How to disinfect furniture
Bacteria grow on furniture for a variety of reasons, such as food spills, when an accident occurs, or when they are transferred to someone’s clothing.
To keep your home clean and germ-free, disinfect furniture to kill bacteria and keep you and your family safe.
Furniture can be disinfected with a few inexpensive cleaning ingredients.
Clean furniture surfaces with disinfectant wipes. Various companies make these wipes, which can be found along with cleaning products in any supermarket or home improvement store. The wipes work especially well on wooden furniture, garden furniture, and similar non-porous surfaces.
Fill a sprayer with a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar for a more natural sanitizing solution.
Spray the solution on the furniture surfaces. This solution will be light enough not to damage any surface of the furniture and strong enough to kill stubborn bacteria. Vinegar spray works best on fabrics and upholstered furniture, where vinegar can penetrate and be absorbed by the material, killing bacteria in its path.
.
How to clean furniture
In this Article: Cleaning Upholstered Furniture Cleaning Leather Furniture Cleaning Wooden Furniture Cleaning Lucite and Acrylic Furniture Cleaning Wicker Furniture Related Articles References
If you keep the furniture clean, it will not only make it more attractive, but it will also greatly extend its useful life. Although cleaning an entire house full of furniture can be a major project, it doesn’t have to be a hassle. In most cases, you just need to clean the dust and vacuum regularly, plus deep cleanings every semester to keep your furniture looking great.
Clean upholstered furniture
>> Vacuum regularly. It is the easiest part of keeping furniture clean. Strive to clean any cracks and fissures in the furniture between the cushions, such as the areas where the sofa arms meet the backrest. Remove the cushions and vacuum on all sides.
The fiber density of microfiber furniture keeps them from fading and allows most of the dirt and debris to be removed just by brushing. Brush them off before vacuuming.
>> Check the furniture labels to guide you. If the cabinet needs a solvent-based cleaner, you should buy and use one. If the cabinet requires a water-based cleaner, you can easily do it at home. If you no longer have the label, consult a professional.
W means: use a water-based detergent.
S stands for: Clean with a waterless product, such as a dry cleaning solvent.
WS means: You can use a water-based cleaner or a waterless cleaner.
X means: only professional cleaning should be done, although you can vacuum freely. Keep this in mind when buying furniture.
>> Make a water-based cleaner with a dishwasher liquid at home. Fill a spray bottle with water, then add a couple of drops of dish detergent (liquid, not powder). Adding a lid full of white vinegar and a little baking soda to the mix will combat the bad smell. Shake it well.
>> Try the detergent mix in an inconspicuous area. Dip a sponge in the detergent mixture and rub a little on the back or bottom of the upholstery; where they are unlikely to see it. Clean the area with a cloth and let it air dry completely. If it fades, don’t use the detergent mixture. Better get it cleaned by a professional.
>> Dampen the spots with a sponge. Use a sponge to rub the mixture on the cabinet and dry the upholstery with a cloth while you work. Let the detergent settle and soak in stubborn stains for a few minutes.
>> Dry up spills immediately. The best way to avoid lengthy clean-up sessions in the future is to act quickly when spills occur, treating them before they seriously stain things. You should always dry liquids, instead of rubbing or scrubbing. At this stage, vigorous movements can make the liquid penetrate further into the cabinet, so the goal is to absorb as much liquid as possible before it is introduced.
Clean leather furniture
>> Vacuum the cabinet. As with upholstering, vacuuming regularly keeps furniture clean. Remove the cushions to make sure you get to every corner and crevice of the furniture.
>> Rub the furniture with a vinegar mixture. In a bucket, mix vinegar and water in equal parts. Dip a cloth in the liquid, drain it until it is damp, but not soaked, and clean the furniture. Rinse the rag frequently to avoid spreading dirt and wipe dry after finishing work.
The mixture of lemon juice and cream of tartar in equal parts is an ideal stain remover for white or beige furniture. Rub the mixture on the stain and leave it for 10 minutes. Then wipe off the residue with a clean cloth.
Applying isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab does wonder for ink stains and mold. Apply and then blow-dry the area with hot air from a hairdryer.
>> Nourish the leather with vinegar and linseed oil. The mixture should be composed of one part vinegar and two parts linseed oil. Shake it well, rub it, and leave it for 10 minutes. Then polish the leather with a rag. You may need to polish it several times.
>> Keep the leather out of the sun to prevent dryness and cracking. Constant direct sun exposure damages the leather, even with careful maintenance. Rotate armchairs or sofas away from open windows, or make sure blinds or curtains are closed when you’re not in the room.
Keep leather furniture a minimum of 2 feet (60 cm) away from heat sources in your home. Constant exposure to heat can crack and age the leather.
OTHER DIFFERENT TYPES OF FURNITURE
Clean wooden furniture
>> As a general rule of thumb for cleaning wooden furniture: don’t use a lot of water and if you do, don’t leave it for too long because water can cause the wood to warp or crack.
>> Clean dust and loose dirt from wood. Wipe the furniture with clean cloth to loosen and remove dust and dirt from the surface. Avoid using feather dusters for wooden furniture, as their feathers can scratch the wood. Better use a rag.
