539 days ago

Cleaning Tips to Give Your Second-Hand Furniture New Life

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean Wellington (The Wash House)

Whether it’s wood, cane, fabric or leather, give your second-hand finds a sparkling new lease of life with these cleaning tips and tricks.

Vintage furniture can sometimes need a little TLC before it’s displayed in your home, and pieces you’ve had for a while may also be ready for a spring clean. A quick wipe-down or wash will suffice for some things, but how do you tackle those harder-to-clean items?

Cane:
Cane chairs, tables, shelves and bedheads, with their small crevices, can be dust magnets. Fortunately, you can remove dust with a feather duster, or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, and use an old toothbrush for hard-to-reach areas. To get rid of dirt, most items can be wiped down with a damp cloth, and stains tackled with a soft-bristled brush dipped in a mix of gentle dishwashing liquid and warm water. Make sure not to leave your cane furniture wet after cleaning as mould can grow. Dry it with a fan or leave outside in the sun.

Wood:
Dust wooden furniture gently with a soft cloth, or damp cloth if needed. According to the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute, wooden furniture should be cleaned only when there is a build-up of wax or dirt, and only unfinished wood, painted wood, or wood with a sturdy finish should be cleaned. Oily dirt or waxy residue can be removed with diluted mineral turpentine or a mix of mild detergent and water but take care this doesn’t affect the wood or finish (do a spot test somewhere unobtrusive first).

The Smithsonian recommends avoiding polishes, oils and beeswax, and to instead buff with a stable, hard furniture polish, no more than twice a year for areas of heavy wear, and once every three or four years for other areas. Most other products will do more harm than good as they cause a build-up over time which can be hard to remove.

Fabric and leather:
You can dust fabric or suede surfaces using the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner (on low suction), and wipe leather with a soft, damp cloth. Don’t forget to clean in between the folds and creases of couches and chairs.

From dishwashing liquid to vinegar and baking soda, there are a number of household products you can use to attempt to get out a stain, but it is best to research the correct method for each specific item and type of stain and do a test first to ensure the product you’re using won’t damage the fabric.

Always dab rather than rub at the fabric to ensure you don’t weaken it. You may need to repeat the process a number of times to fully remove a stain, and stubborn stains may need to be seen to by a professional.

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More messages from your neighbours
8 days ago

Have you got a great recipe for feijoas?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for feijoas, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our March 2025 issue.

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17 minutes ago

Supp-oar-t Us

Hannah from Mount Victoria

Kia ora!

The oar-some Wellington Rowing Club novice women's crew are fundraising so we can make it to the NZ National Rowing Championships in February. We would love for our mahi to pay off and bring home some medals to Pōneke!

As part of our fundraising efforts we will be holding a raffle. We are reaching out to local businesses, hoping we can receive some items/vouchers to raffle off, please get in touch if you can help us out with a raffle donation!

Additionally, we are crowd-funding to raise funds givealittle.co.nz...

Thank you in advance!

1 hour ago

Nga mihi o te Tau Hou! Happy New Year!

Olivia from Volunteer Wellington

Our Wellington, Hutt and Porirua offices are open and ready to help you volunteer. 2024 was a great year and we are excited for 2025!

Get involved in your community while having fun, learning new skills and meeting people. Our website has hundreds of volunteering opportunities available.

Are you planning to volunteer in 2025? Tell us below! ⬇️