Your furniture may be among the most expensive items in your house. It makes sense to take care of your furniture to prolong its life. The money you spend on care, cleaning, and restoration is minimal compared to the cost of replacement.
Basic Wood Furniture Care
Caring for wood furniture is fairly simple, and can be broken down into two parts: damage prevention and regular maintenance.
5 ways to prevent damage to wood furniture:
- Place it strategically away from heating vents that will dry out the wood and cause cracks.
- Avoid direct sunlight that will cause the finish to fade.
- Use coasters every time you place a beverage on a wooden table. Coasters prevent moisture from the cup or glass from forming a ring in the wood finish.
- Use trivets under hot dishes to prevent heat damage to the finish.
- Use tablecloths or placemats to shield the wood from spills and scrapes.
Regular wood furniture maintenance is even easier: simply dust your furniture with a barely-damp cloth once or twice a week, and apply furniture polish as needed.
Upholstery Cleaning Tips
When your upholstered furniture begins to look dingy, the first step to restoring it to a like-new appearance is vacuuming. This will remove pet hair, dust, crumbs, and any other loose dirt that as accumulated on the surface of your furniture.
If your upholstered furniture needs a deeper cleaning, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Different upholstery types require different cleaning methods, and using the wrong method could permanently damage your upholstery.
Does Your Furniture Need Restoration?
There are some situations that require an expert in furniture restoration:
- Antique furniture
- Flood situations. Any time your furniture has been partially or fully submerged in water for more than 24 hours, call an expert.
- Removal of bodily fluids, such as urine or blood.
- Lingering odors that regular cleaning does not remove.
If your furniture has structural damage, a restoration team may be able to fix it before they begin cleaning and restoring the piece.
What to Expect from a Furniture Restoration Service
Depending on the size of the piece, a furniture restoration service may schedule a time to come to your home, or they may ask you to bring a smaller piece into their shop. Once they have gone over the damage carefully, they will explain the options for restoration and cleaning, and give you an estimate of the costs involved.
How Much Does Upholstery Cleaning and Furniture Restoration Cost?
Actual costs will vary depending on the amount and type of work needed, the size of the furniture piece, and even where you live. However, as a rough guide, you can expect to spend between $150 – $200 for upholstery cleaning and between $600 – $800 per piece for furniture restoration.
