Sabtu, 24 April 2010

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Vintage furniture store Antique " Rubbish"  by piyori_becco

Furniture Outlets






Cleaning your furniture can be quite a chore, especially when you have special furniture to clean. This guide will help you to know how to clean your different types of furniture. While regular dusting will keep furniture relatively clean, different types of furniture require specialized care.

Iron furniture

An iron piece must be properly sealed by the manufacturer. To clean the piece without removing the seal, occasionally wipe with a damp cloth or mild solution of dishwashing liquid and water; spray WD-40 on moving parts only. (Touch-up paint won't adhere to surfaces covered by WD-40.) Check with the manufacturer about removing stains and scratches. Remove any rust stains immediately with a wire brush and apply touch-up paint from the manufacturer. During the winter, cover iron furniture and, ideally, store it inside.

Lacquered or polyurethane-sealed furniture

Dust as needed. Clean using a sponge dipped in warm soapy water. Rinse and wipe dry. If lacquer is peeling, the item will need stripping and relacquering. Avoid solvents and highly caustic products.

Leather furniture

Color may be applied to leather upholstery with a pigmented coating, which resists water-based spills, or with aniline dye, which is more vulnerable, meaning that stains should be treated immediately. The manufacturer's guidelines should specify how color has been applied and provide care instructions. If you're not sure, place a drop of water on a hidden location. If the drop doesn't soak in, the coating is pigmented; otherwise it is aniline dyed. To clean aniline-dyed leather, simply vacuum regularly, especially in crevices and along seams where dirt can gather. Pigmented leather should be vacuumed and wiped periodically with a soft, white cloth dampened with water. For both types of leather, once a year use saddle soap or other cleaner or polish made specifically for leather, following directions and allowing it to dry. If the leather starts to crack, apply neat's-foot oil.

Painted wood furniture

Regularly dust a delicate decoupage or faux-painted piece, or one made of distressed wood, and wipe it occasionally with a microfiber dusting cloth. If the wood has been sealed, dampen it with a sponge, and wipe dry. Apply furniture polish, if desired, then buff.

Plastic laminated furniture

Furniture having a plastic laminated finish should be dusted regularly and occasionally wiped with a damp, soft cloth.

Redwood furniture

To clean, scrub with detergent and water, rinse with a damp sponge, and dry. Redwood should be sealed occasionally, after cleaning and possibly sanding to keep out moisture and to prevent cracking. If it has grayed, a wood-rejuvenation sealer can restore color. Remove grease and soot stains with a mixture of 1 cup of TSP (trisodium phosphate) in 1 gallon of water, then rinse. Cover and store it for the winter.

Suede furniture

Suede is a very vulnerable fabric, not only because of the dyeing process, but also because the material is porous and quick to absorb stains. For routine care, gently brush suede furniture with a soft brush or textured cloth, such as a towel to remove excess dirt. Vacuum regularly, especially in crevices and along seams where dirt can get trapped. To clean a greasy stain, rub it with ground oatmeal, leave the oatmeal in place to absorb the grease, then brush it off and vacuum it. To raise the nap on a section of suede, brush it with a terry cloth towel. If suede has been flattened by spills or wear and tear, only a professional leather finisher can restore it.

Teak furniture

An oil-finished product, teak should be dusted regularly and cleaned with a mild detergent. Oil occasionally with teak oil, annually for outdoor furniture, every two or three years for indoor furniture. Rub the oil on with a clean, soft cloth, leave overnight, and buff with another clean, soft cloth to remove excess.

Other wood furniture

You can use an appropriate wood oil every six months, although some of these can make surfaces sticky and more prone to fingerprints and dust. Do not use furniture polish, which may muddy the finish. Wax will not create, increase, or even protect the mirror-like luster of a highly finished wood surface, like a piano top. Wax buildup can darken and mask the grain. Occasionally, you do need a cleaner to remove smudges, fingerprints, and grease left from cooking. Dust antique wood furniture regularly with a soft cotton cloth. Wax (if appropriate) once or twice a year. Some dealers recommend waxing at the beginning and end of the heating season. Wax unfinished surfaces so that the raw wood can absorb the wax and minimize the chance that it will crack or the veneer will lift. Don't use silicone polishes on antiques.

