We know you all have imperfections in your home that you fixate on. The stains on your IKEA couch you try to cover with pillows or the mark your kids left on your great-grandmother’s side table or that indiscernible blotch on a leather chair that appeared out of the blue.

We’ve got a few tips on how you can look after your furniture so all your pieces last for years to come, looking like new.

WOOD

Whether it’s food stains or water marks on your coffee or kitchen tables, there’s hope for removal. But before you spray on any store-bought cleaners or at-home remedies, it’s important to test a small area to make sure you won’t damage the wood any further. Start with gentle cleaners (like dish soap and water on a wrung-out cloth) and gradually work your way up to stronger ones until you find something that works for your particular kind of wood.

Here are some more specific ways of cleaning your wood surfaces. Always get professional advice before cleaning your special, antique pieces.

LEATHER

Like wood, leather is sensitive to heat and light. To keep your leather looking great over the years, keep it away from these two elements. Coated and uncoated leather needs to be cleaned differently – be sure to check which kind your furniture is upholstered in before running full steam ahead with cleaning. Take a look at The Spruce for suggestions on how to clean leather.

FABRIC

Vacuum your couch as you would your floors, using one of the included attachments. Be sure to get in the crevices. Flip your cushions regularly to evenly distribute wear. Before you lather or spray on any stain removers, find the manufacturer’s tag and read the care instructions.

Check out a few cleaning ideas at Merry Maids. Or learn how you can clean your couch with baking soda at Pop Sugar.

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