The useful life of a piece of furniture can be increased by following a few simple guidelines.
Fine furniture should never be exposed to strong sunlight even though the finishing materials used within our collections are fade-resistant. Exposed wood components, underlying wood frames, and some leather and fabric dyes may fade or change color over time, when in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. With regular cleaning and maintenance, you can help prolong your furniture’s appearance and ensure it lasts for years to come!
Upholstery Care
Vacuum
Weekly vacuuming or light brushing helps to remove soil and dust fibers which can increase abrasion and wear.
Rotate and Fluff
The life of upholstered cushions can be increased through periodic turning. The weekly reversal of loose cushions will allow even distribution of wear over long periods of time. You should also fluff up loose pillows to even out any lumps or settling. Select items in our collection have zippers allowing the fiber to be removed or added as needed. With normal use over time, it should be expected that the cushions will lose some firmness.
Clean
When spot cleaning, it is always a good idea to first pretest fabric for discoloration and shrinkage on an inconspicuous part of the furniture.
Rug Care
Vacuum
Regular vacuuming with a non-motorized nozzle head removes dirt and grit that may damage the fibers and foundation of a rug. It is not advised to use a vacuum with a power brush attachment on shag or deep pile rugs. Occasionally vacuum the backside of the rug as well.
Rotate and Cushion
Rotating the rug at least once a year ensures even wear and equalizes the effect of sunlight on the fibers. Using a good-quality pad can provide cushioning, prevent slippage, and extend the life of your rug. Every few years your rug may require professional cleaning. It is best to choose a reputable rug care specialist with professional cleaning and drying facilities.
Clean
When spot cleaning, it is always a good idea to first pretest fabric for discoloration and shrinkage on an inconspicuous part of the furniture.
Leather Cleaning Tips
Leather has a natural beauty, unlike any other material. We source from the finest quality hides, meaning every leather piece has an incredibly soft and supple feel. This is achieved by limiting the amount of treatment such as color or protective pigments used. Therefore natural markings and color variations are highly visible, lending to the natural beauty of each piece. Fine leathers will age over time and develop a rich patina with extra care and maintenance.
Maintaining some distance between your furniture and heating sources will keep leather upholstery from drying out. Most materials will fade over time when placed in direct sunlight. Aniline leathers are especially sensitive to sunlight and it is not recommended to place them in locations subject to strong natural light.
Like all items in your home, leather can accumulate dust. Lightly dampen a soft cloth and dust weekly. Dusting at regular intervals ensures that the furniture remains easy to clean. You may also use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. With leather, you can fully remove dust particles from the surface making it ideal for dust-sensitive persons.
All leathers will perform better when preventative maintenance is practiced. For aniline and protected leathers, apply reputable leather cream to the surface of the leather to help resist staining and overall soiling. It is most important that you treat high-use areas like seats, backs, and arms regularly. As a general rule, fully clean your furniture with a reputable leather cleaner at least every six months to remove dirt as well as the gradual accumulation of body oils and perspiration. Aniline leathers are very absorbent and may require more frequent cleaning when used in high-use areas like a TV room. After cleaning, reapply the conditioner to the surface to renew and protect it.
To clean up spills on leather simply wipe with a damp, soft, clean cloth. For more stubborn soil, use a clean, soft, cloth that has been dampened with a diluted solution of non-detergent soap (i.e., Ivory – 1 part soap to 10 parts water), rinse and wipe dry. Oily and other non-water soluble stains should be wiped with a DRY, clean, cloth. The remainder of the stain will soak into the leather.
Ballpoint pen ink may be removed by immediately rubbing with an art gum eraser. Leather care professionals can usually remove stubborn stains or repair surface damage and tears.
Never use harsh chemicals or cleaning agents on your leather furniture. Avoid all products containing solvents or oils because they may negatively affect the surface of the leather.
Wood Care
Wood comes from nature. There are natural variations in its texture and grain, including knots, mineral streaks, and sap runs that may affect the appearance of the finish. These variations are not defects; they are distinctions that make each piece of furniture unique. Our collection consists of many finishes depending on the product and wood surface you purchased. These finishes are subject to damage by moisture, heat, or contact with alcohol-based and oil-based products. By maintaining a general level of upkeep and extra care, you’ll preserve the inherent beauty of your beautiful wood furniture.
Never allow water or damp items to sit on your furniture including cleaning cloths, sponges, etc. Never allow alcohol-based products including some cleaners, nail polish, and perfumes to come in contact with your wood furniture. They can dissolve the finish on contact, requiring professional repairs.
Keep plastic, rubber placemats, or rubberized feet on appliances, from coming into direct contact with your furniture for extended periods of time. Chemicals in rubber and plastic may soften and injure the finish. Avoid placing hot objects on any furniture surface. Always use a protective pad or plate.
