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Keeping on top of the housework is nobody’s favourite task. With so many different surfaces to dust and other daily tasks still to do, we’re all guilty of letting things slip. Well, never fret! We’ve compiled your one stop cleaning guide, with all the tips and tricks to make maintaining your furniture a walk in the park. From High Gloss and Wood Veneer to Real Leather and Plush Velvet, there’s something here for you.
We all know that cleaning our furniture is a bit of a task. Whether you’re in a compact one-bed apartment, or a six-bedroom house, we will take you through the basics and provide you with our Stylist’s secret tips!
Essential Cleaning Materials
Before you do anything, let’s make sure we’ve got the right ‘ingredients’. These are our must-haves when it comes to our photoshoots and caring for your new furniture.
- Micro Fibre Cleaning Cloths: They’re super soft and magically pick up the finest dust. Always have a multi-pack of these to hand.
- Clean Dish Cloth: For the initial rub down.
- Dish Soap: First point of call for any cleaning. Just make sure it’s gentle!
- Magic Sponge: It’s surprising how versatile a magic sponge is - from skirting boards to trainers, these are an absolute lifesaver.
- Hairspray: The first of our Stylist’s must haves when it comes to cleaning. All will be revealed soon on this…
- White Vinegar: For an extra kick on those extra tough stains.
- Baby Oil: For the ultimate shine.
Once you’ve got the above list in the house, we’re ready to get stuck in… elbow grease at the ready!
Hard Materials
Ruben White Gloss Bedside Table from our Bedside Table Collection
High Gloss Cleaning Tips:
Our most popular finish is Gloss. Available in Grey and White, the high gloss finish is super crisp, sleek, and stylish. When it comes to cleaning high gloss furniture, you must be gentle. Avoid harsh cleaners at any cost. High Gloss Furniture is perfectly practical when you regularly look after it.
For day-to-day gloss cleaning, you shouldn’t need to do anything more than wipe down with warm soapy water and dry with a microfibre cloth. But what if you get a tougher mark? How do you remove stains from high gloss furniture? There are multiple different stains that can be a challenge to shift. Luckily enough, our Stylist has some insider secrets for cleaning those more stubborn, and most common stains:
Pen:
When it comes to removing felt tip or biro marks, what we tend to use is a tiny bit of hairspray. This will work on many different surfaces, not just gloss. The key for hairspray’s magical cleaning properties is the alcohol content. Spray on the affected area and leave for a moment before wiping away. Test on an inconspicuous area first, just in case!
Sticky Marks:
These are notoriously difficult to remove. Leave it too long and it will attract dust and you are left with a nasty black smudge. These are very easily removed though by rubbing very gently with a damp cloth soaked in soapy water and vinegar.
Tomato Sauce:
The dreaded Bolognese stains. Is there any worse stain to have on your new high white gloss dining table? The key to cleaning food stains off a high gloss surface is to catch it early! As soon as you have a spillage, mop it up straight away and use a vinegar and soapy water solution. However, if your stain is a bit more bedded in, you must be super careful. There are plenty of high street cleaners you can try. Just make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, so as not to damage the colour or shine of your gloss furniture.
Day to Day Cleaning:
When looking after your Gloss Furniture for those daily spills, make sure you mop up any mess straight away, and wipe with warm soapy water. As above, be sure to buff off any water to showcase that beautiful shine.
It almost goes without saying that coasters and placemats are a must for any dining table, especially high gloss dining tables. Using coasters will prolong the life of your gloss surfaces and keep the compliments flowing!
Glass and Frosted Glass Cleaning Tips:
Tempered Glass is one of the most durable and practical surfaces to have in your home. Due to its soft and highly reflective surface, it does require regular maintenance, but never more than a quick wipe over. One of the easiest things you can use is a household window cleaner, as the alcohol can cut through those greasy fingerprints with ease! Although we would also recommend some home-made cleaning remedies too.
