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How to Care for and Clean Your Furniture
Now that you've welcomed Ashley into your home, you'll want to enjoy the furniture for many years to come. To ensure that, we encourage you to give it the proper care and cleaning. This handy guide covers all types of furniture—from upholstered to painted —as well as mattresses and rugs .
Upholstered Furniture
We offer countless upholstery options: from fine leather and expertly blended synthetic alternatives (faux leather), to blends of cotton, nylon, polyester, rayon, and wool. For your reference, our upholstered products have a label located under one of the seat cushions or on the bottom of the unit. The label provides a universal cleaning code that indicates best cleaning practices.
Universal cleaning codes include:
FR Chemical Products
Ashley's upholstered furniture is designed and labeled to meet the requirements of California's TB 117-2013 flammability standard for upholstered furniture, and we are committed to designing our upholstered furniture with the goal of meeting TB 117-2013 requirements without the use of flame retardant chemicals. To that end, after working closely with our supply chain, upholstered furniture manufactured by or for Ashley on or after January 1, 2015, does not use flame retardant chemicals. In addition, all of our upholstered furniture, regardless of where it is shipped in the U.S., includes a label that complies with the requirements of California SB-1019 .
Leather Upholstered Furniture
Leather isn't perfect, and that's its beauty. All leather, or "genuine leather," has natural markings, including variations in shade and tone, as well as nicks, scratches, and wrinkles—characteristics that distinguish it from man-made materials.
Expect some marks to appear on the surface of your leather. These can range from healed scars and barbed wire scratches to skin striations and insect bites. These should in no way be considered defects; they will not affect the durability or construction of your piece. Such "imperfections" are your guarantee that you have genuine leather.
Also keep in mind that the grain patterns and color of the leather will vary from hide to hide and even within the same hide, making the leather even more interesting and unique.
How to Care for Leather:
- Vacuum frequently and use a vacuum crevice tool to clean the seams.
- Clean weekly with a damp sponge or a soft, lint-free cloth. Do not rub; instead, wipe gently.
- Do not use or place sharp objects on leather products. Leather is very durable; however, it is not accident-proof or damage-proof.
- Keep leather furniture out of direct sunlight and at least two feet away from heat sources to prevent fading and cracking.
- Do not place newspapers or magazines on leather furniture. The ink from these items can transfer to the leather.
- Do not use abrasives; harsh chemicals; saddle soap; leather cleaners containing oils, soaps, or detergents; or common household cleaners on leather furniture. Use only recommended leather cleaners.
- Follow the instructions for any gentle leather cleaner you may use. Leather conditioners also provide a barrier against stains and help extend the life of your leather. Before using any cleaning/conditioning product on leather, test it on an inconspicuous area.
- Improper cleaning may void the warranty on your leather furniture.
How to Remove Stains, Spills and Spots from Leather:
Water Stains:
A water stain can be removed by wiping the entire area from corner to corner with a damp cloth so that there is no "marking point" on the leather and the leather can dry evenly.
Pet Urine Stains:
We recommend Nature's Miracle, available at pet stores, to remove pet urine stains and neutralize the area. Follow the product instructions. Keep in mind that whenever you are "washing" or cleaning leather, you should do so on the entire cushion, from seam to seam, edge to edge, to avoid ending up with a water stain. If the leather dries evenly, there is no "marking point."
Ink Stains:
Ink stain removers are effective at removing or reducing visible ink marks on most leathers.
Oil/Food Grease Stains:
Small oil stains can be successfully treated and removed if addressed promptly. Rub cornstarch vigorously into the stain with your fingers until you feel the heat from the friction. This heat loosens the oil and allows the cornstarch to absorb it before the leather does. Vacuum or brush off the cornstarch. Repeat until the stain disappears.
Water Stains:
What do you need to clean water stains? Clean water. If you have a condensation ring or line on the glass, soak a new sponge in room temperature water; wring the sponge out as much as possible. Starting at the spot, dampen the leather and move the sponge toward the edges of the cushion. Let the moisture decrease as you move away from the spot. Don't rub, just dab.
