Allure your pets away from your furniture!
Christmas is approaching, so have you decided yet what present to buy for your pet? Without a doubt, you already know that your beloved animal companions deserve adventurous options to exhaust their energy and attract their attention. If you have any second thoughts, just remember what your curtains looked like last time you were away and your daughter’s kitty got too playful. Or when despite the efforts of their well-behaved mother-dog, all her four puppies decided that chewing the chair legs was the best possible exercise for their new teeth… Or when your own toddler and these same puppies turned your entire house upside down by playing “catch me if you can”?
So, the Christmas present – an indestructible snake toy to provide hours of “hunting” entertainment for your dog or a scratching post in an attempt to allure your cat away from your upholstery or a sticky tape to discourage pets from climbing up and down your sofas and armchairs? Or perhaps, taking into account the scale of the damage, a new set of furniture?
Actually, no need to worry – the bill for hiring a furniture restoration specialist is quite affordable and besides, most minor damage can be easily repaired on your own. So, don’t get too angry with your playful pets – while you should certainly try to teach them manners, don’t forget that more often than not their mischievous behavior is a sign of loneliness, frustration or anxiety. Find out how to keep these special friends of yours happy and not to waste too much money and nerves on all the eventual damages they caused to your expensive furniture.
Chew Marks And Scratches On The Furniture Surface
The chair legs look very tasty to your furry friends.
While a furniture restoration company will manage this problem with great professional skills and enviable speed, it’s quite possible to restore the former condition of your furniture on your own with the right approach and technique. You may need to buy or assemble a pet damage repair kit to cope with the situation. Although the task is relatively long and tedious, your furniture can be refinished so well that only you and your mischievous pet know about the damage.
Wooden furniture
It falls victim to the chewing and/or scratching habits of playful pets on a regular basis. To save your luxurious coffee tables and nicely polished chairs, you should follow these practical furniture restoration tips:
- Clean the surfaces thoroughly and use a scratch awl to remove splintered pieces of wood and chips. Then smoothen the edges with thick sandpaper;
- Apply quality wood filler (best results are achieved if you mix it with an activator) and carefully mold it into the required shape to adhere properly. However, you need to work fast because it hardens quickly and becomes very difficult to reshape any further. For deeper and more severe damage, you will have to apply epoxy. Whatever the case, blend the filler as well as possible and then allow it to dry for about half an hour;
- If you are satisfied with the result, smoothen the repaired portion again with fine sandpaper and wipe it dry and clean. Now you are ready to apply the finishing coat. Use a color that is one shade lighter than the original, because it will darken after drying. You can apply several layers of paint if necessary. When the color blends perfectly, carefully cover the surface with quality wood polish;
- All the work done properly, your chewed wooden furniture will have a flawless finish and should look as if recently purchased!
Leather upholstery
Peace can turn into chaos in split seconds!
It is less likely to be chewed on but is definitely more prone to scratches than any other piece of furniture.
- Use a product specifically designed for cleaning leather to prepare the surface. If your pet’s claws plucked out fibers from the leather, trim them closely to the base but with extra care not to cause further damage;
- Spray glue for binding leather or apply it with a cotton pad. To ensure long-lasting results, let it dry and then apply again several times. Consider using fine sandpaper to smoothen the surface perfectly and then spread a thin layer of filler cream putty with a palette knife or a small spatula to repair the small cracks. If the holes are bigger, re-apply after the first layer has dried out completely;
- Clean the repaired area again and place several thin layers of appropriate colorant to blend well. Leather lacquer will not only help hide the repair, but will also increase the flexibility and sturdiness of your leather furniture;
- However, if the scratches have not cut the leather apart, it becomes much simpler – just apply adequate leather balm and the damage should be sufficiently repaired. Deep cuts through the leather, on the other hand, require furniture refinishing. Only professionals can save badly damaged leather.
Fabric
It is not as expensive to replace but with little effort you can repair it yourself. The best solution is using iron-on fabrics that are easy to find and cheap to buy. Iron them on the back of your torn fabric to patch it discreetly. Or you can use your imagination and create unique colorful furniture upholstery!
Stains From Urine And Other Bodily Fluids On Leather Furniture
“Do stains really bother you? That’s no concern of mine.”
In such cases, you will need to remove the odor and also to clear the stain for proper furniture restoration. A great variety of cleaning products that work on both cloth and leather is available, so choose what best fits your needs! You could also try a home-made remedy by mixing baking soda, liquid soap, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar to remove the odor. However, this will not work for stains.
To get rid of ugly spots on the furniture, follow these simple steps:
- First, absorb as much of the liquid as possible with paper towels. Then pour water directly on the dirty area (you may add a small amount of cleaning agent for stubborn stains) and absorb the moisture by pressing a folded clean white towel on the spot for several hours. This way the stain is actually “pulled out”. If it proves to be too persistent, use an oxidizing stain remover, or some other quality product;
- Once the spot is dry and clean, try to rejuvenate the colors. For leather furniture, you can apply a coat of matching colorant and then leather sealant to seal the color and prevent fading. Finishing with a leather conditioner will keep the surface supple and flexible;
- Carefully apply a light layer of fabric paint to stained or discolored fabric spots with a cotton bud or a clean sponge to repair the damage. Don’t forget to wash whatever is possible!
Try your best to restore the gorgeous look of your furniture; even if your efforts fail, you still have the option of hiring furniture repair services that offer quality refinishing work.
Furniture Broken By Your Pets
Sweet kitty seems to be on display… till the moment she decides to jump!
Smaller pieces of furniture are often severely damaged when toppled down by running pets. The chaos in your home may vary from ripped wallpapers and curtains to broken chairs and night stands. Book shelves, for example, are a favorite for cats to climb on and can often end up being knocked over. Large dogs are strong enough to substantially harm your furniture when their excessive energy is released. Even a parrot let out of the cage can break your lamp.
Repairing broken furniture legs or corners is a doable task if you have the right tools and skills but if you don’t want to lose a severely damaged piece, you’d better leave it to the experts.
Protect Your Furniture
Instead of coming up with clever ways of furniture repair and restoration, you’d better concern yourself with your pets’ habits and try to prevent damage. It is not exactly easy to protect your furniture, but if there is a will, there is a way!
Happy pets will raise your spirits!
- Put plenty of washable slipcovers and throws on your furniture, especially while you are away – it makes the removal of hairs and stains so much easier;
- Apply fabric protector – it is a kind of an aerosol spray which is supposed to prevent soiling and make stains easier to deal with;
- Discourage pets from using your sofa, bed or armchair as a playground by placing protective tapes or spraying them with specific smells that will repel your furry friends;
- Maintain the good hygiene of your animal companions and feed them healthy quantities of quality food. Do not forget to award them with little treats every time they behave well!
- Supply stimulating toys that will intrigue or comfort your little friends. Provide sufficient physical exercise because your pets need to exhaust their energy but also play with them often to show how much you care and cherish the enjoyable moments together!
A dog is a man’s best friend, but definitely not furniture’s preferred companion. And while they say that “home is where my cat is”, try to make your pet feel at home without causing any damage to your belongings.