Avoid direct sunlight, heat outlets, open windows, and dampness. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can fade the finish of your furniture, while extreme temperature and humidity changes can cause cracking or splitting.
Dusting at regular intervals assures that the furniture remains easy to clean. Dust with the grain of the wood, with a clean, damp microfiber cloth to remove abrasive buildup which can damage the finish over time.
Wipe spills or moisture from your furniture immediately. For natural household build-up occasionally use a solution of warm water and non-alkaline soap to work up a lather (i.e., Murphy’s Oil Soap - 1/3 soap to 2/3 water). Wipe the furniture with a dampened, soft, clean cloth. Dry thoroughly with a soft, dry, cloth being sure to rub with the grain of the wood. Avoid oily, waxy, or silicone products that attract dust and cause buildup over time. Method® makes several manufacturer-approved products for wood care to enhance the fine factory finish.
Touch up small marks and scratches with a marker, scratch remover, or touch-up stick. These can be purchased at any paint or hardware store.
Never allow water or damp items to sit on your furniture including cleaning cloths and sponges.
Porcelain Tile Care
A subset of ceramic porcelain is kiln fired at a very high temperature, resulting in an extremely desnse material that is resistant to acids, heat, scratching, and UV rays.
Our Italian porcelain tops are produced using a substrate of coupling floating glass. The coupling with float glass below creates a stronger product.
Porcelain tops are extremely scratch-resistant, abrasion resistant, organic and inorganic chemical resistant, frost resistant and very adaptable to all indoor and outdoor weather conditions. They are UV resistant and finishes remain the same in the course of time, they are that much fire-resistant and high-temperature resistant that you can place a hot pot or use the iron . They are nontoxic and highly hygienic materials.
They are easy to clean and stain-proof because they do not absorb liquids. Regular, basic cleaning with warm water and mild soap is sufficient to keep tops looking good.
In contrast to porcelain, marble or granite requires gentle cleaning with lukewarm water and non-abrasive cleansers. Always use placemats and coasters for marble and granite surfaces.
To prevent accidental crashes, avoid hitting edges with hard and sharp objects.
Porcelain tops maintenance is very easy in contrast to marble or granite, which needs gentle care.
Accidents happen to all of us.
In the event something unfortunate happens to your upholstered piece of furniture or rug, we have compiled a list of handy cleaning solutions to help get you through the crisis with ease. 1. Act fast 2. Blot, never rub 3. Clean stain edge to center 4. Do not soak 5. Pat and fan dry 6. Brush pile.
Here’s a list of cleaning solutions for your everyday mishaps:
Acids: Detergent/White vinegar
Alcoholic Beverages: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid
Ammonia or Alkali: Detergent/White vinegar
Ball-point pen ink: Methylated spirits or turpentine
Beer: Detergent/White vinegar
Bleach: Detergent/White vinegar
Blood: Detergent/White vinegar or Starch Paste
Burning cigarette: Brush off with a hard edge
Butter: Cleaning fluid
Candy: Detergent/White vinegar or scrape and vacuum
Cellulose paint: Acetone
Chewing Gum: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid
Chocolate: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid
Coffee: Glycerin
Cosmetics: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid
Crayon: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid,scrape, vacuum
Egg: Detergent/White vinegar
Excrement(human): Detergent/White vinegar
(remove at once-chemicals in excrement attack dyestuffs)
Excrement(pet): Call a reputable cleaner
Fat and Oil: Tissue and iron, then cleaning fluid
(Do not use iron after solvent)
Fruit and juices: Detergent/White vinegar
Furniture polish: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Glue: Alcohol
Grass: Methylated spirits
Gravy: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid
Grease: Cleaning fluid or scrape and vacuum
Household cement: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Ice cream: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Ink: Water only
Iodine: Alcohol
Jam: Lukewarm water
Lipstick: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Medicine: Call a reputable cleaner
Metal polish: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Mildew: Call a reputable cleaner
Milk: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Mud: Detergent/White vinegar
Mustard: Detergent/White vinegar
Nail Polish: Polish remover*
Oils: Cleaning fluid
Paint: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Perfume: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Permanent ink: Call a reputable cleaner
Rust: Call a reputable cleaner
Salad dressing: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Sauces: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid*
Shoe polish: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid
Soot: Vacuum, then cleaning fluid
Stain: Cleaning Method
Tar: Cleaning fluid
Tea: Detergent/White vinegar
Urine (human): Detergent/White vinegar
(remove at once-chemicals in urine attack dyestuff)
Urine (pet): Call a reputable cleaner
Vomit: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid
Wax: Cleaning fluid or scrape and vacuum
Wine: Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid
When home remedies just aren’t working, we recommend using a professional furniture cleaning service. Feel free to contact us at the showroom for local referrals.