After you’ve purchased the furniture of your dreams, you’ll want to take every precaution you can to keep it looking its best for many years to come. These tips come from Protection 1st, which offers a protection plan that ensures your purchase past the warranty deadline.

Avoid direct sunlight and extreme temperature changes. Sunlight can fade wood finishes, leather, and upholstery fabric, so protecting your furniture with blinds and drapes during the day will help your furniture last longer. Also, high temperatures will cause wood furniture to warp and bend, and it will make leather and fabric dry and brittle. Avoid placing furniture too close to a heating vent whenever possible.

Caring for Upholstered Furniture

To protect upholstered furniture, be sure to clean the furniture on a weekly basis by vacuuming both the cushions and under them. To prevent upholstery from becoming wrinkled or flattened, you should fluff and rotate the cushions regularly to help slow wear and to ensure that any wear is uniform.

If more drastic spot cleaning is necessary, be sure to follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s tag. The tag uses codes to tell you what cleaning methods are recommended. As with most spills it is important to clean them as soon as possible to prevent the stain from setting.

Caring for Leather Furniture

Because of leather’s tendency to absorb other dyes, you should avoid placing other printed materials on leather that can transfer and leave a stain. Also, you should follow a simple cleaning schedule and use a clean white cloth to dust every week or two to prevent buildup of regular household soil. If any soil does accumulate, use a damp, soft white cloth to wipe the leather surface clean. But before you apply any moisture to the leather, be sure to place a few drops of water in an inconspicuous spot to make sure the leather doesn’t absorb it. If the leather does absorb water, use only dry cloths. The final step in caring for your leather furniture is to clean every 5-6 months with a mild leather cleaner. After cleaning, apply a protective leather cream to keep it soft and supple.

Caring for Wood Furniture

Due to the damage done by sunlight to wood finishes, constant exposure to direct sunlight can cause dark woods to bleach while lighter colors may darken. The finish may even begin to crack and peel. Try to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible.

The finish on a wood will affect how likely it is to be harmed by liquids, like glasses coated in condensation that are placed on its surface. You should always use a coaster or other insulator between your glass and the wooden surface because water can leave white marks or cause damage to the finish that has to be professionally repaired. Any minor scratches or marks can often be touched up with touch up sticks or scratch removers that can be found in many furniture or hardware stores.