Take A Tip from the Furniture Experts at Furniture Medic

Furniture World Magazine

Some cleaning jobs are simple. If the floor is dirty, sweep it. If the laundry is dirty, wash it. But furniture care is a bit more complex. The experts at Furniture Medic have some helpful hints that will help you care for all the furniture in your home. For table rings, there are a variety of methods that work: A paste of olive oil and salt can be applied and then wiped off after two hours. You can also cover the water mark with mayonnaise and then sprinkle with salt. Rub the mixture until the stain disappears and then buff until dry. The spot can be rubbed with non-gel toothpaste and baking soda. Buff the spot with a clean, soft cloth and then shine the spot with the meat from a pecan. After using any of these techniques, check to see if the spot needs rewaxing. With upholstered furniture, the real tip is frequent vacuuming using an upholstery or brush attachment. But for more stubborn stains, you can: -- Clean washable fabrics after testing for color fastness in a hidden spot. The tag may indicate "W" for water cleaning or "S" for solvent cleaning. Do not use water on furniture that needs a solvent. For water-washable fabrics, use a solution of 1/4 cup of high-suds laundry detergent with one quart of warm water, mixed in a blender. Apply just the suds with a medium-bristled brush and then use a wet towel to go over the whole upholstered surface. When the surface is dry, vacuum up any remaining dirt. Metal furniture is tough, but it still needs to be cleaned to make it shine. Here's how: Make a paste with 1/4 cup cream of tartar and baking soda, and then add 2 tablespoons of powdered laundry detergent. Cover scratches with a permanent black marker. Here's the secret to great-looking glass surfaces: Glass tabletop, water rings can be removed with dry dishwasher detergent or silver polish. Keep plastic furniture looking new with mild soap and water. Then rinse and blot dry. Be aware that acrylic will scratch easily. To reduce static that attracts dust, wipe with a fabric softener sheet. For vinyl furniture, an all-purpose cleaner can be used to clean all surfaces. Sticky spots can be removed with saddle soap. And, don't forget your wicker furniture: It can be cleaned with warm soapy water and then rinsed with salt water. To keep wicker from yellowing, scrub with a stiff brush moistened with warm salt water. To clean dust and dirt out of those hard-to-reach places, use a soft paintbrush. Use these handy tips to keep your furniture beautiful. If you find yourself with more severe problems, such as water or fire damage, or in a situation beyond do-it-yourself tactics, contact the experts at Furniture Medic. Their professionally trained staff has the knowledge and products needed to bring your furniture back to life. Founded in 1992, Furniture Medic has more than 500 franchise locations across the United States, Canada and Europe. Furniture Medic is part of the ServiceMaster Consumer Services network which is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., and includes nine market-leading companies that provide a wide range of residential and commercial services. The other companies include TruGreen- ChemLawn, Terminix, American Home Shield, Rescue Rooter, ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services, Merry Maids and AmeriSpec. For more information on mobile furniture repair and restoration, visit the Furniture Medic Web site at http://www.furnituremedic.com or call 1-800-WE SERVE.