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Furniture, Floors, and Walls

After buying a house, your next biggest financial layout will be for furniture. Using the proper cleaning products will help to protect your investment. Save money and time by choosing multi-purpose products that can clean or polish more than one surface such as a dust remover for wood furniture and mini blinds. Or, a degreaser that works on walls and woodwork. Remember to read the instructions that come with your furniture to make sure you choose the right cleaning products. It is also a good idea to spot test the cleaner on a hidden area of the furniture.

Wood furniture accumulates dust, dirt, and grease that can cause damage over time. Even furniture polish will build up as it is applied regularly. Use a good wood cleaner once a month to prevent buildup of these particles. Tough grease buildup can be tackled with a degreaser. Dust weekly with a soft cloth and a spray dust remover. Monthly polishing will help prevent your wood furniture from drying and cracking. Look for polishes without wax or silicone, ingredients that dull a wood surface. Or, for a luxurious satiny finish, try a furniture cream. Choose a time saving cream product that cleans and polishes furniture. Furniture creams can help hide scratches and make fingerprints easy to remove.

To keep upholstered fabric looking good, vacuum frequently regardless of amount of usage. Even if your living room sofa only gets used when company comes, dust and dirt build up and cause damage to the fabric fibers. Rotate sofa and chair cushions when you vacuum them to get even wear. Once a year, have your upholstery professionally cleaned. For periodic touch ups or spills, use a quick spray on upholstery cleaner or spot/stain remover. Select a double duty product that can clean upholstery and rugs or carpet. Don't forget to check the manufacturer's care instructions to make sure you use the right product for the job.

Smoke, cooking, pet, and people odors can invade upholstered fabric, pillows, and drapes. To eliminate these odors, use a fabric freshener spray. Make sure the freshener is safe for all fabrics and pets.

Leather sofas and chairs are often more durable and long lasting than their fabric cousins. To keep leather fabric in top condition, apply a leather conditioner/protectant when you first bring it home. Dust weekly with a soft cloth. Every three months, clean thoroughly with a leather cleaner. Remember to reapply a leather conditioner/protectant after cleaning. Remove food and beverage spills immediately by using a damp cloth with a mild detergent. Liquid hand soap will work fine. Tougher stains such as blood, ink, wax, urine, or gum must be removed using a leather cleaner. Don't limit your leather cleaner to just the leather furniture - your leather purse, briefcase, and jacket will also benefit from this product.

Like wood furniture, wood floors accumulate dust and dirt. A multi-purpose mop and duster spray will work on furniture and wood flooring. For cleaning dirt or removing scuff marks, use a soft cloth or mop and a wood floor cleaner. For non-wood floors, use cleaning products specified for the particular surface. Keep rugs and carpets in good condition by frequent vacuuming to remove dirt and dust particles. Have a lightweight carpet sweeper on hand for quick clean ups between vacuuming. Most carpet sweepers can also be used on regular floors . Have your carpets cleaned professionally at least once a year but clean them regularly with a carpet cleaner. Regularly scheduled cleaning helps keep dirt and stains from becoming imbedded in carpet fibers. As with upholstery, stains and spills should be removed as soon as possible. Choose a cleaner/stain remover that can work on upholstery and carpet.

Don't forget the walls and baseboards when cleaning a room. Dust particles accumulate along with cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling and on the ceiling fan. Use a wall brush to clean these surfaces. Reduce broom closet clutter by purchasing a universal connector, a versatile handle that can be attached to brushes, brooms, and mop heads. To clean dirty walls, use a mild spray on cleaner, let it penetrate a few minutes, and wipe clean. Always, check for color-fastness by spot-testing a small hidden space first.

Regular cleaning of your furniture, walls, and floors will help keep them looking fresh and in good condition. Avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight to prevent fading and damage to its finish. Save time and money by buying cleaning products that work on more than one surface. For safety's sake, look for products that contain a bittering agent to avoid mishaps with curious children and pets. And always, always, read the manufacturer's care instructions so you can select the cleaner that is right for your fabric and furniture.

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