Furniture Care

You try to stave off the first stains as long as you can, but it’s inevitable: something messy is going to land on that new chair or sofa. However, unlike that first heart-breaking paint scratch on your shiny new car door, quick action can usually make first and subsequent upholstery-stain boo-boos virtually disappear!

Keep in mind if you purchased a furniture protection plan you will need to call them first before attempting any of the cleaning suggestions below.
If you have the Platinum Protection Plan, simply call 1-800-732-5856 when you notice your damage or stain.

Next time you’re visiting with us at one of our Grand locations, speak with one of our representatives about our Guardsman Furniture Cleaning Products. These products help protect and enhance the natural beauty of your furniture.

Upholstery Care

To preserve the beauty and longevity of your upholstered furniture, a little periodic care and maintenance can help prolong the lifespan of your purchase.

• Vacuum your upholstery regularly: It’s your first defense against stains. Vacuuming removes soil from your furniture just as it does from your carpets and rugs, and you may discover hidden food stains between the cushions in time to get them out before they set.
• Find a hidden place on the piece’s cover to test your liquid cleaner before attacking a stain. Good testing sites might include the bottom inside hem of the skirt or a seam at the back.
• Remove soil right away if you can. The longer a spill stays on the fabric, the harder it is to remove. If it’s a more solid substance, scrape it up from the cover with a dull spoon or table knife, then vacuum the fabric as soon as you can after removing the stain.
• If your cleaning code allows water-based stain cleaning, use five teaspoons of mild dishwashing liquid to one gallon of lukewarm water. If it’s an oily spill, or something like cola that contains caramelized sugar, use a solution of one part white vinegar to one part water.
• Dampen but don’t soak the stained spot. Blot frequently with white cotton or paper towels, but don’t rub; you may disturb the fabric’s nap or cause it to pill.
• Always work from the outer edges of a stain in toward the center, which will help prevent rings from forming.

Upholstery Cleaning Codes

Know your fabric. The tag on the underside of your upholstered furniture is coded with a letter, which determines your best method of stain removal. Your favorite Grand associate will be happy to unlock your sofa’s code for you. Here are some common cleaning codes and cleaning methods:

• Code S Care Method

  To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean using a mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Clean only in a well-ventilated room and avoid any product containing carbon tetrachloride which is highly toxic. Pretest small area before proceeding. Cleaning by a professional furniture cleaning service only is recommended.

• Code W Care Method

  Use water base upholstery cleaner only.

• Code WS Care Method

  To prevent overall soil, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended. Spot clean, with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or the foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or dry cleaning product, follow instructions carefully and clean only in a well ventilated room. Avoid any product which is highly toxic. With either method, pretest a small area before proceeding. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.

• Code XS Care Method

  Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust or grime. Water-based foam cleaners or solvent-based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, staining or distortion of the surface pile and therefore should not be used. A word of caution on cleaning: never remove cushion covers or arm caps for separate cleaning. It may destroy the backing, cause shrinking and color changes.

• Code SW Care Method

  Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or mild dry cleaning solvent. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do not saturate. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to restore appearance. Hot water extraction or steam cleaning is not a recommended cleaning method. Cushion casings should not be removed and laundered or dry cleaned. To prevent overall soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Clean spots or stains from the outside to the middle of affected area to prevent circling. Use a professional when an overall soiled condition has been reached.

Leather Care

Leather upholstery is a great investment that will provide you with many years of comfortable enjoyment. With the right care, leather improves with age, providing many years of enjoyable use.

As durable as it is, though, leather is not immune to damaging accidents or injuries. With proper care, leather can outlast fabric upholstery by four to one, with the added advantage of improving with age, becoming more appealing to both the touch and the eye.

• Avoid using or placing sharp objects on leather goods. Leather is very durable, but not accident or damage proof.
• Place your furniture a minimum of two feet from radiators and other heat sources.
• Protect your leather furniture from direct and even indirect sunlight. Some leathers, such as full and semi-aniline, will fade over time.
• Avoid air pollution such as cigar or cigarette smoke and cooking fumes, which can cause leather to fade or change color.
• Keep leather free from dust by dusting with a cloth (such as the Guardsman Dust Cloth), preferably once a week.
• Clean leather with Guardsman Leather Cleaner, preferably once a month if the furniture is used daily. Minimally, this needs to be done four times a year. Don’t rub! Sponge gently until all grime and stains are absorbed.
• Treat leather with Guardsman Leather Protector/Conditioner after each cleaning, to retain its softness and attractive appearance.
• Blot spills up immediately. Use Guardsman Leather Cleaner to remove the spill. Please note: Many common household cleaning products can cause severe damage and costly repairs, and improper cleaning may void your Furniture Protection Plan.

Wood Furniture Care

Fine wood furniture surfaces require special care to look their sleek and beautiful best. Here are a few dos and don’ts for bringing out that healthy shine.

• Wood breathes, almost like we do, and so both extremely moist and extremely dry air should be avoided. Depending on the climate, use a humidifier or dehumidifier to help keep wood from drying out or warping. Also, try not to place your wood furniture near air vents: The forced air will adversely affect it.
• Protect all wood furniture from direct sunlight. Exposure to the sun’s rays can dry out the wood and bleach out the color.
• Cover the bottoms of tabletop items with felt to prevent scratching.
• Never let water stand on a wood surface. Use coasters under glasses to prevent water marks, and always use a protective plate or saucer under flower vases and potted plants to keep moisture from drawing into the wood.
• Dust often to maintain a clean surface and protect finishes from soil build-up. Use a clean, lint-free, absorbent cloth.
• Wash your wood furniture surfaces once a year with a sudsy solution of mild soap and warm water mostly wrung from a clean, soft cloth. With a circular motion, gently wipe one small area at a time, overlapping as you go. After cleaning, rinse with a different soap-free dampened cloth and dry immediately with a third lint-free cloth. If your wood is extremely dry, grimy or covered with wax build-up, treat it with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth dipped sparingly into a good cleanser-conditioner.

Mattress Care

Mattresses can be a large investment and hopefully one that will last for many years to come. In order to extend the life of your mattress we recommend taking these steps in keeping your mattress protected.

• Make sure to always keep your mattress clean. We suggest using a mattress pad. Don’t allow your mattress to get wet. Protect it from water or other liquids. Don’t use dry cleaning fluid of any type on your mattress. These chemicals could damage some of the comfort and upholstery materials.
• Keeping your bedding clean is simple with the use of a protective mattress pad. Vacuuming is the only recommended cleaning method. If you must clean a stain, use mild soap with cold water and apply lightly! Don’t ever soak a mattress or foundation, and don’t use dry cleaning fluid of any type on your mattress-these chemicals could damage some of the comfort and upholstery materials.
• We recommend that you rotate your mattress (or flip it if it’s two sided) on a regular basis to refresh its comfort. Mattresses contain many layers of upholstery padding to increase their comfort life and support performance. Body indentations can be a normal occurrence in new mattresses, and indicate that the upholstery layers are conforming to a person’s individual body contours. To help minimize body impressions, mattresses should be turned occasionally throughout their life.