The living room is one of the most important areas in your home. You spend so much time in there–lounging, chilling out, binge-watching your favorite Netflix series, bonding with the family, and, maybe, even using it as your home office.
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This means that your living room furniture, particularly your sofa and carpet, has got to work hard. Sooner or later, furniture pieces will start to show signs of damage after some time. However, with proper maintenance and care, you can slow down natural wear and tear and prolong their lifespan to get the most out of your investment.
Here are some maintenance and care tips for your living room furniture:
- Research About Furniture Material
To take care of your living room furniture, you must learn more about it. Each piece of furniture will require unique care and maintenance routines, so make sure to do your homework. This way, you’ll know about the things that can potentially damage your living room furniture pieces.
While most living room furniture doesn’t come with a manual, you can always look up care instructions online.
- Apply The Right Cleaning Methods
The cleaning methods you adopt will usually depend on the materials of your furniture pieces. That said, there are universal cleaning instructions for living room furniture. These include the following:
- Keep Dust And Dirt Off Your Furniture
Never let dust accumulate on your living room furniture. A soft cloth can help remove dust from leather and wood. If there’s a lot of dirt and dust, wipe them off with a damp cloth or use a cleaning product made for that type of material you want to clean. If you have pets, you can remove hair using a lint roller.
- Clean Spills Immediately
When you spill coffee and other liquids on your living room furniture, you need to wipe them clean immediately before they seep further into the materials. The more porous the furniture is, the faster it absorbs liquid. If left unchecked, it can create complicated stains that can damage the furniture.
- Use Vacuum Cleaner
A vacuum cleaner is a convenient tool for cleaning your living room furniture. You can use it to clean the upholstery of your sofa, carpet, and floor. It’s recommended to vacuum your living room furniture pieces every few weeks. However, if you have pets or kids, you should vacuum more often.
- Have Regular Maintenance Checkups
The best way to prevent serious damage to your furniture is to schedule regular maintenance inspections and checkups. This helps you find early signs of damage and address them right away to prevent further damage. For instance, if you notice that your living room table has an uneven or wobbly leg, you can apply a brace to the loose portion to fix it right away.
- Don’t Eat On Your Couch
Almost everyone is guilty of eating on their living room sofa while watching their favorite TV shows. However, keep in mind that your living room isn’t an extension of your dining room. Food crumbs and spills can be difficult to clean and may attract pests, such as ants, on your furniture pieces.
If you insist on eating snacks in your living room, take precautions. Make sure to keep your food on a tray or use a coaster to prevent spills and sweating from cold drinks.
- Keep Furniture Away From The Sun
All types of living room furniture materials should be kept away from direct sunlight. So, consider moving furniture away from windows and heat sources. Sunlight can be harsh and cause fading in leather and fabrics. Meanwhile, humidity and high heat can cause damage to wood.
If you have a small living room and it’s impossible to move your furniture away from direct sunlight, then use curtains or blinds that block off sunlight.
- Apply Wax And Protective Coatings
In most cases, waxes and other protective film coatings can help make your furniture pieces more resistant to extreme sunlight and other elements. Some coatings can even make wooden furniture stain-free.
You can make polishing and waxing a regular routine for your living room cleaning to ensure the longevity and appeal of your furniture pieces.
- Hire The Experts
Whether you don’t have time for regular furniture cleaning or you need help to fight against serious damage or stains in your living room furniture pieces, hiring professional furniture and upholstery cleaning and maintenance services is a smart move.
Experts have the right knowledge and experience to clean, fix, and maintain living room furniture pieces. They can revive your living room furniture and make the pieces look and smell brand new.
Takeaway
With the right furniture pieces, the living room can become more inviting and cozier, making it a better place to stay in and spend time with your family or entertaining friends and guests. Living room furniture can be expensive, so you want to make sure to protect your investment. Follow the above maintenance and care tips for your living room furniture to ensure that they stay in tiptop condition and serve you for years to come.