Keeping Your Living Room Furniture Looking New

The most important thing to remember is that the inside of the furniture is more important than the surface. Dirt, moisture, and mold can seep into cracks or underneath cushions; if these irritants aren't taken care of promptly, they can wear out the upholstery. So if you want to keep your furniture looking new, remove the cushions at least once a week and vacuum underneath them. Make sure you hit all the cracks and crevices where dirt may hide while you are vacuuming. Finally, reassemble the sofa and vacuum the surface.

Vacuuming once a week is very important. Equally important is not steam cleaning your new furniture. Steam cleaning may appear to get into those deep crevices, but it actually damages the upholstery and makes it wear out faster.

When you steam clean, moisture gets trapped inside the fabric, even if you suck out excess water and pat the fabric to make sure it is dry. Over the course of a couple of days, the moisture can seep deep into the upholstery, causing mildew and mold to grow. In addition, steam cleaning tends to strip the upholstery of its protective layers, making it appear worn.

In addition to steam cleaning, you should never use chemical cleaners of any kind on your upholstered furniture. Chemical cleaners do more harm than good to furniture. Like steam, the chemicals can get deep into the upholstery and wear it out. Some chemical cleaners actually create an environment that is pleasing to dirt, requiring you to clean more frequently. About the only thing chemical cleaners are good for is giving your furniture a pleasant smell. You are far better off getting an air freshener or upholstery freshener if that's what you are after.

The most important thing to learn is how to deal with spills on your new furniture. Unless you never use the furniture, accidents are going to happen. It's important that you deal with spills quickly and correctly. Liquids should always be absorbed by a paper towel or white cloth; never rub or brush at the stain, which could send it deeper into the fabric.

In addition, you should blot from the outside in, not the other way around, in order to stop the stain from spreading. Finally, only use soap and distilled water on your upholstery, never bleach, detergent, or other chemicals, and use a dull knife to scrape off solid stains that make their way onto your couch.

If you add vacuuming the furniture to your normal cleaning routine, avoid chemicals and steam, and deal with stains and spills appropriately as soon as they occur, your living room furniture should remain new-looking for years to come.