>> Rub the wood with mineral essences. Mineral essences (for example, paint thinners) are great at breaking down built-up grime. Pour the mineral essence in a cloth and rub it gently on the cabinet. Work in a well-ventilated space when using mineral essences. Clean the cleaner residue with a damp cloth.
Although these essences are safe for most wooden furniture, you should try them first in an inconspicuous area (such as on the bottom or the leg of the chair) to ensure that the furniture does not react badly to the cleaner.
>> Make a mixture of turpentine for use on finished wood. Mix 3/4 cup boiled linseed oil with 1/4 cup turpentine in a jar and shake well. Both ingredients are available at hardware stores.
Another alternative is to use furniture oil that is also available for that purpose.
>> Apply the turpentine mixture to the wood. Pour a little on the table, then a little on a steel pad. Apply the mixture by rubbing it along the grain. Once you’re done, polish with a soft cloth. This blend is very effective on finished and unfinished wood. This increases the gloss and durability of the finished wood and prevents dryness and cracking in the unfinished wood. Rub the oil well and allow the mixture to air dry.
Using a steel scourer may seem harsh to you, but the finish of most wood furniture is thick enough to protect the wood from damage.
>> Polish the waxed or varnished surfaces with lemon oil. Dampen a rag, add a little oil and clean the cabinet. Then, polish the surface, leaving little residue.
>> Apply furniture wax to protect non-waxed furniture. Apply a generous amount with a cheesecloth, in the direction of the grain. Then, polish with another cloth.
Clean acrylic and lucite furniture
>> Clean the furniture with a clean cloth. The acrylic and lucite require very little care, but they can be easily scratched by the small specks of dirt and grime on the rag you’ve used to clean other furniture. Use a new (or freshly laundered) rag to clean the cabinet to avoid scratches.
>> Avoid glass cleaners like Windex. Although it may seem tempting for the furniture to be transparent, don’t use a glass cleaner on acrylic furniture. Cleaners that are not designed for acrylic or lucite can create cracks in furniture.
Also, if something gets stuck in the cabinet, don’t use a solvent to remove it. Use a damp cloth and only cleaners specifically designed for this material.
>> Remove scratches with a plastic polisher. Products designed to clean plastic are the only cleaners you should use on acrylic furniture. If your furniture is scraped, the polisher can also repair scratches.
Cleaning wicker furniture
>> Identify the material. In this case, the word “wicker” designates the technique used in making furniture, not the material from which they are made.
Your wicker furniture can be made of paper, rattan or bamboo (among other possibilities) and there may be slight differences in the type of care required by each one.
>> Remove the cushions. You will clean them separately from the furniture and the manufacturer must include the appropriate cleaning methods on the label. Make sure you can access every inch of the cabinet’s surface.
>> Use the vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment. You should be careful to clean the wicker furniture with soft tools. Regular brushing will keep them clean and vacuuming with the brush attachment does double duty.
For hard-to-remove dust, use a soft brush. For hard-to-reach dust, use a toothbrush.
>> Gently brush the rattan and bamboo with a solution of water, soap, and ammonia. Mix one part ammonia with two parts water in a bucket, then squirt a dishwasher liquid without bleach. The ideal cleaning tool is the brush, but a cloth is also useful.
Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area before mixing chemicals and wear gloves when handling ammonia. Don’t lean over the bucket.
It is essential that the mixture does not contain bleach because the combination of ammonia and bleach produces incredibly toxic gases.
If you feel dizzy or nauseous when mixing cleaners, go out for fresh air immediately.
Wicker furniture should always be handled gently, even during cleaning. Rigid brushes (and anything more abrasive) can cause considerable damage to furniture and require professional intervention.
For paper and grass furniture, leave the cleaning agents and only clean the furniture with a damp cloth.
Wicker furniture only needs this deep cleaning once or twice a year.
>> Take the furniture outside to dry in the sun. It could take several days to dry completely, but it is essential that the wicker furniture dries well. When the reed, grass, and bamboo are wet, they can gradually resume their original shape (which is not wicker).
Wicker furniture should always dry completely and avoid saturating it with water during cleaning. You never sit in the wicker undried.
However, wicker furniture should not spend all its time in the sun. Chairs and tables exposed to the sun for a long time should be rotated throughout the year to avoid material breakage.
>> Keep it away from wet areas. Although wicker “likes” moisture, it promotes mold growth and distortion in the shape of wicker furniture. Store your furniture in climate-controlled areas of your home if you want to keep it long-term. Unless you live in the desert, the front porch is not a good place for wicker furniture.
But if you really live in the desert, clean the wicker from time to time with a damp cloth. Dry climates can (like direct sunlight) cause the wicker to crack if not properly cared for.
TIPS
>> You can wash the furniture with covers according to the instructions on the label.
Early intervention is crucial in spotting stains or discolorations. Clean furniture frequently to keep it in good shape, and never let spills settle.
- If you have pets, you should train them to stay away from furniture as their fur, claws, and drool can leave marks.
- If you have cats, brush them regularly to decrease the amount of loose hair and hair loss and cut their claws.
- The lint removal roller is useful for easily removing pet fur.