It couldn’t be easier to make your own Glass Cleaner. All you need is a 50:50 solution of water and white vinegar shaken up in a spray bottle. The reason we love making our own cleaning spray is that you know exactly what’s in it. Meaning its safer for your family as you don’t have to worry about regular chemical use or allergies.
Simply spray generously over your glass surface and buff off with a lint free cloth. If you don’t have any micro fibre cloths to hand, kitchen roll works great too. Also be sure to clean the underside of your glass table. There is no point cleaning the top and not the bottom, so buff away all those sticky fingers to a super spotless surface.
Frosted / Cloudy Glass Cleaning Tips:
So what about Frosted Glass? How do you clean a cloudy glass surface? Well, the same way as you’d clean normal glass. The only difference being is you cannot use any oil-based cleaning products. This is likely to soak into the frosted finish and leave nasty stains. Just in case, here’s a few tips for maintaining your frosted glass surface.
- Spray your Frosted Glass Dining Table with your 50:50 water / white vinegar solution and leave to soak in a little longer than you would do with a clear glass table.
- Use a microfibre cloth to wipe off the cleaning solution.
- For stubborn stains, create a paste with 2 parts baking soda to 1-part white vinegar. Apply to the surface and leave for 5 to 10 minutes. Finally, rub in with a clean, soft sponge then wipe off with a clean, damp cloth.
Chrome Cleaning Tips:
We love chrome here at Danetti. Its highly reflective surface adds style and brightens any room. Chrome does take a little bit of attention to keep it perfect and shiny. As with gloss, if you keep on top of chrome cleaning regularly, you shouldn’t have any problems!
General day to day cleaning is the same as you would do with Gloss and Glass, just with warm soapy water. Add a splash of white vinegar for an extra boost and consider using a chrome polish for added gleam!
Tiva Glass and Chrome Console Table
How to Remove Rust from Chrome
If you have accidentally left your chrome to get a few rust spots, do not worry. These can be really easily removed; however, it is really important to protect your chrome furniture. What’s more, you probably have everything you need at home already!
- First, make sure you chrome is thoroughly cleaned. Warm soapy water and a clean sponge should be enough, but feel free to add a splash of white vinegar for tougher cleaning.
- Next, take some regular kitchen foil and this dunk into some water. Again, feel free to add a dash of salt- this will speed up the process a little.
- Rub your kitchen foil back and forth over the rust marks. Although remember not to rub too hard- this can damage the surface. You just need a light rub.
- Finally, wipe off any water with a clean and dry microfibre cloth. This will restore the shine and keep your chrome like new!
Just in case you want to up the shine factor once more, you can always add a coating of chrome cleaner. Just be sure to read manufacturer’s instructions!
If you do give this method of removing rust from chrome a go, please test out on an inconspicuous area first!
Black Chrome
Like classic Chrome, the only difference with black chrome is the black pigmentation. Keeping black chrome clean is the same as classic. However, due to the colour of black chrome, we wouldn’t recommend taking kitchen foil to it. This may damage the colouring, and nobody wants that! Should your black chrome be cared for regularly, you shouldn’t have any issues with keeping fresh and slick.
Brushed Stainless Steel Cleaning Tips:
Mia White Ceramic and Marble Dining table and Form Velvet & Steel Cantilever Dining Armchair from our dining table and dining chair ranges.
Much like other metals you’ll find in your home, cleaning brushed metal is super easy, should you keep on top of it. Although a Chrome finish is super modern, sleek and shiny, the practicality of Brushed Metal is invaluable. It will hide any little scratches, keep a glossy feel and is suitable in all different interior styles.
Be sure to dust your brushed chrome regularly to avoid it looking dull. Again, soapy water should be all you need to remove any marks. For those harder to remove marks, window cleaner or our 50:50 water and white vinegar spray work well.
Our favourite tip for cleaning brushed metals is baby oil! Baby oil goes a long way, so use sparingly. All you need to do is rub the baby oil on with a paper towel, and buff away any excess with a dry, micro fibre cloth.