Cleaning different types of furniture can be tricky, although I hope these tips are a help to you.

source : Furniture Outlets

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Style Elements Interiors - Home Decorating, Home Furnishing, Home Furniture, Home Builders, Interior Designing, Home Design by hetsluv

Indonesian Teak Furniture Manufacturers


In another article I described how to care for outdoor teak furniture. This article discusses cleaning outdoor wicker furniture. Wicker furniture makes a beautiful outdoor furniture statement, but it does require maintenance and cleaning to keep it in tip-top shape. Here are the top ten tips to care for your outdoor wicker furniture.

Tip 1: Identify your outdoor wicker furniture
To know how to clean your wicker furniture, you first need to identify the material. Wicker refers to the weaving process used to make wicker furniture, but wicker can be made of different materials. The most common is wood wicker. Wood wicker furniture is most often made of rattan. But is also made of cane, bamboo and other wood or reed materials.

More recently on the market is "all-weather" outdoor wicker furniture which is actually made of synthetic materials such as resin or plastics. These materials are woven into wicker furniture which looks much like the real wood wicker but is much more durable for outdoor uses.

Finally, there is paper fiber wicker. This is actually made from paper tightly rolled and woven into a wicker pattern. This was popular in the United States from about 1910-1940. If you have paper fiber wicker it is probably an antique and should not be used in an outdoor setting as it is very sensitive to water.

Tip2: Inspect your outdoor wicker furniture
After determining your wicker type, inspect your outdoor wicker. Is it painted or natural? Does it have a protective coating such as a varnish, lacquer or polyurethane? Knowing this is important to how you clean and care for your outdoor wicker furniture.

Tip 3: Brushing and vacuuming your outdoor wicker furniture
If you have wood outdoor wicker furniture, you should regularly brush it with a soft but firm bristled brush such as a dust brush, vegetable brush, fingernail brush or even a toothbrush. This will help loosen that dirt that likes to accumulate between the wicker weave. After brushing, use the brush attachment on your vacuum to vacuum the loosened dirt. Doing this on a regular basis will keep your wicker furniture clean and in good shape.

Of course, you can brush and vacuum synthetic wicker furniture as well, but since it is not as suspectible to water, it can be washed or even hosed down to help keep it clean on a regular basis. See Tip 4.

Tip 4: Washing your outdoor wicker furniture
If you have wood wicker furniture, you should thoroughly wash it about once a year. But don't wash it too often to avoid repeatedly getting the wicker furniture wet. To clean wood wicker furniture, first brush and vacuum. Then use about two tablespoons of soap in a gallon of water. Murphy's wood oil soap is a good vegetable-oil wood soap to use for cleaning wicker furniture. Wet a sponge or cloth in the mixture and wipe it down. Use a soft brush as needed to get into the weave.

Tilt the piece when washing to position the loosest weave at the bottom. This will help any moisture run down from the tightest weave to the loosest weave where it is most easily wiped up. Make sure you keep the weave straight while cleaning wicker furniture. Wood wicker will loosen up when it gets wet and moving the weave around can lead to weakness when the weave tightens as the wicker dries.

If your wood wicker furniture is unpainted (i.e. natural or has a clear coat), you can use a hose with light pressure to rinse off the soap residue. However, if it is painted, too much water can damage the finish so don't use a hose. Instead wash off any soap residue with a clean damp cloth. Also if your wood wicker furniture is made of bamboo, don't use a hose and don't get it too wet.

If you have synthetic wicker furniture (often called "all-weather" wicker), you can wash as needed. Simply add a mild detergent to a bucket of water and wipe down. There are no worries about spraying off with a hose.

Note again that paper fiber wicker furniture should not be washed or ever get wet. As mentioned above, paper fiber wicker should only be used indoors.

