Many of us can picture a worn-in leather recliner that our father will say is “his favorite chair.” Furniture is one of the key parts that make up a home. Sentimental furniture pieces hold value, and therefor it is important to take care of them so you can have them in your home for years to come.
Accidental rips and wear and tear can happen overtime, and sadly furniture repair can be tricky to tackle on your own. In order to help prevent these mistakes from happening, we have compiled some tips and tricks to help you protect the furniture in your home to ensure it can be utilized for many years. Keep in mind that different materials require different furniture repair methods.
How To Protect Leather Furniture
There are ways to treat leather furniture that will preserve its durability and elongate its lifespan.
A dad’s favorite chair is prone to stains, scratches, and holes, but these can be prevented by treating the material with care. Two ways to do this are:
- Furniture protectant
- Frequent balm application
These chairs are close to family, so it is important to know the correct ways to protect them to be sure you can have them for a long time.
As a last resort, completely restoring the chair through new upholstery is an option you can take. This is a job for a furniture restoration business. These technicians have the professional skill to fix damaged pieces.
Many repair services have welding glue that can close holes in the material. This can restore the look of the material and help it last for many more years of love.
Cleaning Products to Avoid
When working with this type of furniture, is it important to know what cleaning substances to stay away from:
- Water
- Alcohol
- Acetone
Water can seep into the fabric and cause it to stretch and become thin. This makes it more prone to tears.
Alcohol is a common ingredient in household surface cleaners. While alcohol-inclusive surface cleaners are great for windows and countertops, they wear away at the topcoat layer on the leather. This exposes it to environmental pollutants that can cause the material to deteriorate faster.
Acetone is a highly corrosive substance that can remove all the color from the material. Using acetone as a cleaning product will leave behind a large patch of discoloration, which can only be fixed through an entire upholstery repair.
How To Protect Wicker Furniture
Wicker is one of the oldest furniture crafting techniques, and it is still often used today.
Wicker furniture is a common material used for outdoor tables and chairs because it is very durable and reliable. Since outdoor spaces are valued by many homeowners in the sunnier months, keeping your outdoor furniture protected in the rainy months can ensure that you keep it looking nice when you host family and friends outdoors.
There are two different types of wicker that require different approaches in maintenance.
One is natural wicker, which is made from organic material such as rattan or hemp. The other is resin wicker, which is a synthetic material that is more resistant to sun and water damage.
Natural Wicker
Having an outdoor space is perfect for enjoying sunshine within the comfort of your own home. Hosting 4th of July barbeques and springtime pool parties are popular uses of a backyard area.
To make your outdoor space feel more welcoming and inviting, add furniture. Be advised that outdoor furniture can become weathered over time due to rain and sun damage. Moisture from rain and humidity wears away at natural wicker material and can lead to weakened material. Be sure to keep your natural wicker furniture under your patio roof or covered by a tarp when it rains or snows.
Resin Wicker
The cost of resin wicker is similar in price to natural wicker, and it will last you longer. Because this type of wicker has a resin coating on it, it is a more durable substance when it comes to humidity and rain.
Resin wicker furniture is easier to clean and maintain, which is why it is a popular material bought for outdoor spaces.
There are a few steps you can take to maintain proper care of your outdoor furniture:
- Spot cleaning with warm water and mild dish soap
- Cover when not in use to protect from rain and the sun
- UV and water protectant sprays
Wicker restoration is easy to accomplish because of the mild maintenance this material requires.
How To Protect Antique Furniture
Restoring antique furniture can sometimes be tricky to approach. This type of furniture is often made with old techniques that are no longer used or old custom parts that are no longer manufactured. These parts can be hard to recreate which is why it is important to protect this type of furniture.
Waxing the surface of your antique furniture can help prevent it from environmental factors that can harm it. A wax layer can also help to handle scratches.
It is best to keep your old furniture away from windows or vents where there is a high amount of humidity. Water can seep into the weathered wood and cause it to expand and shrink, which can destroy the furniture piece from the inside out.
Original fabric can be hard to find. Utilizing a furniture repair service can be useful for antique furniture restoration.
How To Protect Wood Furniture
A wooden table or chair is prone to damage because of their constant use. Table legs are also prone to kicks and scuffs. One simple solution for this is advising your family against kicking the tables and chairs to help with decreasing their damage.
Refinishing wood can reinforce its protective layer. This can help with the two most common forms of damage on wood surface scratches and dents.
Surface Scratches
When you repair surface scratches, you create a cohesive look to your piece. The majority of the time, scratches do not go deep into the surface of your furniture. They simply chip away the top layer which leaves the area discolored and the scratch highlighted.
Several ways to prevent scratches on your wooden furniture are:
- Coasters and placemats
- Oil or water sealant
- Tablecloths
In the event that minor scratches happen– here’s a quick furniture repair trick! Use a marker that is the same color as the wood stain to color in the scratch so that it blends in. Restoring the blemish to its original color will help it disappear.
Dents
Dents in wooden furniture require more than just a buff and a re-stain. Since these create a divot in the material, the wood needs to be filled first before it can be restored.
Because these types of furniture repairs require more work, it is important to try to prevent them from happening.
McDowells Specialty Repairs
Sometimes, a professional business’s help is needed! The furniture specialists at McDowells Specialty Repairs are experts at upholstery repair services that can restore the furniture in your home.
McDowells puts their customers first and utilizes a mobile fleet of service technicians that come to your location so you don’t need to move any furniture in need of repair by yourself!
The McDowells team offers an amazing furniture repair service, the before and after gallery speaks for itself! Visit the McDowells Speciality Repairs website today to speak to a repair technician and receive a free quote on your furniture restoration needs!