Brushed Steel is such a beautiful metal to use in your home. By keeping on top of its maintenance and ensuring to polish regularly, it can last for years and years. As modern kitchens tend to use brushed metals on everything from cookers, sinks and fridges, using baby oil will keep your home shining and smelling amazing.
Wood Veneer Cleaning Tips:
Aria White Oak Veneer And Glass 6 Seater Dining Table
When it comes adding warmth to your modern home, you cannot beat a touch of wood. Caring for real wood can be time-consuming and complicated, which is why we love wood veneers so much. With modern day technologies, you could hardly tell that your new table isn’t really wood (except maybe looking at the price tag!).
If you find that you do get stains on your wood veneer– DO NOT reach straight for the hard chemicals. These will most likely damage the colour, texture, and overall finish of your wood veneer. Where possible, contact the manufacturer and ask for tips first. If this isn’t possible, for example, you spill wine during a dinner party out of hours, then try these quick and easy steps:
- Remove as much of the liquid/sauce as possible as quickly as you can.
- Avoid the hesitation to scrub as the veneer finish. This will only make things worse and you can embed the stain deeper into the surface.
- Mix 1-part white vinegar in 2 parts soapy water and dab with a clean microfibre cloth. Be sure not to wet the table too much, and dab in the direction of the grain.
- Be sure to dry the table thoroughly, and if needed, repeat the above steps until the stain has gone. The key is to act fast to remove any stains.
Plastic Furniture Cleaning Tips:
Good quality plastic furniture is a God send- especially for families! It’s cost-effective, durable and so easy to clean. So much so it almost doesn’t need its own section, but while we’re on it….
Plastic dining furniture can be cleaned with pretty much anything, as long as you’re not using harsh chemicals. Warm water or baby wipes work best on plastic, and you can give it a good rub to clear any tougher set stains. Just be sure not to let any food sit, as this may stain, and avoid using scratchy pads, as this may damage the finish.
Do’s and Don’ts
Now we’ve covered the cleaning and maintenance of hard finishes, there are some key facts to remember. We’ve broken it down into Do’s and Don’t for your convenience.
Do’s
- Do use warm soapy water as your first option. This should remove majority of marks.
- Do add a splash of white vinegar for a deeper clean.
- Do be sure to use a soft cloth on any type of surface. Micro Fibre cloths are super useful!
- Do make sure you wring out your cloth so as not to saturate the surface. Too much water can damage the finish.
- Do get into the habit of wiping down regularly. This doesn’t have to be much, just a quick dust or wipe down as part of your post mealtime routine.
Don’ts
- Don’t use harsh chemicals such as bleach or ammonia-based cleaners. These can affect the finish and colour of your furniture. Stick to the gently cleaners.
- Don’t rub- dab instead. That way, you won’t damage the surface and will also help keep the surface dry.
- Don’t let any spills or stains sit on your furniture. The quicker you clean it up, the less likely you are to get staining.
- Don’t use any abrasive cleaners or cloths, as these may scratch the surface.
- Don’t use any shop bought cleaners without reading the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully.
- So, there you have it. All the cleaning tips you could possibly need.
- Just to recap a couple of key factors when it comes to cleaning your furniture.
- Warm soapy water is perfect for cleaning any surface or fabric.
- Tough stains can be removed by adding a splash of vinegar to your soapy water.
- Never rub your furniture. This can effect anything from the colour to the feel. Make sure you dab.
- Regular maintenance is a good idea. Little and often will help you out in the long run.
- If you’re ever unsure on how to clean your products, contact the manufacturer for tips.
- For deep cleaning on delicate fabric, consult a professional. The last thing you want is to try DIY and make things worse. If in doubt, ask.
How To Clean Velvet Furniture
We love velvet furniture, it always looks so effortlessly stylish. It's also really durable when it's looked after properly. We wrote a whole blog post on how to care for your new velvet sofa which you can read all about here.
You can also watch our new video on How To Clean Velvet Furniture...
Updated: April 2023
