Furniture is made to be lived on. It is made to be sat at or on and slept on, many choose to have their feet on it, allow pets to climb on, or it may even get eaten and drank on (even if this was not its original intent) and in many cases all of the above takes place on the furniture. Surely furniture was not made to sit in a room and be looked at, it is intended to be used and fully functional. By using these items they can become dirty or damaged and most will require some type of up keep.
No matter what type of furniture one has it should be able to be cleaned or repaired for a minor cost and supplies. Cleaning and repairing furniture oneself can add to the overall life of the furniture and increase the likelihood it will not need major repairs or replacement in the near future. All types of furniture, from concrete to wood and even upholstered can be easily cleaned or repaired with a few simple steps.
All furniture should be cleaned thoroughly from time to time. This can help clear off oils and other dirt or grime that may over a long period of time be damaging to the furniture. Finding a good cleaner that will not be damaging to the furniture is important.
Most mild detergents are appropriate for upholstered furniture. Wooden furniture will need special cleaner. Excessive water can be damaging to the finish on wooden furniture and its fibers so often special cleaners will not involve a great deal of water or excessive soaking. Concrete furniture also requires a mild cleaner, ammonia or vinegar can be damaging to the finish on these. It is recommended that they are cleaned with a mild soap mixed with water and applied using a gentle scrub brush.
Repairing furniture is also vital to its overall life. A small tear or crack can quickly turn into a much larger one that requires a great deal more repair or possible replacement of the item. Have supplies on hand to repair these is often a good idea because damage could happen at any time and being prepared will help keep it from getting worse.
Upholstered furniture, depending on where the tear is, can usually be sewn back together. A tough industrial type of thread is recommended, however lightweight fishing line can also do the trick, though the ends will want to be sure to be tucked away to keep the ends from scratching anyone who sits on it. Wooden furniture is trickier to repair and requires great care while repairing. Usually wooden furniture will break at the joints and by gluing pieces and clamping them back together will repair the piece. Just allow adequate time to dry before removing the clamps.
Concrete furniture is a little more involved when repairing, however if done properly can be left looking as good as new. Concrete is much more durable than traditional materials, therefore should not require the amount of repairs that other furniture may need. Having materials to repair concrete on hand will also ensure that it can be repaired almost immediately after it has been damaged. Concrete repair kits are available and most of them contain a paste for repairing concrete and a finish to put over the concrete once it dries. The key with concrete repair is to be as concise as possible and ensure the repair is smooth to make it look as close as possible to how it did before the repair.
No matter the type of furniture a home contains it is easily kept up with a little cleaning and taking care of repairs as they are needed. Whether concrete, wood, or upholstery there is a type of furniture for all preferences and owners will be sure to get enjoyment out of their pieces for many years.