How to disinfect your furniture

EVERY NOW AND THEN, AN IN-DEPTH CLEANING IS NEEDED

Disinfecting your furniture, especially the pieces you use every day, can change the whole atmosphere of your home. Almost like a breath of fresh air. Most of the time, we're just doing simple upkeep at home. Dust some of the shelves, maybe vacuum the carpet. And some days, you just get the urge to do a little spring cleaning and get to the tasks you don't normally do, like disinfecting your sofa.

In this post, we will outline different furniture and how to disinfect them so you don't accidentally shrink your pillow covers. If you're using specific chemical cleaners, you may need to wear gloves or a mask. Make sure you open your windows for proper ventilation.

Upholstered furniture

Vacuum
Most vacuums come with a fabric brush, which is exactly what you need to vacuum your couch, sofa bed, or another fabric type. Vacuuming often, especially after a crumby meal, keeps dirt and bacteria from building up and wearing into furniture over time.

Spray
You might think throwing the cushion covers in the laundry would be a smart and efficient way of cleaning them. However, you could risk shrinking the cover and it no longer fits over the cushion. We suggest making a home-made disinfecting spray with a water-based detergent (either a specific upholstery-cleaning solution or a liquid soap) and using that as a spray on. We recommend you spot test somewhere inconspicuous first to make sure it doesn't discolour the fabric. Check the manufacturer's label for any warnings or "do not use" products, too.

Wait about 5-10 minutes for the detergent to dissolve into the fabric and then wipe the residue away from the surface with a clean cloth. Make sure you allow the fabric to completely dry.

Wooden & hard furniture
Hard finishes like dinettes, console tables, or coffee tables are quite easy to clean. With plastic veneer, you can use a disinfectant spray or a wipe. With other types, a mild solution like 2 cups of water, 1 cup of white vinegar and 5 drops of dish soap (again, please do a spot check to ensure the vinegar doesn't chip off the finish).

Make sure you use a gentle non-chemical polish as a final step to your wood finishes to ensure they don't chip, and to keep them smooth and shiny.

Maintain a consistent schedule
Ensuring you upkeep your furniture maintenance isn't just important to prevent the build up of gunk and bacteria, but also to maintain the longevity of your furniture. Buying furniture can be quite costly, and just like you would take your expensive jewelry to your local jeweller to clean them, you should employ the same attitude to your furniture pieces. Setting a schedule can help you in not only reducing workload as you don't allow the dirt to build up, but also can keep the air quality in your home clean as well.