Stanley Home Products

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Furniture and Other Objects

1. Tea makes a nice inexpensive, yet permanent stain for unstained furniture.

2. Squeaky bed springs can be silenced with a coat of spray wax.

3. If bed slats continually fall out, slip large rubber bands over the ends of the slats to prevent them from moving easily.

4. Lubricate the slides of wooden drawers with a bar of soap, a candle stick or a rag sprinkled with a little cornstarch.

5. If your wicker furniture is a little wobbly, wash it outdoors with hot soapy water. Rinse and let air dry. The wood and canes will shrink and tighten. Saggy seats also will tighten if treated with hot water. Vinegar can be added to the water for a freshening effect.

6. Stickers and decals can be taken off painted furniture by soaking them with vinegar.

Good furniture is an expensive investment.
Here are some tips to make your furniture last.

Tip 1.
Avoid placing furniture in direct sunlight. If this isn't possible, protect your furniture by closing
the curtains or blinds during the brightest part of the day. Use a leather cleaner/polish with UV protection for your leather pieces.

Tip 2.
At least once a month, vacuum your upholstered furniture using the soft brush attachment. While your at it, go treasure diving beneath the cushions for lost toys, missing coins, and that ever elusive TV remote. These hidden treasures can wear and even tear your furniture.

Tip 3.
Loose cushions and pillows should be flipped, rotated and fluffed on a regular basis to keep filling materials evenly distributed and allow for even wear.

Tip 4.
Wood and other organic materials respond to temperature and humidity fluctuations. To prevent damage, place furniture in areas of minimum temperature and humidity extremes. This means avoiding attics, basements, active fireplaces, and heating vents. When necessary, the humidity can be modified with humidifiers and dehumidifiers to stay within the desired range of 40% to 60%.

Tip 5.
The best maintenance for clear varnished furniture is a coating of good paste wax, available in most hardware stores. Wax is a very stable material that does not change chemically over time and provides protection from moisture and airborne pollutants. A thin coat applied no more than once a year following the directions on the can is all that is needed. Once a protective coat of wax has been applied, dry dusting with a soft cloth is recommended for routine cleaning. A clean cloth slightly dampened in water may help to remove more stubborn dirt.

Tip 6.
Ideally, hardware should be removed for cleaning so that the polish cannot come into contact with the surrounding wood. If that is not possible or practical, polish the hardware carefully, confining it to the metal only. There are many polishes on the market. Those that contain ammonia can cause long-term corrosion problems, so it is best to choose one of the polishes that has a mild abrasive embedded in cotton wadding. A good option to a regular regimen of hardware polishing is to have the hardware coated with clear lacquer.

Tip 7.
When moving furniture, be sure to lift it and not drag it across the floor, as excessive lateral pressure on legs and feet can cause them to shear off or leg joinery to fail. Remove loose elements such as shelves, doors, and drawers. If doors cannot be removed, lock them or wrap the case with soft cotton straps. Tables should always be lifted by the apron or legs rather than by the top, which could possibly detach. Chairs should be lifted by the seat rails and not by the arms or crest rail.

Tip 8.
When transporting furniture in a vehicle, place the object on its back or top, not on its legs. If the furniture has a marble or glass top, carefully lift it off and transport or store it vertically.

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