You’ve recently set up your dining room and have invested in some truly eye-catching dining chairs. Now, you’re wondering how to take care of them to ensure they look as beautiful as they do now for as long as possible. Regardless of the material you chose for your dining chairs, it is going to require maintenance and care to keep it in the best of conditions. Even the most durable of materials and fabrics have an end life, but with the right care, you can extend this life.
Taking care of your leather dining chairs
Leather is an expensive material that usually holds up well over time. The reason why it is so popular is because it is fairly easy to clean and is also pretty stain-resistant. It is also incredibly long-lasting and with the right care, should last you a good decade—or even two!
– Using a soft microfiber towel or cloth, gently wipe your leather dining chairs in one direction regularly. Even if you can’t see any dust or dirt on the chairs, it’s usually a good idea to wipe down your chairs at least once a week. Microscopic dust particles and dead skin may not be initally visible, but can build up over time and potentially scratch the surface of your leather chairs.
– Every week, vacuum hard-to-reach corners with a small vacuum cleaner. This will ensure dust and dirt doesn’t get trapped in the joints and crevices of your chair.
– In the case of spills, immediately soak up any liquid using a soft, dry towel, then treat any stains with a little warm, distilled water and a clean towel. It’s important not to use too much water when cleaning stains on leather as this could leave permanent water marks on the material.
– If the stain has been caused by something grease or oil-based, use a little talcum powder or cornstarch to absorb the oil. Simply pat the powder over the spot and leave it for about ten minutes then carefully dust it off. You can repeat this process as many times as you like until the stain is gone.
– On the other hand, if the stain has been caused by something like red wine, ink or permanent marker, it is best to immediately refer to an expert rather than try to tackle it yourself.
Taking care of your fabric dining chairs
Perhaps the most popular type of material for dining chairs, fabric dining chairs are also the most complicated to clean. This is because there are many different types of fabrics used to upholster dining chairs, ranging from softer materials like cotton and linen to more premium materials like suede and velvet. The method of cleaning your dining chairs will vary based on the material they are upholstered in.
The best way of caring for your fabric chairs is by following the care instructions that came with your chairs. Nevertheless, the simple rule to follow for fabric chairs is that a vast majority of upholstered chairs can be cleaned with a mild solution of soap and water. For oil-based or tomato sauce and red wine stains, dishwashing soap works great at cutting the grease and lifting the stain.
When cleaning darker coloured fabric, it is very important to test your cleaning products on a small, inconspicuous area of the dining chair to ensure it doesn’t discolour or damage the fabric in any way. Novelty materials like velvet might need the expertise of a professional in case of tough stains.
Taking care of your wooden dining chairs
Although wooden dining chairs are perhaps the easiest to clean and maintain, in the off case that you have managed to stain the wood or scratch the material, there are a few steps you can take.
– First, wipe off any liquid on the surface of the chair with a soft cloth or towel. If your chair has a protective coating, that should be the end of the cleaning.
– If your chair is made of unfinished wood or is of a very light colour, you may need a few extra steps to care for your chairs. First, try rubbing the stain with a mixture of baking soda and toothpaste in a 1:1 ratio with a few drops of water. Using a damp cloth, wipe away the solution and cover the spot with your favorite furniture polish, buffing the spot thoroughly.
Regardless of the material of your dining chairs, routine cleaning and care will help keep it in the best of conditions. For most materials, a simple wipe down with a damp rag is enough to keep them clean and dust-free. In case of stains, it’s best to treat them as they occur so they don’t have time to set in and become a nightmare to get rid of.
Marta Jordan is a professional writer & blogger, who writes for a variety of online publications and loves working with words of all shapes and sizes.
