Cleaning tips come from all directions with different theories offered by different sources, many of which conflict and confuse consumers. When it comes to cleaning furniture, this can be a real problem because these elements of your home are a huge investment, and making a mistake in cleaning them can be expensive. Whether it’s the barstools or the children’s bedroom furniture like kids’ bunk beds, there is a proper way to care for each piece of furniture in your home. Here are some mistakes to avoid when endeavoring to keep your furnishings clean. If you follow these guidelines, it’ll give you a good head start on determining which cleaning tips are myth and which are reality.

Metal Furniture

Metal can appear in several rooms in the home, including the bedroom, kitchen, dining room, and even living room, and metal is a pretty generic term that can refer to basic cast iron or expensive gold and silver. For metal furniture, the basic care involves simply dusting regularly with a dry cloth or feather duster and cleaning with a damp cloth only. You don’t want to use too much water or any other substance because this can lead to rust, tarnish, and even scratching. Imagine a rusted or tarnished metal canopy bed that leaves marks on the canopy. It wouldn’t be very attractive.

Wrought Iron

Probably the most common piece of furniture made from this material is the wrought iron daybed. This particular material will generally care for itself, and use of cleaning chemicals is not recommended. Oxygenation of iron with certain chemicals will actually cause rusting to occur, and this is the last thing you want on your child’s or guest’s bed.

Trundle DayBed

This is a completely different animal entirely, as it’s the working parts of this contraption with which maintenance is concerned. The biggest mistake that people make with these is popping them up and down too quickly. Care is required to keep the spring mechanisms in order, so when opening and closing them, gentle motions are needed. Oiling joints may be helpful as well, if the bed begins to stick. You can find furniture both locally and online including quality trundles and daybeds to meet your needs that require little maintenance.

Barstools

Wood bar stools are the most common configuration, made to look like commercial bar materials on a grander and more upscale level. There are two major mistakes that are often made in the cleaning of wood furniture. The most common mistake is using too much water or chemicals to clean the furniture. Wood can swell out of shape when doused with too much water, so dusting should be done with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Chemicals should not be used unless otherwise specified because they could damage the finish. The other large mistake is not polishing the furniture. Be sure to use a wood polish that is compatible with your furniture (check instructions), but use the substance to maintain a like-new shine about once a month.

Invest in the right methods to clean your furniture and its beauty will last. Avoid these common mistakes to keep the durability of your home furniture serving you for years to come.