Cleaning Tips to Give Your Second-Hand Furniture New Life
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.
Read if you are in need of work to be done or looking to do work
Palmerston North people 👋
It seems like nearly every second day we are hearing about someone who has been scammed or messed around when they’re just trying to organise simple help. That's why I'm testing an idea for a local odd-jobs platform to help people get small household tasks done without the stress of trying to find someone reliable.
The goal is to build something that feels safe, local, and fair for everyone.
clear job descriptions
transparent pricing/bids
real profiles + ratings
We’ll start small with non-licensed jobs like:
🌿yard tidy-ups
🚮 rubbish removal
🚐 small moving help
🪣cleaning
🏠 minor repairs & maintenance (non-licensed)
The pilot won’t include electrical, gas, or certified plumbing.
With the cost of living right now, if you want to jump onboard as a customer or worker i’ve made an early access waitlist:
Join the early access list here: forms.gle...
I’ve also got a fully anonymous survey up that takes less than two minutes. This will help me tailor the categories, pricing expectations and see what people want most:
Quick survey here: forms.gle...
If you’ve ever struggled to get a small job done because it’s “too small” for tradies, or if you’re someone who wants to earn extra money doing honest work - I’d really love your input.
👉You can also book on behalf of a family member who needs a bit of extra help.
Thanks heaps 🙌
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
-
72.6% We work hard, we deserve a break!
-
16.7% Hmm, maybe?
-
10.8% Yes!
Roofing Contractor
Hello Neighbourly Community. Sadly my phone had a moment and uninstallerd the Neighbourly app for me. I have lost all the replies I had for a roofing contractor. I was wondering if anyone knows how to contact Fin from Roof Buddy please or if anyone has any reccomendations for a reliable roofing contractor please. Thankyou.
Loading…
