Product Care Guide

Thank you for your home furnishings purchase from KDR Designer Showrooms. Furniture is often a lifetime investment, regular attention and maintenance can ensure that your investment can be enjoyed for years to come. Proper care is important to preserving furniture’s beauty and quality. Please find the below tips and instructions on how to care for your new fine furniture purchase.

Wood Finishes

Wood is a natural product. Sun bleaching will occur when wood furniture is exposed to sunlight causing darker finishes to lighten and sometimes cause lighter finishes to darken. Try to avoid placing furniture in direct sunlight and rearrange accessories from time to time to avoid spot bleaching. Arrange your furniture so that it does not sit near heat registers, AC units or radiators.

There are three basic types of furniture care products: silicone cleaners, waxes and polishes. We recommend avoiding silicone cleaners and waxes. While silicone creates a high degree of shine, silicone seeps into even the highest-quality finishes, creating a barrier that will not accept stain or lacquer, making it impossible to refinish or touch up the furniture. And, waxes may result in the build-up of wax film on the surface of the furniture. Polishes, which we recommend, contain detergents, emulsifiers and mineral oil. There’s no grit to harm the finish, no wax to build up and no silicone to act as a barrier for touch up and refinishing.

Periodically clean and polish furniture using a clean, soft, lint free cloth. Always rub in the same direction of the wood’s grain to avoid scratching the surface. Once a week remove dust on surfaces with a clean, soft, lint free cloth. Polish every six months with a non-silicone wax, allowing the polish to completely dry before replacing any objects on the surface. We recommend Guardsman furniture polish or another furniture polish that doesn’t contain silicone.

To remove wax build-up from wood finish surfaces, use a soft rag or #0000 steel wool.*

Removing wet rings from a finished surface: Clean the area with Murphy’s oil soap and water; use terry cloth or a t-shirt and dampen it lightly with denatured alcohol. Pass the dampened cloth across the area, using light, quick strokes. #0000 Steel wool and lemon oil or wool lube should remove white spots and rings from units that have a stain or dull sheen.*

Most ornate wood furniture products incorporate different species of wood and wood veneers to create highly figured patterns. These patterns are often from where the tree grows in different directions such as where the limbs branch out. This causes tension and pulls the fibers of wood in different directions. Over time, hair-like cracks can occur in these highly figured areas. This is not a flaw or defect in the furniture but a natural characteristic of the veneer adding depth and beauty to the furniture over time.

For light scratches and scrapes, clean the surface with mineral spirits; lightly apply lacquer with a soft cloth in the direction of the grain. Avoid over padding as this could cause the finish to dull.* Surface scratches can be removed by rubbing compound or buffing paste, followed with cream polish.* For deep scratches, rub #0000 steel wool or 400 sanding paper in the direction of the grain; followed with an application of clear aerosol. Let dry before applying buffing paste.*

For drawers that stick, rub Briwax or similar paste wax on the drawer and the wood it rides on to restore gentle gliding motion.

Eliminate musty odors using a spray bottle, denatured alcohol or another microbial spray. Allow drying for one week.

Marble

Marble can be cleaned with mild non-abrasive detergent and water, rinsed with clean water and wiped with a clean, soft cloth to assure no residue remains. Remove stains from marble with soap and water, followed by glass cleaner.

Glass

To remove stains from glass, mix 3 parts vinegar and 1 part ammonia, pour onto the stained area and let stand for 30 minutes to overnight, depending on the severity of the stain.  Wash off with soap and water followed by glass cleaner.

Leather

Leather surfaces should be dusted regularly with a dry or slightly damp, soft cloth. Wipe spills immediately with clean cloth or sponge. For light stains, clean with mild non-detergent soap. Rinse well, gently wipe off, and allow to air dry. Leather desk and tabletops have lacquer coating, therefore they can be lightly waxed.

Clean oil or grease from leather by simply wiping with a clean cloth, and leave alone. The oil will be absorbed by the leather. Do not apply water. Avoid using saddle soap, cleaning solvents, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, ammonia or any other type of chemical solution.

Upholstery

All upholstery fabrics should be dusted on a regular basis with a vacuum cleaner. Down-filled cushions should be brushed rather than vacuumed. Cushions and pillows should be turned on a weekly basis to extend the life of the cushion cores and allow the fabric to wear evenly.

Spot clean, using a mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product.*

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Outdoor Furniture Maintenance & Care

Always invest in covers for ALL of your outdoor furniture, regardless of the material.

The best furniture covers not only protect from humidity, rain, and snow -- they also protect your furniture from the sun’s UV rays, which are known to fade some types of materials.

Cushions and pillows should be covered or placed inside if not used for extended periods to avoid heavy saturation from rain or snow.

In the Midwest, store cushions and pillows inside and cover frames left outdoors to protect your furniture over the winter months. There are a lot of critters that enjoy living in luxury and will likely nest in your cushions if they are left outdoors

Outdoor Wood

Routinely dust your outdoor furniture using a soft, damp cloth. You can apply a gentle cleaner to give the wood a deep clean. An oil-based soap, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap, works like a dream on wood pieces since it’s free of harsh chemicals and easy to use.

During peak seasons such as spring and summer, try to wipe down wood at least once a week with a soft, damp cloth to prevent dirt and grime from impacting the appearance of the material.

Teak wood naturally patinas over time and will weather to a warm gray tone. If mold and mildew form due to humidity, simply wipe down surfaces with an environmentally friendly cleaning solution. And remember, NEVER power wash teak!

Outdoor Cushions

For removable cushion covers that can be zipped off, wipe the surfaces first, then launder in a machine on a gentle cycle. Allow covers to completely dry. Many outdoor fabrics can be laundered and most are impervious to bleach. Always check product tags for the manufacturer’s proper care and warnings.

For synthetic and waterproof fabrics, wipe them down with a damp cloth first to remove dirt and grime. After removing dirt, use a solution of diluted dish soap and water to clean deeply without damaging the fabric.

Other Tips to Preserve Your Fine Furniture Investment

Protective feet on rubber or plastic products may contain a plasticizing agent that discolors or softens fine furniture’s finish. Always use felt pads under accessories to prevent discoloration.

Remember to lift objects rather than sliding them across the finished surface.

Sections marked with an asterisk symbol (*) are associated with damage that is best handled by a trained professional, but may be attempted at your own risk. The product care tips are provided for informational purposes only by KDR Designer Showrooms.

Download the Product Care Guide (PDF)

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