Furniture Care Basics
Keep furniture out of direct sunlight.
Avoid placing furniture in front of or under windows.
Place furniture away from heating and air conditioning vents.
Blot up spills immediately.
Use coasters, placemats and tablecloths to protect furniture during use.
Lift and place items instead of sliding across furniture surfaces.
Rotate accessories on your furniture periodically.
Avoid prolonged use of plastic and rubber items on your furniture.
Dust your furniture regularly and polish every 4-6 months.
Wicker Furniture Care
Modern indoor and outdoor wicker furnishings are fashioned using a variety of reeds with the most popular being the smaller diameter reeds from the rattan palm. Wicker furniture is available painted, stained and finished or unfinished.
Care & Cleaning
A regular cleaning of woven wicker furniture using the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner is recommended. Vacuum thoroughly following the direction of the weave to avoid any accidental damage to the individual woven strands.
Remove debris stuck between the weave with an old toothbrush, or a small paintbrush with the bristles trimmed by about half way in length.
Wiping wicker furniture with a rag dampened with soap and water solution will remove any build up on the heavy use areas such as the arms and backs of chairs and tabletops. Be sure to follow up with a clean rag dampened with clear water to remove and soap residue.
Wicker furniture can be fashioned with wooden components such as table tops, legs, cabinet doors and drawers; these should be cared for as you would any wood furniture. A regular cleaning and polishing will maintain the finish on the wooden surfaces.
Wicker can dry out in time and become brittle in regions with low humidity. Placing your wicker furniture away from heater vents, radiators, fireplaces and other sources of dry heat will help to maintain the moisture content.
Avoiding direct sunlight will also help to protect your wicker furniture from drying out and fading.
Natural unfinished wicker has a tendency to dry out, as the woven strands are not sealed with any protective finish. If you notice the wicker becoming brittle and breaking easily, you may need to restore the moisture content of the wicker. Wicker with a normal moisture content will be much more pliable and forgiving.
You can restore the moisture content of the wicker by rinsing the piece of furniture with clear water from your garden hose. This is also a good time to perform a thorough cleaning of your wicker furniture.
Cleaning with a mild soap and water solution will remove any of the build up. Use a soft bristle brush and scrub gently with the direction of the weave on heavy use areas such as the arms of chairs, the seat areas or any other areas you notice any accumulation of dirt or grime.
Rinse the piece with clear water using moderate pressure to remove any debris caught between the weave or in any crevices. Elevate one end of the wicker furniture to allow the excess water to run off during and after rinsing. After the excess water has run off, use a dry rag to wipe off as much of the water as possible.
Placing the wicker out in the open on a warm sunny day will accelerate the drying process. Allow to completely dry, before placing the furniture back in use.
Rattan and Cane Furniture Care
Rattan or cane furniture and accessories are fashioned from the steam bent poles of the rattan palm, a spiny sub-tropical climbing palm that grows like a vine and can attain lengths of 600 feet. The outer skin of the rattan palm is peeled for use as binder cane, slab shave rattan and for weaving panels and caning chair seats.
The inner core is cut for use in wickerwork and basketry. It is known as reed and available in several widths, diameters and shapes including round, oval, flat-oval and flat.
Rattan furniture is available in a variety of finishes including, painted, stained and finished and dyed. Rattan furniture is easy to care for and when maintained properly, will provide you with years of enjoyment.
Rattan Furniture Care Basics:
Dust your rattan furniture regularly using a soft cloth.
Vacuum woven panels with a brush attachment.
Do not drag rattan chairs to avoid splitting the rattan reed.
Solid Wood Furniture Care
Quality wood furnishings are an investment that you expect to last a life time. To maintain its natural beauty and protect your investment, wood furniture needs the right care.
Wood furniture is coated with a plasticized film that's referred to as finish. Besides enriching the grain and adding luster to solid wood furniture, the finish seals and protects the wood from moisture, dirt and regular use.
These finishes are diverse and vary from simple nitrocellulose lacquers to more complex polyester resins. All modern wood furniture finishes are long lasting and provide the protection your furniture needs.
Wood expands and contracts with the variations in temperature and humidity. Expect each piece of solid wood furniture to react differently depending on the type or species of wood used. Laminated woods and veneers are more stable than solid wood planks.
Marble Furniture Care
Marble is a natural product varying in color, texture and veining commonly used on a variety of furniture pieces including coffee table tops, end table tops and writing surfaces on desks.
Simulated marble is used on lesser quality furnishings to save on costs. To test the surface to see if it may be genuine marble, place your palm on the marble surface - there should be no noticeable change in temperature after a couple of minutes.
Genuine Marble Care
Blot up spills immediately.
Use coasters on table tops under beverages.
Use a cleaner and polish formulated for marble surfaces.
Avoid scouring powders which are abrasive and will scratch marble.
Use hydrogen peroxide or ammonia to remove stains.
Refer deep scratches to a professional.
Waxing white marble could cause yellowing.
Acidic juices can etch the marble surface leaving dull spots.
Marble and marble veneers are a beautiful accent to fine furniture and will last a lifetime. Caring for your marble surfaces properly will enhance their beauty and provide you with years of enjoyment.
Upholstery Care
Your furniture plays an important part of the look and feel of your home decor. Understanding upholstery and how to care for your furniture is essential.
Before attempting to remove a stain from your furniture, it is helpful to know what type of fabric the furniture is covered with.
Most furniture companies provide standardized cleaning codes and instructions which list the preferred spot cleaning method. If these codes aren't available, you should first contact the service department of the company where you purchased your furniture to obtain more information prior to cleaning your upholstery.
We suggest that you first test any cleaning product in an inconspicuous area.
Leather Furniture
Leather furniture is one of the most elegant types of furniture that you can own. Leather is pleasant to have in any style of home, and will bring a new light to any room it is placed in.
Leather is also a type of material that is easily maintained. Caring for your furniture is easily overlooked, but in order to hold the value of your leather, you should follow a few simple tasks in order to keep your leather looking, feeling, and even smelling new. You should also know of the different styles of leather finishes before you purchase your leather furniture.
McGowan's Furniture
Indoor Furniture Care
(319) 234-5575
3754 Airline Hwy. Waterloo
Mon. & Thurs. 9:30 - 8:00, Tues, Wed, Fri 9:30 - 5:30
Saturday 9:30 - 5:00 Sunday: Seasonal
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