Buying gently used furniture is therapeutic and rewarding as you get the purchase of pre-owned vintage or antique furniture for your home. The one thing that comes to mind is how to Clean used furniture? Whether you’ve found the perfect dining table or sofa set, there are few ways to Clean used furniture. Thrifting is the fun part as it is budget friendly and environmentally friendly but also provides peace of mind.
Additionally, Clean used furniture can help in maintaining the quality of the pre-owned furniture for a longer time period. Make your home look more aesthetic with Clean used furniture without much effort as they can serve as a décor or use it as it is. Many thrifted furniture requires deep cleaning for the sake of your peace.
You get to find some amazing finds that you know will look good in your home. These exceptional finds shouldn’t be directly delivered to your home. Clean used furniture so that no bugs or germs remain on the furniture if it has any, with little time and effort you can actually breathe new life into it. In this blog we will share how you can Clean used furniture easily by providing a step-by-step guide to Clean used furniture without having a mental breakdown of figuring out what to do! Just follow the simple steps of inspecting your furniture, understanding it, supplies needed and cleaning of wood, metal, glass and upholstered furniture.
Inspect Your Furniture:
The first and foremost step to Clean second-hand furniture is to inspect it thoroughly. Check for bedbugs, feces, carcasses, and other pests. If you’ve spotted any, then it would be smarter to leave it rather than bringing it home. IF you’ve got lucky then bring the masterpiece home and get ready for a deep clean. Secondly, check if the used furniture is sturdy just by gently shaking it and then make sure its all parts are intact. Third step in inspecting your furniture to check for damages, if there are dents, broken parts or other signs of wear and tear. If the furniture is in a good condition, then you’re good to go. Lastly, check upholstery carefully for any odor, mold or stains. These few steps can ensure your thrift purchase will serve for the generations to come.
Understand the Material:
Cleaning old furniture is mandatory. Whether you’ve inspected thoroughly, understanding what furniture you’re going to bring is an essential part. Is the furniture you’re bought or are planning to buy is made of solid wood or plywood? Does your furniture have upholstery or other fabrics? Is the coffee you just thrifted has thinner glass or thicker glass? Assessing these simple things can help you understand about how you’re going to start maintaining and Cleaning old furniture plus bringing it back to life.
Gather Your Cleaning Supplies:
Rather than worrying about How to clean thrifted furniture and thinking it would be tiresome will lead to no progress. Start by small steps and you would thank yourself after seeing piles of germs and residue melting In Front of you. Below is the list of cleaning supplies to get the job done efficiently.
- Microfiber towels or soft cloths
- A Vacuum
- Disinfectant spray (non-toxic, eco-friendly would be perfect)
- A mild soap or furniture cleaner
- Baking soda
- Basic white vinegar
- A soft brush for scrubbing
Use supplies according to the material of your furniture. As wood may require soft brush for scrubbing while upholstery material with strong stains would need baking soda plus vinegar solution to wipe away those stubborn stains. The key is to switch between these supplies wherever they’re needed.
Cleaning Wood Furniture:
Before starting to Clean old wood furniture, start by dusting off any surface dust with the help of a microfiber towel. If the wood furniture has upholstery, then you can go ahead and use the vacuum to remove dirt efficiently. Start by making a mixture of mild soap and water. Damp the microfiber cloth in the mixture and wipe the furniture from every corner. If stains remain then make baking soda and vinegar mixture, apply to the stained areas and leave for 5-10 min, it will make the hard stains melt away. You just need to wipe it clean, make sure to clean every corner. Avoid using extra damp cloth as it can destroy material.
After deep cleaning your furniture, it will be much better than before. The Clean wood dresser for example should be kept near to the dehumidifier or under the sun so that extra moisture can be avoided. Next step is to check if your furniture requires any painting or sanding. If your furniture has an old varnish then start by sanding it to reveal the material beneath and then paint using the color your choice. Be gentle and patient as your hardwork will surely pay off.
