Furniture cleaning and care tips
Beautiful furniture is a sizable investment for your home - so you want it to stay looking pristine for as long as possible! Keep yours in tip-top condition by following our best furniture cleaning and care tips.
Secure furniture to the wall
Where relevant, it’s important to secure furniture to the wall with the included wall ties - particularly in the case of storage furniture, like bookcases and chests of drawers, which can become heavy when filled with books or clothes. As well as ensuring the piece stays secure and stable, this will prevent the furniture tipping over when in use - particularly important if you have pets or children who love to climb when you aren’t looking!
Dust regularly
Keep on top of dust and dirt settling on your furniture by dusting weekly with a fluffy duster. For more high traffic areas, you can also use a gentle spray cleaner or furniture polish and a soft cloth to remove fingerprints and smudges.
Use coasters for drinks
Avoid unsightly rings or marks being left on your furniture by placing all drinks on a coaster, rather than directly on the surface of your furniture. Rings caused by coffee, tea or wine can be unsightly, and difficult to remove, particularly on materials like solid wood.
Clean up spills immediately
Every now and then we all have a spill or a splash at home - it’s totally normal! When it happens, be sure to soak up the spill as soon as possible to minimise any damage to your furniture. Gently pad any liquids with a dry cloth or kitchen towel to soak them up, rather than rubbing them into the surface of your furniture - and then give the area a quick clean with a gentle household cleaner. With any luck, no-one will ever know!
Use the correct cleaning products
Different furniture materials respond in different ways to household cleaners - and what may work great on one material may damage the surface of another. Be sure to read the care instructions that come with your furniture, or check out our tips below on how to clean furniture made from different materials.
Deep clean whenever you empty a drawer or shelf
It’s not practical - or really needed - to deep clean inside chests of drawers or bookcases every few months. However, if you find yourself emptying out your sock drawer for a reorganise, or re-alphabetising your DVDs - take the opportunity to give the empty space a quick dust, vacuum and wipe down before you put everything back.
Lift, don’t drag
When moving your furniture, always lift it off the floor, rather than dragging it into a new position. Dragging furniture, whether heavy or light, can cause scratches or scuffs on your floor - so it’s always best to move it carefully. Heavier furniture, like solid marble tables or large wardrobes, should be moved by at least two people to avoid accidental injury.
Avoid abrasive sponges or scourers
It’s best to avoid any types of abrasive cleaning products on your furniture, particularly on high gloss or treated marble surfaces. Abrasive sponges, scourers, or cleaning pastes can damage the surface of your furniture, leaving scratches or compromising the smooth finish.
Dining Furniture Care
Fewer things bring more joy in life than gathering around the table to share a delicious meal. Ensure your dining table and chairs give you many wonderful meals to come by following our specific dining furniture cleaning tips.
How to clean your dining table
Any spills or splashes caused during mealtimes should be cleaned up immediately - gently soak up any liquids with a cloth or kitchen towel, then clean as normal.
Stay on top of cleaning your dining table by clearing the surface and giving it a quick wipe down with a soft, damp cloth after every use - this will ensure crumbs and food debris don’t settle in and leave stains.
To maximise your dining table’s life and minimise scratches, stains and other accidental damage - you should always use placemats and coasters underneath plates, mugs and glassware. And don’t discount the power of a stylish tablecloth! Especially for large parties or those with young children - a tablecloth both protects your table, and makes cleanup quick and easy.
Every so often, you’ll want to give your dining table a bit of a deeper clean. Remove everything from the surface of your dining table, then wipe down the surface, sides, and legs with a soft, damp cloth to remove any dust or dirt. Different materials require different cleaning methods, so be sure to follow any specialist cleaning advice included with the care instructions for your furniture, or check out our tips above on caring for different types of furniture. It’s a good idea to clean your dining chairs at the same time, and then vacuum the floor when you’re done!
How to clean your dining chairs
Dining chairs usually don’t need cleaning as often as dining tables - but staying on top of maintaining them will prolong their life. It’s a good idea to have a quick check round after every meal for any crumbs and other debris on the seats of your chairs. If you find any, remove them right away - particularly on upholstered dining chairs, to prevent them being ground into the fabric the next time someone sits down. Simply use a soft, dry cloth to sweep them away. For some fabrics, you can use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum to snag those pesky crumbs from between pleats or around buttons - however, we don’t recommend this for faux leathers or deep pile fabrics like velvet, as vacuum nozzles can damage these fabrics.
Now and then, you’ll also want to wipe down the whole chair, including the legs, back, sides and seats, to give it a bit of a deeper clean. You can use a soft, dry cloth, or a soft brush attachment on your vacuum to help with upholstered areas (although we don’t recommend this for faux leathers or deep pile velvets).
For more information on caring for the fabric or leather on your upholstered dining chairs, check out our specialist care guides below.
Bedroom Furniture Care
Whether it’s keeping your closet organised, or creating a serene space to get ready for the day - bedroom furniture is essential to keep your bedroom tidy and tranquil. Ensure yours stays as smart as it is practical with our bedroom furniture care and cleaning tips.
How to clean your bedroom furniture
While bedrooms tend to not need as much cleaning as areas like kitchens and bathrooms, it’s important to stay on top of maintaining them - both to prolong the life of your furniture, as well as keep the room feeling fresh. As with all furniture, any spills should be cleaned up immediately to prevent stains or damage. Higher traffic areas, including the tops of bedside tables, chests of drawers, and dressing tables, should be dusted or wiped down with a soft cloth regularly.
Every so often, it’s worth giving your bedroom a bit of a deeper clean to keep dust at bay. Be sure to wipe down any flat surfaces that may collect dust - this includes the tops of wardrobes, skirting boards, and the frames of any wall mirrors or artwork, which are easy to miss! Since the insides of drawers and cupboards are enclosed, they tend to keep out most of the dust and dirt, making them fairly low maintenance. All you really need to do is give them a quick vacuum or wipe out whenever you empty them - so next time you have a clearout or rearrange your socks, don’t forget to give your bedroom drawers and cupboards a clean, too.
Occasional Furniture Care
Coffee tables, TV units, bookcases and other storage furniture add both practical storage and style to a space - and with proper care and attention, will stay looking fantastic for years to come.
How to clean your living room furniture
Occasional furniture including coffee tables, TV units, side tables and shelving units are generally low maintenance and easy to clean. Keep them looking their best by cleaning up any spills immediately, regularly dusting, and wiping down with a clean cloth. Be sure to follow the specific cleaning instructions that relate to the type of material your furniture is made from - either in your product care instructions or by reading our tips on cleaning different types of furniture above - for the best results.
How to care for and clean different types of furniture
How to best look after and clean your furniture varies, depending on the material it’s made from. Check out our specialised advice below, tailored to the most popular types of furniture.
Explore the range of furniture at DFS
You might know us for sofas - but there’s so much more to explore at DFS. From stunning bed frames and supportive mattresses, to show stopping dining tables and chairs - it’s never been easier to find your thing at DFS.
