholstered furniture?

It doesn’t matter, removing a stain from a fabric covering is quite simple - folk remedies will help us with this.

How to remove stains from furniture

How to remove the smell of cat urine from the sofa

How to deal with such trouble?

There are several surefire ways that will help not only remove the smell of cat urine from upholstered furniture, but also restore it to its former freshness and cleanliness, with your own hands.

Remedies to help remove cat urine from furniture

1. Using glycerin soap. It is glycerin that can successfully fight urea, which is found in excess in cat urine. It is urea that gives a specific unpleasant odor, which can linger in the upholstery of the sofa for a long time. The soap should be thoroughly rubbed into the dirty surface of the sofa, rubbed with a coarse bristle brush, then rinsed with water and allowed to dry thoroughly.
2. Regular laundry soap will help . You need to prepare a paste from it - grate the block and add warm water. Apply the resulting paste-like substance to the stain and rub in well. Wait a while (about 20-30 minutes) and rinse with water. This method will give a positive result if you use it immediately after the cat has gone to the toilet on the sofa!
3. Lemon . Lemon is a fairly effective way to combat the smell of cat urine on the upholstery of a sofa. You need to squeeze lemon juice into any bowl, wet a sponge and carefully treat the area on the furniture where the cat has pooped. By the way, these animals do not perceive the smell of citrus fruits, and, most likely, the cat will not mark this area again!
4. Hydrogen peroxide can quickly remove cat urine stains along with the unpleasant odor. To treat, you need to take 3% peroxide and test it on an inconspicuous area of ​​the upholstery, because the product can discolor the surface. Peroxide is applied to the stain and allowed to dry. This procedure needs to be repeated several times, then it will help get rid of the smell left by the cat.
5. The most common method that avid “cat lovers” advise each other is to remove the smell of cat urine using alcohol or any other alcohol-containing product. Alcohol is also pre-applied to an area of ​​the sofa upholstery that is invisible. The treatment procedure is similar to the method with hydrogen peroxide: rub the stain left by the cat’s “crime” with a sponge or cotton pad soaked in alcohol, wait until it dries. Repeat 2-3 times. There is no need to rinse off, since the essential oils contained in the alcohol solution will disappear on their own over time.
6. Potassium permanganate solution is very popular among cat lovers. However, it is better to use it on a sofa that has dark upholstery, otherwise manganese can turn light furniture a specific pink color. Several crystals of potassium permanganate are dissolved in a glass of warm water and a sponge soaked in it is carefully treated with traces of the cat’s tricks. The procedure is repeated until the desired result is obtained.
7. Table vinegar. Table vinegar will also help remove the smell of cat urine on the sofa. You need to moisten cotton wool or a bandage in it and wipe the place where the cat decided to relieve its natural needs. Do not be afraid of the specific smell that will replace the unpleasant aroma of cat amber, because after a while it will evaporate without a trace.
8. Baking soda. Soda should be mixed with a small amount of water to form a homogeneous paste. Apply the mixture to the contaminated area and rub with a brush. Let it dry completely, then wipe off any remaining baking soda with a dry sponge or soft cloth.

Professional cleaning products

Modern industry produces effective products for eliminating residues of animal excretions in domestic conditions, including cat urine. They operate on the basis of enzymes, or enzymes, which are designed to combat organic aromas. You can find them both in pet stores and in the household chemicals departments of large supermarkets. Among professional products, such as Odorgon, Zoosan, Urine Off, DezoSan and others have proven themselves well.

Products that remove cat urine

How to remove urine smell from a sofa

The problem is that human urine differs in composition from animal urine. Therefore, those products that successfully eliminate the smell of animal urine may not cope with the smell of human urine. A particularly persistent amber comes from the urine of a person who suffers from serious pathologies of internal organs and constantly takes medications, as well as the elderly.

The feces of infants, as a rule, do not leave a strong odor; it disappears easily if the wet spot is dealt with immediately. You need to immediately soak it with toilet paper, paper towels, just napkins or a towel. Then you can treat the stain with a soda solution or citric acid dissolved in water.

If it is not recommended to wet the sofa upholstery abundantly, sprinkle the stain with dry soda. This is an excellent adsorbent; soda will absorb both moisture and odor. After drying, all that remains is to brush it off and treat the spot with a vacuum cleaner. Is the scent still there? Then it’s worth trying more aggressive means.

"Vanish" for cleaning upholstered furniture

Vanish

“Vanish” helps in this case for cleaning upholstered furniture. The liquid product is whipped into foam, which is then applied to the stain and left until completely dry. After this, the sofa needs to be thoroughly cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or steam generator.

In all other cases, you need to have on hand:

• washing vacuum cleaner or steam generator;
• hair dryer or construction hair dryer;
• vinegar, bleach, ammonia;
• antiallergenic agent.

What to do with all these substances and devices?

1. First you need to open the windows, vents and balconies so that the room is well ventilated.
2. Then dissolve the same amount of bleach in 500 ml of water, add two tablespoons of ammonia and vinegar.
3. Having protected your hands with gloves, treat the stains on the sofa with this caustic solution and leave for a quarter of an hour.
4. Now it’s the turn of the washing vacuum cleaner. After this, the sofa is dried with a hairdryer.
5. The last stage is the treatment of upholstered furniture with an anti-allergenic agent.

Further video to help