Tip 5: Mold and Mildew
Wood wicker furniture can be susceptible to mildew when used outdoors. This often shows up as black spots that can't be removed with a regular washing. If you have mold or mildew, it can be difficult to remove. Try a cup of bleach in a gallon of warm water and scrub with a soft-bristle brush. Rinse well as bleach residue can damage your wood wicker furniture. If stubborn spots still remain, try a q-tip dipped in bleach and apply full-strength bleach directly to the spots. Again rinse well after applying.

To avoid mold or mildew in the future, keep your wood wicker furniture in a low-humidity spot with good air circulation. Wood wicker furniture is not meant to be out in unsheltered conditions and is best on a covered or enclosed porch. Synthetic wicker furniture is not susceptible to mold and is much more durable for full outdoor conditions.

Tip 6: Drying your outdoor wicker furniture
Once you have washed your wicker furniture, it needs to thoroughly dry. The weave on wood wicker furniture becomes very loose when wet and can be permanently warped by using it before it is dry. Wipe as dry as possible with a dry cloth, and then set it in a sunny spot for 24-48 hours before using. Make sure to bring indoors or under cover if rain threatens during the drying time. Washing on a warm breezy day will help dry your wicker furniture faster.

Synthetic wicker furniture will dry faster and is not subject to the same warping as wood wicker furniture.

Tip 7: Oiling your outdoor wicker furniture
If your outdoor wood wicker furniture is natural and not painted or sprayed with a protective coating, you can oil periodically to moisturize and give some protection from the elements. You can use either tung oil or boiled linseed oil (found at most hardware stores). Use a paint brush to apply and get the oil into the weave, wipe off excess oil with a lint free cloth. Be sure to allow to dry for several days before using. During the drying time, you may need to wipe excess oil that rises up during drying.

Obviously, synthetic wicker furniture does not need oil as it is not made of wood.

Tip 8: Protecting your outdoor wicker furniture
Protective coatings provide better protection than oil in outdoor applications. If your wood wicker furniture is natural, you may wish to put a clear finish on it, rather than oiling.

For a clear finish, you can apply a coating of varnish, shellac or lacquer. Make sure your wicker furniture is clean and dry before applying any finish. Finding a product in a spray can is best as it is easier to get in the crevices. Be sure to allow to dry for several days before using. Once a clear coat is applied, you can use furniture polish on it to bring out the gloss in between washings. Clear coats need to be reapplied as they wear, usually every 3-5 years or so.

Tip 9: Painting your outdoor wicker furniture
Painting is another method of protecting your outdoor wood wicker furniture. Use a spray based paint for outdoor wood for easy application. Again be sure your wicker is clean and dry.

If your wicker is already painted and it needs a fresh coat of paint, make sure to remove any old flaking paint as possible before applying a new coat. This can often be accomplished by using a stiff brush to rub away as much as possible of the old paint. Then clean your wicker furniture thoroughly, dry, and apply a light coat of primer followed by paint. You can also finish with a clear top coat.

If there are multiple coats of thick, goopy paint, you may need to use a liquid paint stripper before repainting. Follow the directions for the liquid stripper. This is tedious work as you can't scrape as with flat wood furniture. Use a paint brush with the bristles half-cut to make a firm brush for pushing out the stripped paint from between the cracks. A flat screwdriver or other sharp object can also be helpful. Make sure to thoroughly dry after stripping before repainting.

Tip 10: Storing your outdoor wicker furniture
Although all-weather synthetic wicker furniture is durable in outdoor conditions, wood wicker furniture is much more fragile. It should not be exposed to rain, snow, etc. A cover is a good idea for your outdoor wicker furniture. Wood wicker should never be left outdoors in winter - store it in your garage or a shed to protect it off-season. And although very durable, synthetic wicker furniture will eventually show wear from the elements, so at least cover it off-season and if possible, store in covered place.

With these ten tips for cleaning and caring for your wicker furniture you should get years of enjoyment from your outdoor wicker furniture!

source : Indonesian Teak Furniture Manufacturers