Cleaning Upholstered Furniture:
Working with upholstered furniture can take time. First check the fabric material and proceed according to the material. The fabric can accumulate large amounts of dust and can have odor as well. Start by vacuuming the entire fabric, making sure to vacuum every nook and corner. Put cushion covers in the washing machine.
The next step is to disinfect the fabric with fabric safe spray. Use the mild soap and water solution if it does not have hard stains and brush it with a soft brush to clean it. If the stains are not going away then take a spraying bottle and make the baking soda and water mixture, spray all over the fabric and leave for a few minutes. Gently scrub the stains and complete the cleaning by wiping with clean microfiber cloth. Dry the upholstered completely.
Cleaning Metal Furniture:
Cleaning metal furniture can bring back its shine and enhance its appearance. First start by dusting the surface with the microfiber towel to remove any dirt or debris. For tougher grime, mix mild soap with water and apply it on the stains then start scrubbing gently to remove the stains, focus on the crevices and joints to clean everything. Clean the whole surface with the microfiber towel and dry it completely to avoid rusting. If the metal furniture has already rust accumulated, then use the baking soda and water solution to remove rust. If it still remains then apply metal polish to bring its shine back.
Cleaning Glass Items:
Start by dusting the glass furniture with a clean cloth or microfiber towel to remove any dust or debris. Mix mild soap and water then spray it all over the surface. Gently scrap the solution on the surface with a soft brush to remove all the dirt by stroking the brush in various directions. If there are any stickers or greases just take a scraper to scrape it off and clean it with the microfiber towel and you’re good to go.
General Maintenance Tips to Clean Used Furniture:
After deep cleaning your furniture, décor it or keep it where it belongs, but even after exploring Ways to clean antique wood furniture, there are some maintenance tips to preserve the gently-used perceive for years to come. If you’re interested in further maintaining your thrifted pieces by just giving your little time and effort, then come along!
- Clean and disinfect your furniture regularly, dust with microfiber cloth the accumulated dust.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture one a month to keep it clean and fresh.
- Furniture that are rarely used should be cleaned every couple of months to prevent any dust build up
- Stains should be cleaned at the moment to avoid any solid stains.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Options:
The best eco-friendly cleaning option is mixing equal parts of water and vinegar and then adding this mixture to a spray bottle. Easily clean wood, metal or glass furniture to wipe away all the dirt, grease or debris. Second option is to make baking soda paste, mix baking soda with water and scrub it on stains. Then wipe it to remove everything. Lemon juice serves as an excellent cleaner and disinfectant. Eco-friendly cleaners can also be a good option when opting for environmentally friendly cleaners. While minimizing environmental impact, they also serve as an effective DIY cleaning solution that can help you clean with available products at home.
Repairs and Restorations:
Repairing and restoring gently-owned furniture not only enhances its appearance but maintains the quality of the furniture for prolonged use. Restoring your furniture requires little effort and can completely revamp your thrift furniture.
- Check for cracks, paint peeling or scratches, if you find any then check if they require sanding, polish or the fabrics need to be replaced.
- Strip away old varnish to reveal the actual material. Start sanding your furniture based on your requirement and avoid over sanding as it may damage your furniture.
- Check for any damaged parts. Pick your tools and start fixing them. Wooden furniture may require wood glue or nails to fix loose joints, whole upholstery may require changing fabrics, springs or padding.
- After repairing damaged parts, paints or fabrics. Now it’s time to paint or refinish it. Apply clean varnish or wood oil on wood furniture to bring it back to life or paint it the way you like.
Conclusion:
Experiencing purchasing gently-owned furniture can provide peace of mind while being budget friendly but cleaning used furniture is a must. Overlooking it may cause the thrift piece to not look its best and we don’t want it right? This blog will provide you all the necessary steps through which you can bring your furniture back to life. Yes, you heard it, whether you’ve bought wood, metal, glass or upholster furniture. Our guide will definitely help you in cleaning your furniture thoroughly. Don’t forget to check our environmentally friendly cleaning options that might become your favorite to wipe out those stubborn stains. Follow up quick maintenance tips and restorations and repair points to use your thrift piece for years to come.
