We understand that you want to learn how to deep clean furniture by yourself at home, and we are going to help you with our realistic guide, which will be possible to follow.
Premium furniture is often made with solid woods like white oak, walnut, and ashwood, which are known for their aesthetic appeal and durability, which lasts for decades. No matter how premium they were said to be by the one who sold them to you, they still are prone to getting dull with oil spills, dust, and daily use in general, which reduces their life.
This can be extended if proper care and cleaning are done periodically. This is why one should know how to deep clean furniture by oneself at home and make the most of their solid wood furniture. Sure, you can clean your furniture with a microfiber cloth or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to deal with all that loose dust and debris that finds its way in the holes and small spaces, but deep cleaning it requires some extra skills and a few considerations.
Mild Cleaning Solid Wood Furniture
First, let’s start with how to deep clean your furniture with a mild-strength wood cleaner made by yourself. Take a mid-sized bowl and add to it one part of common white vinegar from your kitchen with three parts water. Also add a few drops of mild dish soap and mix them well. Use a soft microfiber to dampen in this solution, wipe the surface where you want to clean, and quickly remove it with a dry cloth to prevent moisture absorption. This method is quite effective when dealing with mild spots and grease buildup.
If your furniture was coated with hardwax oil or varnish, then such cleaning routines can be avoided for longer periods of time. Furniture made with premium woods like oak and walnut comes with such coatings, which help you easily clean and even avoid getting stains in daily use. The Merrick Dining Table from Oak Furniture is one such example; a harmonious blend of modern design and timeless craftsmanship, it is made with premium-quality American ash timber. This wood holds a reputation for durability and can just be cleaned with mild cleaning solutions.
Deep Cleaning Solid Wood Furniture
Before you learn how to deep clean furniture, it should be mentioned that if you remember to dust and clean your furniture on a weekly basis using a damp microfiber cloth, you can avoid deep cleaning routines, which are somewhat troublesome. When it comes to “deep” cleaning, your dining table, for instance, we are essentially talking about the buildup of hard grime or old wax and surfaces that are heavily soiled or scratched. To deal with such maintenance tasks, you have to take a progressive approach!
For example, dealing with hard grime and wax should be done first, treated with the same solution that we used in the mild cleaning process. If there is no result, then use mineral spirits produced as low-VOC or eco-friendly mineral spirits. These are made to avoid any damage to the finish of your furniture; even then, don’t let them sit on the surface for too long. Also, only dampen the microfiber cloths when cleaning rather than soaking them. Nowadays steam cleaning of furniture is also being introduced, which uses high-temperature steam to breakdown grime without needing any strong chemicals.
If the surface has scratches, start with wood filler or a wax stick to address them. If they are still visible, proceed by lightly sanding the area before reapplying a matching stain. You can select a fine-grit sandpaper somewhere between 150 and 220 grit depending on the scratch. Be careful in this step, as it is an extreme measure and requires sound knowledge of what you are doing. Once done, match the treated surface with the rest by using a wood conditioner or a natural oil.
Deep Cleaning Sofas:
This is one of the most commonly used pieces of furniture in your house, and routine cleaning can increase its longevity. Start by vacuuming your sofa/couch, which is the fundamental phase in this deep cleaning process. Start with the cushions and proceed to the sofa’s crevices, its back side, and finally its arms.
The next step is to deal with sofa stain removal, a quite common thing in living spaces, especially if you have kids. Knowing the type of stain is quite important, as your stain remover will only work if you choose the right one. You can also test it out on an inconspicuous spot to make sure it’s not damaging your fabric.
Also, always use a white cloth for spot treatment with stain remover. If you don’t want to use commercially available ones, we recommend first starting with baking soda. You can also make your own stain remover; one tsp of dishwashing liquid with one tbsp of white vinegar mixed in one cup of warm water can also take away most of the stains on sofas and couches. Some stains are really stubborn; this is where applying steam comes into play, which is a great way to remove them.
As we went through how to deep clean furniture, including your sofa and dining tables, it is worth mentioning that good quality furniture with premium wood and fabric makes a lot of difference in its longevity. The Stella Lounge from the Oak Furniture Collection is designed with the finest quality of pine cone fabric and ultra-premium black hardwood legs so that it is easy to clean and requires the least possible maintenance over the years.