Wooden Furniture
Whether you have a piece of solid wood furniture or a piece made from a mix of wood, engineered wood, and plywood, you'll want to protect it from damage, maintain its pristine finish, and keep it looking beautiful for years to come. Here are some tips to help you do just that.
How to Care for Wooden Furniture:
- Use a lint-free cloth to polish wooden furniture once a week.
- Keep furniture away from heating and air conditioning sources to prevent moisture loss; and avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading or darkening of the wood.
- Use felt backing on lamps and other accessories to prevent scratches and dents, and rotate accessories so they don't stay in the same place all the time.
- Use placemats under plates and thermal blankets under serving dishes and coasters under drinks.
- Do not place newspapers or magazines on wooden surfaces. The ink from these items can seep into the finish and damage the wood.
- Do not use abrasives or harsh chemicals on wooden furniture.
- If you need to scratch your furniture: Touch-up crayons and markers are available at hardware and home improvement stores in a variety of color packs. These types of crayons and markers are specially made for furniture and work well for touching up most imperfections.
How to Thoroughly Clean Wooden Furniture:
- To remove food stains, clean up the spill immediately. Buff with a soft, clean cloth.
- To remove the cloud, rub the surface with a cloth dipped in a solution of one tablespoon of vinegar mixed with one quart of water. Rub in the direction of the grain until the surface is completely dry. Follow with an application of furniture oil or polish that does not cause wax buildup or contain silicones, such as Guardsman or Heritage.
- To remove watermarks, rub with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and cooking oil in the same direction as the grain.
- To remove candle wax or chewing gum, hold an ice cube over the wax or gum for a few seconds to cool and harden it. Be sure to wipe away the water as the ice melts to avoid water spots. Remove as much of the wax or gum as possible with your fingers, then gently scrape off the rest using the dull edge of a table knife. Quickly rub the stain with a cloth soaked in cream wax. Repeat if necessary.
Glass Furniture
Nothing opens up a room like the beauty and transparency of glass. Of course, you're very careful not to break it. But you also don't want to dull or scratch it. A few simple steps can be very effective.
How to Care for Glass Furniture:
- Do not slide rough objects across the glass. This can cause permanent scratches on the surface.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners on glass, as they can cause scratches.
- Do not clean the glass without gently removing excessive dirt and debris first, so as not to scratch the surface.
- To clean glass, choose a non-abrasive commercial glass cleaner, or use warm water and a soft, lint-free cloth. Wring out excess water and wipe the surface. Dry immediately with a dry, lint-free cloth.
Metal Furniture
Whether it's to inject a rustic element or give a piece of furniture a modern, industrial touch, at Ashley we incorporate metal into our furniture in many ways. Much of the metal you'll find is powder-coated, resulting in a smooth, uniform surface.
How to Care for and Clean Metal Furniture:
- When it comes to cleaning metal, less is more. Simply dusting regularly with a clean, dry cloth will usually do the trick.
- Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on metal finishes, as they can be quite damaging.
- Note: Iron or steel frames may rust if exposed to excessive moisture, particularly in locations with salt water.
Painted Furniture
Colorful and unique, hand-painted furniture is a great way to express your individual style. It's important to place these furnishings out of direct sunlight so the color and vibrancy of the painted finish remains fresh and crisp.
How to Care for and Clean Painted Furniture:
- Wipe or clean with a damp cloth once a week. Be sure not to leave water spots on the surface. These spots will dry and could leave permanent marks.
- Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on painted finishes, as they can be quite damaging.
- Clean stains using the following steps:
Dampen a soft cloth with a mixture of warm water and liquid dish soap. Wring the cloth out as much as possible to remove excess liquid. Gently rub the surface in a circular motion. Dry the surface immediately with a clean, soft towel.
