PRODUCT CARE
First and foremost, enjoy your beautiful new home but do take care!
Do
Always use a clean, soft micro-fibre cloth to dust and clean your furniture, dampened only with water if absolutely necessary and dry immediately.
For specialised stain protection, cleaning and removal of stubborn stains, always seek professional advise. We recommend Pilgrim Payne on 020 8453 5350 or info@pilgrimpayne.co.uk.
Regularly vacuum your upholstery with a soft upholstery brush to prevent dust and dirt working its way into the fabric, particularly velvet.
Regularly plump and fluff all cushions to prevent dust from collecting and ensure the filling is distributed evenly.
The environment can have a significant impact on furniture so keep an eye on internal humidity, heat etc.. as all will impact on your furniture.
Refer below for specific supplier recommendations.
Don’t
Use unrecommended waxes, chemicals, abrasives or polishes, particularly bleach or silicone based cleaning agents or polishes.
Try not to leave pieces in direct sunlight or near to direct heat sources for prolonged periods of time as this can accelerate the aging process.
Place wet, hot or extremely cold plates, glasses etc… directly onto the surface of furniture.
Slide or drag items across the surface of the furniture as this can cause scratches and dents.
Sisal Carpet
Vacuum rug regularly and never use any chemicals.
Try to avoid dropping food or spilling liquids. Certain spillages are not removable and can cause permanent damage.
If anything is spilt, it is important to act quickly without damaging the sisal and without using chemicals.
Do not rub or brush the pile surface. Blot gently until completely dry with plain absorbent paper such as unprinted kitchen roll, changing the paper until it stops absorbing. Do not wet clean and seek professional advice immediately. Highgrade Carpet and Upholstery Care are always happy to give telephone advice on 020 7183 0010 or 01923 227207.
Polyester Carpets
Vacuuming – To maintain your carpets appearance, it is recommended to vacuum regularly. Fibre shedding is a normal characteristic of new carpets, which reduces after time. Vacuuming regularly and thoroughly will prevent soil and dirt becoming embedded in the fibres.
A good vaccum to use is one with adjustable height, rotating brush heads and strong air flow to lift dirt from deep down in the carpet fibres. The height of the rotating brush head should just skim the surface of the carpet. Vacuum slowly to leave “clean tracks”. Carpet manufacturer recommends the use of a Sebo vacuum (model X7 PET e-power). A dealer in your area can be found on their website https://sebo.co.uk.
Cleaning
- Clean any spillages and stains immediately.
- Test any proprietary cleaning product in an inconspicuous spot before using on a large area. All carpet cleaning solutions have instructions. Please follow their instructions carefully.
- Alternatively, a simple method using 1 x cup of white vinegar mixed thoroughly with 1 x cup of cool water can be used. i) Spray the vinegar/water mix onto the stain.
ii) Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and allow to settle.
iii) With a clean cloth, blot the spot.
iv) Vacuum and allow to dry.
Always ask for professional advice regarding maintenance or unusual stains. Highgrade Carpet and Upholstery Care are always happy to give free telephone advice on 020 7183 0010 or 01923 227207.
Timber Frame Furniture Care
In general, it is recommended to polish the wood frame with a light natural beeswax or wood oil every 3-6 months. Clean only with a damp non-abrasive cloth. After cleaning the surface should be re-waxed/oiled. Solvents should not be used.
General and more obvious care of wood surfaces are to protect from direct contact with iron, steel or copper vessels, any heat, liquid or abrasive surfaces. Wood will be affected by wet or damp conditions. Furniture should not be left out in rain or overnight as this will affect the colour, patina and longevity of the piece. Joints can also be weakened if repeatedly exposed to damp or wet conditions. Wood will also be affected by heat, so please do not place furniture next to a radiator, as this could cause the wood to warp.
Leather Care
Leather is a strong material and should be used, enjoyed and lived with and we encourage you not to be precious or cautious with it. In general, it’s best to take a very relaxed approach; to let marks, stains and burnishing in well used areas naturally build to create an overall result of genuine patina. This is a much sought after effect which cannot be faked and can only be achieved by using a leather that will take on marks, rather than resist any sign of wear and tear as though it were a rather soulless plastic laminate.
Howe leather is made the traditional way via the slow method of tree bark tanning before being drum dyed to shade and finished only with a light layer of wax. The skins are not coated with a thick paint like layer of coloured pigment, like modern leathers, so you can clearly see the idiosyncrasies of the differing grain pattern and naturally occurring markings on each piece.
Howe leather cannot be cleaned of marks and stains as the leather surface is porous and so the patina that builds becomes inherent to the material. However, applying leather wax to the surface can help blend in and reduce the contrast of the more extreme marks as the wax slightly darkens the leather. When leather is very new wax will generally not soak in as the surface is already quite oil rich. The application of the wax should be done slowly and carefully, as over application will leave a chalked white residue on the surface which may be difficult to buff away.
Wax should be applied using a clean sponge in circular movements, left to dry overnight, then lightly buffed with a lint free cloth. The buffing generally changes the surface from being matt to having a slight sheen and lustre. It will also help to seal and smooth the grain, making it harder for wet marks to take hold and allowing a patina to build in a more gentle manner.
It is a good idea to regularly apply leather wax if your leather is in a very dry or sunny room, or near a fire, as the addition of more oils and protection to the leather surface will significantly help in the long term to stop the leather from potentially cracking due to an extreme environment. A seldom used leather chair may only need the application of leather wax every other year at the most.
Wax can be purchased from Howe London (Kitty on orders@howelondon.com or +44 (0) 207730 7987 ) or privately purchased but please ensure the wax is rich in tallow and natural waxes.
Furniture:
When placing furniture, please carefully consider positioning as artificial heat from radiators and underfloor heating, as well as direct sunlight, can cause warping, splitting and discolouration. In particular, underfloor heating and close proximity to radiators can severely damage products and reparation from damage can be irreversible. To avoid damage to flooring, we always recommend lifting furniture rather than dragging and where possible always use protective pads or castors to any items.
Upholstery and Cushions:
Upholstery and cushion covers should be professionally cleaned and cushions plumped regularly to keep their shape.
Natural Products, Accessories and Artwork:
Dust regularly with a clean soft cloth. Unfortunately natural materials, in particular wood, can readily absorbs spillages and can therefore be difficult to remove.
Lacquered Products:
Dust regularly with a clean soft, dry micro-fibre cloth to remove fingerprints and smears, use silicone furniture polish sparingly and only occasionally to restore lustre and remove any spills immediately with a soft, slightly damp cloth and then dry buff with a micro-fibre cloth. Lacquer is very delicate so try to avoid overly touching the lacquer as natural grease from hands can attract dirt and lead to scratching and placing unprotected items directly onto the surface but if required, use protective pads. Please note that overtime lacquer, in particular black lacquer, will mark but the aging process adds to its character.