Update Your Old Furniture with a Good Cleaning and Accessories

August 13, 2019

Cleaning: Any time that you purchase used furniture, or want to update yours, cleaning is a great first step! Do you know what fabric is on the upholstery or sofa? If you can locate the manufacturer’s tag, often attached under a cushion, most of the time it will give cleaning instructions. Or if you prefer, ask where the sofa was originally purchased to see if the store may have any advice for you. If you cannot obtain this information, we recommend contacting a professional upholstery cleaning service in your local area. Cleaning the sofa or other furniture without using the correct method can set the stains and cause your upholstery to be aesthetically unappealing.

Maintenance: Regular maintenance for your upholstery is quite simple, for detailed instructions you can visit the article, “Clean Upholstered Furniture Like A Pro” on Better Homes & Gardens website. Remember that once the sofa, or other pieces of furniture, is clean you should vacuum regularly and address stains as soon as they occur.

Add a Personal Touch: No matter if it’s new or not, a great way to personalize your furniture is to add a pop of color. By adding a luxury throw blanket or bedding pillow, your upholstery can match your style perfectly. This décor trick has been around for years and still works wonders! Faux fur and classically-striped throws are still very trendy and can modernize your furniture in a matter of seconds. You can choose between neutral or bright colors or add some tassels and fringe details.

Changing Things Up: Keeping a variety of pillows and decorative throws stored away is always a good idea when you want to change things up to match your style and the ever-changing seasons. During the cold, winter months, it’s always nice to have a warm blanket to snuggle under. And when the summer months come around, you can easily trade your snuggly blanket out for a lightweight cotton or linen throw. Another fun way to use a large throw is as a quilt coverlet or slipcover for furniture.

Cleaning Different Chair Materials: Cleaning furniture isn’t the easiest task, and when you add different materials to the mix, it can be a challenge. We’ve listed a few of the most common chair materials and the easiest ways to clean them below.

Wicker Chairs: The best way to clean a wicker chair is to vacuum it with a soft brush attachment. Then, use a garden hose or a brush with soapy water to wash it. When drying, make sure the chair is in a breezy area with plenty of shade.
Chrome Chairs: You will need to use a glass cleaner with a lint-free cloth to wipe the chair down. Check for any rust spots and if you find some, treat them with a metal polish that is specially made for chrome.
Painting Upholstery: Not only is paint an easy way to fix or update household items, but it’s quick and affordable! However, many people don’t realize that instead of spending their hard-earned money on a new piece of furniture or slipcover, you can easily paint your upholstery for a new look! We’ve made a list of steps to take when painting your upholstery located below:

Once you pick your paint type and color, add fabric/textile medium so the paint softens. This allows the paint to soak into the fabric rather than settling on top of it.
Lightly dampen your furniture before painting (spraying water from a spray bottle works best).
Use a stiff bristle brush to go over the fabric.
If fibers in the fabric begin to rise, use a sanding block to make them smooth.