How to Care for Furniture: Materials, Stains and a Care Calendar
Short answer: caring for furniture comes down to three habits — regular dry dusting, dealing with stains without delay and without rubbing, and protection from sun and damp. Too much water on wood, soaking fabric and putting leather close to a heat source are the three most common mistakes. With the right care, good furniture lasts 20 years; with the wrong care, five.
A care table by material
The method is set by the material of the surface; a product that works on one leaves damage on another.
| Material | How to clean | What not to use | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid timber | Lightly damp cloth then a dry one; silicone-free care polish | Alcohol, thinner, bleach, lots of water | Weekly dusting, yearly polish |
| MDF / veneered panel | Dry or barely damp microfibre; water must not touch the edge banding | Abrasive sponge, steam cleaner | Weekly |
| Lacquer (gloss) | Wipe in one direction with soft microfibre, then a dry pass | Acetone, scouring cream, coarse cloth | Weekly |
| Glass | Ammonia-free glass cleaner sprayed onto the cloth | Spraying the surface directly, stiff brushes | Every 2 weeks |
| Mirror | Damp cloth, then dry microfibre; no liquid at the edges | Anything with ammonia — it blackens the silvering | Every 2 weeks |
| Fabric upholstery | Vacuum with the upholstery head; for stains, low-foam shampoo applied to the cloth | Rubbing, soaking, bleach | Weekly |
| Leather / faux leather | Lightly damp cloth, leather conditioner every 6 months | Alcohol, detergent, proximity to heat | Monthly |
| Metal legs and details | Barely damp cloth, dried immediately | Powder detergent, leaving it wet | Monthly |
| Marble / ceramic tops | Warm water with a pH-neutral soap, then a dry cloth | Lemon, vinegar, limescale remover | Weekly |
↔ Scroll the table sideways to see all of it.
For glazed and mirrored surfaces see bedroom sets with glass, and for body materials, the difference between MDF, chipboard and solid timber.
Stain removal: the first five minutes decide
Every minute lost on a stain reduces the chance of removing it. The rule: blot by pressing, never rub.
| Stain | In the first 5 minutes | Do not |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee / tea | Blot with a dry cloth, then lift with a damp cloth and low-foam shampoo | Hot water, rubbing |
| Oil | Sprinkle cornflour, wait 15 minutes, vacuum; dry foam on any residue | Pouring water — it drives the oil into the fibre |
| Ink | Put colourless stain remover on a cloth and dab, using a clean face each time | Rubbing, spraying directly |
| Water mark / ring | Take up the moisture at once with a dry cloth, apply care polish when fully dry | Leaving it wet, drying with heat |
| Chewing gum | Harden with ice in a bag, lift with a blunt plastic edge | Applying heat, pulling at it |
| Wax crayon | Wipe with dry microfibre, lift residue with warm low-foam water | Acetone, abrasive sponge |
| Pet stain | Blot with kitchen paper, press with an enzyme cleaner, dry thoroughly | Anything with ammonia — it brings the smell back |
↔ Scroll the table sideways to see all of it.
For step-by-step application by fabric type, see how to clean a fabric sofa.
The six things that wear furniture out most
- Direct sunlight: the number one cause of fading; use a net curtain at a window that takes direct light.
- Being close to a radiator or stove: it cracks wood and hardens leather. Leave a gap.
- Damp and humidity: in a damp room panels swell; in a dry one solid timber moves. Ventilate regularly.
- The wrong cleaning product: one wrong chemical undoes years of polish in a single go.
- Overloading: heavy things go in the lower compartment, not the top shelf. Sitting on a sofa arm breaks the frame.
- Always sitting in the same spot on a cushion: the foam collapses at one point and the sofa looks lopsided.
What never to do with furniture
- Use anything with ammonia (especially on mirrors and lacquer)
- Pour bleach or acetone on it
- Use an abrasive sponge, wire wool or scouring cream
- Spray a product directly onto the surface — always apply it to the cloth
- Use a steam cleaner on an unsuitable surface (it causes blistering on panels and lacquer)
- Leave a wet cloth on a surface
- Drag furniture; put felt pads under the feet
Damage from the wrong chemical or from water is not counted as a product fault and falls outside the warranty. You will find the limits in furniture warranty and after-sales service and the terms on our warranty page.
Extending the life of foam and cushions
- Turn the seat cushions monthly and swap their positions; spreading the load delays collapse.
- Plump the back cushions by hand weekly; foam that gets air keeps its volume.
- Air removable covers in the shade a few times a year; drying them in the sun fades them.
Foam density and frame quality set the life from the start: how to tell a good sofa and how to choose sofa fabric.
A furniture care calendar
| How often | What to do |
|---|---|
| Weekly | Dry dusting, vacuuming with the upholstery head, plumping back cushions |
| Monthly | Turning cushions, cleaning the seams, wiping leather surfaces with a damp cloth |
| Every 3 months | Pulling furniture off the wall and vacuuming behind it, dusting drawer runners |
| Every 6 months | Applying leather conditioner, emptying and wiping out cupboards, checking wall-fixing screws |
| Yearly | Tightening body and leg screws, oiling hinges and runners, adjusting a sagging door at its screw, wood care polish, and deep upholstery cleaning if suitable |
↔ Scroll the table sideways to see all of it.
You can look at easy-care sofa set models and hard-wearing dining room sets, for example the Kays corner sofa set.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you remove a white heat mark from wood?
A brief pass with a low-heat iron over a soft cloth can work on a light mark; a permanent one needs polish treatment. The prevention is a trivet.
How often should furniture be polished?
Once or twice a year, with a silicone-free wood care product. Polish protects the surface against scratches.
What is the most common mistake in furniture care?
Wiping the surface with plenty of water. Water dulls the polish on wood, gets under the edge banding on panels, and stays in the foam of upholstery and causes smells. The rule: a damp cloth, then a dry one.
How should I test a cleaning product?
Try it on a small hidden area (under a cushion, the back of a cupboard); wait 10 minutes and confirm there is no colour change.