Furniture made of Marble, Slate and Natural Stone
Natural stone like marble and slate brings an earthy, organic element to a space. They are universally loved for their unique quality. From piece to piece, and even within a single slab extracted from the quarry, there will be slight variations in color. Stone surfaces will have voids and fissures that appear as cracks. These result from the immense heat and pressure that formed the stone eons ago. These characteristics do not affect functionality or durability; rather, they add to the beauty. And while marble, slate, and natural stone are certainly quite durable, they should by no means be treated as indestructible.
How to Care for Marble and Slate:
- For general cleaning: soak a sponge or clean cloth in warm water with a few drops of mild liquid soap; wring out as much liquid as possible, wipe, and immediately dry the surface (using a second dry cloth). You can also opt for a marble cleaner for a deeper clean.
- Use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices; use placemats under china, ceramics, silver, or other objects that may scratch the stone surface.
- Do not use vinegar, bleach, lemon, ammonia, general-purpose cleaners, or abrasive cleaning agents (e.g., Comet).
- Do not use cleaners that contain acid, such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, or bathtub and tile cleaners.
- Do not use alkaline cleaners that are not specifically formulated for natural stone.
- Do not leave puddles of water on the marble surface, as this could end up leaving a stain.
- A professional finish is recommended to remove engraving marks and restore the natural finish of the stone.
- If you decide to seal your marble, use a quality product and follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. (Stone sealers can be purchased at almost any home improvement store.)
How to Clean Stains on Marble and Stone:
Liquid spills: Absorb excess liquid with a clean, dry, white cloth, rotating the cloth frequently. Spray the area with marble cleaner or warm water and wipe clean.
Food spills: Remove food with a non-abrasive object such as a plastic spoon. Dry with a dry, white cloth. Spray the area with a marble cleaner and wipe clean.
Carpets
How do you care for your Ashley rug? That depends on what it's made of. Some rugs can be wiped clean. Others, like our polypropylene or wool rugs, need to be dry cleaned. So please check the cleaning instructions on the label located in the corner under your rug for best results.
How to Care for Carpets:
- Vacuum your carpet regularly with the suction on the lowest level, avoiding the fringe to prevent accidental fraying.
- Rotate the carpet regularly to distribute wear evenly.
- If possible, have your carpet professionally cleaned once a year to remove stains.
How to Clean Stains on Carpets:
- First, check the cleaning instructions label on the bottom of your rug to make sure it can be thoroughly cleaned.
- If a spill occurs, absorb it with a clean, absorbent white cloth. Do not scrub. Many stains can be gently removed using club soda and a small amount of carpet cleaning detergent.
- To remove candle wax, place absorbent paper or a brown paper bag over the stain. Place a hot iron over the absorbent paper (move it constantly and don't let the iron stay in one place). Wait a few minutes until the wax is absorbed by the paper. Repeat if necessary.
- To remove chewing gum, press ice cubes against the stain. Wait until the gum becomes brittle and breaks easily. Use a stain remover to remove any remaining traces of gum. Saturate the stain with a cloth soaked in vinegar or rubbing alcohol.
- To remove the ink, saturate the stain with hairspray. Let it dry. Gently blot with a solution of water and vinegar.
Mattresses
Rest easy knowing your Ashley-Sleep® mattress doesn't require much care or maintenance. For starters, all Ashley-Sleep mattresses are designed not to be rotated—no relief!
How to Care for Your Mattress:
- To help keep your Ashley-Sleep mattress clean, a thin mattress protector is recommended to allow breathability, air circulation, and heat dissipation. Ashley-Sleep does not recommend using a mattress topper, as it will change the feel of the mattress you chose in the store. It can also trap heat that needs to escape.
- Do not use any type of dry cleaning liquid on your mattress. These chemicals can damage some of the comfort and upholstery materials.
- Vacuuming is the only recommended cleaning method. If you must clean a stain, use mild soap with cold water and apply lightly, allowing the mattress time to air dry completely.
- Please remind children not to jump on their Ashley-Sleep mattress, as doing so may damage the internal construction and materials.