Furniture Care:Our Leather care instructions:Leather lounge suites can last a long time as long as the owner knows how to take care of this stylish piece of furniture. In order to make leather lounge suites resist years of deterioration, you have to clean them regularly, following the instructions set by the manufacturer. General advice is as follows:
* Avoid close proximity to direct heat sources (less than 40cm). Close exposure to radiators and open gas or wood fireplaces as well as afternoon sunlight will harm your leather lounge. A rule of thumb is if your leather lounge is hot to the touch then it is being damaged. In such cases protect with a blanket or throw rug. This will also prevent afternoon sun from fading the colour over time if located near a window. If your lounge is merely warm to the touch you may just need to apply leather protector a little more frequently to maintain moisture levels thus avoiding drying out and cracking over time. * Avoid detergents and other solvent based cleaning products, as well as oils, silicones, waxes and saddle soaps. We recommend leather cleaners and protectors from tanneries as it prevents you from using a potentially damaging cleaning product as mentioned above. The leather protector will minimise the need to do intense cleaning for your leather lounge suites in the future. This will shield the leather lounge suites from dirt that could seep deeper into the material. When applying make sure leather is stretched so creases are not skimmed over resulting in cracking down the track. Be sure to dust weekly and remove sticky residues like jam with a spatula. Acidic spills, hair oils, and body sweat should be wiped away immediately followed by a cleaning application to avoid chemical build up. Alternatively you can clean with a soft cloth using warm water or mild soap such as lux flakes. NB - exercise caution when using cleaning solutions for your leather lounge suites. Anything that has silicones, oils, waxes and saddle soaps can damage the finish (pigmentation) of your leather lounge suite. Our Italian Marble and Travertine care instructions:* Care of our marbled tops requires the minimum of effort because they are lacquered sealed (our travertine tables are also sealed with polyurethane and follow similar maintenance guidelines). The table should be wiped clean using a damp cloth to remove any dust and dirt and then dried using a soft duster.* Protection of the lacquered seal is the most important consideration. Acidic spills such as fruit juice, wine and spirits, curries, etc. should therefore be wiped away as soon as possible. * Household cleaners should not be used as these could damage the lacquer. * Avoid dragging articles across the surface as this may scratch the lacquer. * Ensure that moisture does not become trapped under vases or mats as this may cause the lacquer to "ring" or even lift from the table. * Protect the table from heat by using quality tablemats and coasters. Heat will draw moisture from the marble through the lacquer and cause unsightly marks that cannot be removed. * As with all pedestal based tables do not sit on or lean on the table top as this may cause it to tip over. * Never continue to use a table top in which the marble has cracked as serious injury may occur. Our Fabric care instructions:Fabric furniture is a common choice for Australian households. To retain good condition:
* Vacumn your furniture regularly. Our Timber care instructions:Open Grain Solid timber:The natural look of Open Grain Solid timber furniture is a long time favourite furniture choice that can stand the test of time.
Direct Sunlight - exposure to continuous direct sunlight should be avoided. Extended exposure can create hairline cracks in the finish or can affect the colour by fading or darkening. Arranging furniture away from direct sunlight is recommended and using window treatment to block out ultra violet rays. "Mellowing" is a natural darkening of timber with age and is not considered a defect.
Simple Precautions:* Don't put anything that is hot directly on your furniture. Seek help from a furniture repair specialist if it does inadvertantly get burnt.* Use natural fibre doilies or felt pads under lamps and other accessories. Coasters should be used when placing hot or cold drinks on timber furniture. * When working with items that can potentially damage the timber (crayons, markers and glues as well as paints) use a protective sheet or covering. * Do not lean back in chairs and avoid using pedestal tables as foot rests. * Avoid excessive scratching by not dragging objects across timber surfaces but rather lifting them. Dusting - regular dusting helps remove abrasive particles from timber surfaces. The use of a soft clean cloth such as an old T-Shirt or baby nappy is recommended. Do not use a sponge or dishcloth. Pick up accessories and replace gently when dusting. Moisten you cleaning cloth slightly with water as this will help prevent scratching and will collect the dust better as well as reducing static that can further attract dust. Do not allow moisture to remain on the surface. Polishing - as well as regular dusting, timber surfaces will also benefit from polishing occasionally to remove smudges and other particles, enhancing the appearance of your furniture. Polishing only 2 or 3 times per year is recommended although doing it more often won't damage the finish. Keep in mind that over polishing can detract from the appearance of the finish. To polish your furniture please follow this procedure: * Using the polish sparingly, dispense a little on a clean natural fibre, lint free cloth. * Wipe the polish on the furniture in the direction of the grain, avaioding circular motions. Wipe excess polish off with a second cloth or the clean side of the cloth you are using. * Avoid excess rubbing as this can be detrimental to the finish and cause uneven shine. * Avoid the use of silicone based polishes as these can clog the pores of the timber and soften the finish making repairs difficult. Minor Repairs and Touching Up - although minor damage to timber furniture can be repaired with the right materials and careful attention to detail, always test your remedy on an inconspicuous area to make sure that it does not damage the finish. The following are suggested methods only and individual results may vary. Nicks and Scratches - minor scratches that expose the timber under the finish can be made less noticeable by colouring with a touch up pen in a colour that matches the furniture. Stroke the felt tip of the pen over the scratch in the direction of the grain. Rub off excess colourant immediately with a sft cloth. Polish the entire surface with an approved polish. Water Marks - water marks will often dissipate over time, however if after a month the mark still remains then apply a little salad oil to a clean white cloth and rub on the mark in the direction of the grain. Polish after drying if necessary. Heat Marks - heat marks can be treated by rubbing gently with extra fine steel wool or by coating the area with salad oil, wiping dry with a clean cloth and following with a polish. Sticking Paper - dampen the paper thoroughly with salad oil and after a few minutes rub gently in the direction of the grain with extra fine steel wool, wipe dry with a clean cloth and follow with a polish. NOTE: Extra fine steel wool (0000) is available from hardware stores and you should not use steel wool pads made for scrubbing pots and pans. Spills and Stains - accidents happen even when you are careful. Fast action will avoid deep penetration in to the timber and possible damage. Some common spills may be treated as follows: Food Stains - wipe up the spill and polish with a clean, soft cloth to avoid stains from mayonnaise, tomato sauce or juices. Candle Wax or Gum - harden the wax or gum with ice wrapped in plastic and gently lift it off the surface with a non-stick spatula or credit card. Allow the surface to dry and follow with a polish. Alcohol - cocktails, Colognes and medicines contain alcohol and will disolve the finish on contact. Allow these spills to air dry and if damage results seek the advice of a specialist furniture repairer. Paint - water-based paint should be wiped off immediately with a clean damp cloth. Oil based paint should be allowed to dry before pushing away gently with a non-stick spatula or credit card. Nail Polish or Polish Remover - these highly volatile solvents can cause a lot of damage. Blot away from the surface immediately but do not rub. Allow to dry and consult a furniture repair specialist. Sealed Finishes and Veneers:Avoid oils, waxes, and silicone based products. Just dust regularly and use wet (damp) and dry lint free cloth for general cleaning. Critical to adhere to simple precautions (as per open grain solid timber) as there are no effective remedies for consequent problems arising from not taking the necessary precautions. |
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