Furniture Care Guide: Make Your Pieces Last 20+ Years

Furniture lasts 20 years — if you know how to care for it. This guide shows the most important care routines for the most expensive furniture materials: solid wood, veneer, sintered stone, upholstery fabrics and leather. Without expensive special care products.

Solid wood furniture

Daily care

• Dry microfiber cloth over the surface
• If necessary: damp (wrung out) cloth + dry immediately afterwards
• Coasters for cups and glasses are mandatory
• Avoid direct sunlight (discolors wood)

Monthly care

• Damp cloth + minimal wood cleaner (not an all-purpose cleaner)
• Pull out the drawers and clean the insides
• Check screws and connections

Semi-annual care

• Rub wood oil or hard wax oil according to the manufacturer's instructions
• First wipe dry, then apply a thin layer of oil, then polish with a soft cloth
• For painted surfaces: polish with beeswax (not furniture polish spray)

In case of damage

• Small scratches: rub the walnut kernel into the scratch, rub with a soft cloth
• Deeper scratches: wood repair wax pen in matching color
• Water stains: briefly steam with damp cloth + iron, then dry

Veneer furniture

What you need to consider

• Never allow standing liquids (veneer can peel off)
• No strong heat sources directly on the surface
• Care like solid wood, but never sand - veneer layer is only 0.5-2 mm thick

Special repair

• Cracked veneer: thin layer of wood glue, adhesive tape to hold, dry for 12 hours
• Torn veneer: repair paint from the manufacturer
• Deep damage: exchange the plate (no sanding possible)

Sintered stone and natural stone

Daily care

• Damp microfiber cloth - no cleaner required
• If necessary: lukewarm water + neutral detergent
• Wipe dry immediately (avoids water stains)

What you should avoid

• Acidic cleaners (vinegar, toilet cleaner) on marble - chemical burns
• Abrasive cleaners - micro-scratches in the polish
• Alcohol-based cleaners for impregnated natural stone

Impregnation (marble and porous stones)

• Apply waterproofing agent every 12-18 months
• Sintered stone and granite: no impregnation necessary
• Avoid fluorine impregnations (controversial for health reasons)

Upholstered furniture: fabric

Weekly care

• Vacuum with upholstery nozzle (low setting)
• Shake up the pillow and turn it over
• Smooth out wrinkles on the seat

Monthly care

• Deep cleaning with upholstery cleaner foam
• Test on uinvisible place before first use
• Spot cleaning with lukewarm water + neutral detergent

For stains

• Dab immediately with a dry cloth - never rub
• Red wine: salt on top, leave for 30 minutes, vacuum.
• Grease: put cornstarch on it, leave it on for 30 minutes, vacuum it up
• Stubborn: professional upholstery cleaning 1-2x a year

Leather furniture

Daily care

• Dry microfiber cloth — removes 80% of dirt
• If necessary: slightly damp cloth (not a wet one)
• Shake the pillow daily

Semi-annual care

• Apply leather balm or neutral leather grease
• Work in with a soft cloth
• Let it absorb for 30-60 minutes
• Polish with a clean cloth

What you should avoid

• Direct sunlight - bleaches leather permanently
• Proximity to heating - leather dries out and becomes brittle
• Acetone, bleach - destroy the fiber
• Leave sharp objects in the leather (keychain on the sofa)

Upholstery: Bouclé and natural fibers

Bouclé

• Vacuate weekly with a soft upholstery nozzle
• If loops are distorted: carefully brush smooth in the direction of the grain
• Stains: dab carefully with lukewarm water + mild detergent
• Never dry with heat - the fibers become matted

Linen / farmer's linen

• Breathable materials - little dirt retention
• Suction is sufficient for most cases
• In case of discoloration: dab soda solution (1 tbsp soda in 500 ml water)

Glass and mirrors

• Microfiber cloth + lukewarm water
• For heavier soiling: glass cleaner without ammonia
• Polish with newspaper - no streaks
• Avoid: Friction with grains of dirt (scratches)

Metal furniture

Stainless steel

• Wipe in the direction of the grain
• Remove water stains with stainless steel cleaner
• Never use highly acidic cleaners

Powder-coated metal

• Microfiber cloth + lukewarm water
• For outdoor use: check annually for corrosion

Brass and copper

• Patina is character - do not necessarily remove it
• If you want shine: brass polish with a soft cloth
• No aqueous contact with wooden parts (discolored)

Climate control: the overlooked element

• Humidity: 40-60% optimal
• Temperature fluctuations: minimize - damage wood and veneer
• UV protection: Curtains for south/west windows
• Ventilation: regularly to avoid mold formation

What is not worth buying

• MOebel polish sprays:leave layers that protect nothing
• "Universal" cleaner for all furniture:wrong pH value for most materials
• Furniture wax for solid wood with a lacquered surface: dissolves the lacquer layer
• Anti-static sprays: short-term effect, many ingredients

Professional cleaning: when it's worth it

• Upholstery deep cleaning: every 1-2 years — 8-15 €/m²
• Wood refurbishment: after 10+ years — 30-100 €/m² (sanding + new sealing)
• Leather cleaning: for large areas of damage - €200-500 per sofa
• Sinter stone: hardly necessary when renewing the seal

Conclusion

Furniture lasts as long as you care for it. 80% of the care is done with a microfiber cloth, clean water and material-specific care products 1-2 times a year. Anyone who sticks to this will have 20+ years of enjoyment instead of 5-7 years of wear and tear.

At ArtHouse you will find furniture with detailed care instructions for each material. Material-specific recommendations in the Material Guide, care instructions for velvet wall panels in the Care Guide.