Professionals in furniture repair and restoration have helped me to compile the following hints and maintenance information.

Ron "Dr. Spot" from Fiberseal, is a professional whose specialty is sealing and maintaining fabrics, rugs and carpet. Ron can be reached at (561) 735-0718.

Leather Solutions, Inc. is a firm dedicated to leather care. Their leather protection process protects the most delicate leathers from stains and premature wear. Leather Solutions can be reached at (954) 713-6466.

Acosta's Leather refinishes, repairs, cleans and protects your fine leather. Service area: Broward to Vero Beach. Contact them at (561) 969-3905.

Use a soft cloth or feather duster for regular dusting and cleaning. Polish once every three months using a white cream polish such as Guardsman or OZ. Apply the polish with a soft cotton cloth. Wait a few seconds and polish with another soft cotton cloth to a high gloss finish. NOTE: Do not use Pledge.

Use a soft cloth with Antiquax wax polish.

This problem only occurs with real wood and never particleboard or MDF.

Apply Boiled Linseed Oil to the back or underside of the furniture where possible. Use a paint brush to apply a generous amount of Boiled Linseed Oil to the underside, bottom or back of the piece. The goal here is to get to the unfinished part of the wood. Don’t try this on a finely finished piece of wood. If the wood is finished on all sides, forget about using the linseed oil. If the front is finished and the back is not, you may apply the boiled linseed oil to the unfinished areas. The linseed oil penetrates the wood and helps to keep it from drying out. There are two types of linseed oil; boiled and raw. Use the boiled variety because it dries quicker than the raw.

Use a soft cloth or a feather duster for regular dusting and cleaning. Once a month use plain beeswax or lemon oil for light finishes and a dark scratch polish for dark finishes. Blot up spills with dry cloth or paper towel. For removing dirt, use a damp soft cloth. NOTE: Do not use Pledge.

For dusting, use a soft cotton cloth or feather duster. To clean, use a soft cotton cloth with a small amount of mineral spirits. Once a month, polish with Guardsman or OZ. Once every three months, polish with a car wax such as Turtle Wax. Polish exactly as you would a car.

For scratches, use a very fine rubbing compound like Dupont #7 (Purchase at any auto store). Apply sparingly then rub entire table in a circular motion. When dry (haze will appear) wipe off with a soft cloth and apply Guardsman or OZ to a high gloss finish. NOTE: Do not use Pledge.

Clean with feather duster. Polish with lemon oil once a month to avoid cracking . NOTE: Do not use Pledge.

Use professional-grade leather cleaner. Using a soft cloth test the cleaner in an area that is not visible. Spray cleaner on cloth and then wipedown furniture. After cleaning use a professional-grade leather conditioner to condition the leather. You should clean the furniture monthly and condition it every three months. Cleaners we suggest: Tannery Brand or Armor All Cleaner & Protectant. Lighter colors need cleaning and conditioning more often than dark colors.

For more difficult problems call the pros from Leather Solutions at (954) 713-6466.

Use same procedures and products as leather. For leather and vinyl, blot up spills with a cloth or paper towel. Clean entire area, not just area where spill occurred. For example, if the spill occurred on a seat cushion, clean entire seat. If a spill occurs on an arm, clean the entirearm.

Clean with mineral spirits. To polish, use a good grade auto polish. Follow directions on product. Apply with soft clean cloth, wait for haze to appear and wipe off with another clean soft cloth. Polish to a high gloss with another white soft cloth. For best protection, marble should be resealed every 12 months. Marble Life is an excellent service. Call Bill at (954) 520-1093.

Standard issue nylon glides should be changed to felt glides to protect the finish of your floors. It also sounds so much nicer.

Use any glass cleaner without ammonia. Apply cleaner to cloth and then clean glass or mirror. Never spray directly on mirror or framed image.

For dusting or general cleaning, use a soft cloth or feather duster. Do not use abrasive cleansers. On all polished brass pieces use a good grade of car wax and follow instructions on can. Apply with soft cloth, wait for a haze to appear and wipe off with another soft cloth. No special care is required for polished brass trim. Clean with the same product you use on the rest of the piece. NOTE: Do not use Pledge.

For dusting or general cleaning, use soft cloth or feather duster. To remove stains or dirt, use mineral spirits on a soft cloth. Test the material for reactions first by applying the mineral spirits to a small part of the 'stone' that is out of sight.

When cleaning upholstered furniture that has had fabric protection applied, read the directions on the manufacturer's warranty. In most cases, use the fabric protectant on a white cloth to remove soil or stains. If you are cleaning upholstered furniture that has not had fabric protection, use VM&P Naptha on a soft white cloth. Wipe stain from center out. It may be necessary to clean entire piece. For example: If the stain is on a cushion, clean the entire cushion. If you don’t, you could leave a ring. To avoid this, clean the entire cushion — if there is a ring it will appear on the edge where it won’t be seen.

Call Ron “Dr. Spot” from Fiberseal at (561) 735-0718 to handle the more difficult problems. Or better yet, call him to prtect your fine fabrics before a problem occurs.

For pet stains, apply club soda on spot and blot dry. This method can also be used for coffee, tea or wine. Clean to center of stain. For food stains or dirt, use a combination of Woolite or any commercial cleaner. Follow instructions on container.

As above, call Ron “Dr. Spot” from Fiberseal at (561) 735-0718 for tougher problems.

Guardsman, OZ, Naptha, mineral spirits, lemon oil, scratch polish, Woolite, Old English Scratch Cover, counter top magic, non-ammonia glass cleaner and leather cleaner can be purchased at most grocery stores or home improvements stores. Expensive investment quality furniture should be looked at, and services performed by, a professional furniture repair person.

Please, remember to recycle and to think about your water usage.

Did you know that plastic six-pack holders are nearly transparent underwater? They are invisible to marine wildlife; thousands of animals become tangled in them each year. Take a moment to snip the plastic loops with scissors. We can make difference every day!

Future articles to look forward to:

Good care means longer wear for upholstery

About table leafs

Marble and its variations

Slate, characteristics and care

Advanced fine furniture care

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