What is laminate furniture?
Before we start exploring how to maintain laminate furniture, let’s first understand what laminate furniture is. Laminate furniture, as the name suggests, is furniture made of a combination of multiple materials. It usually combines the advantages of wood, metal, plastic, glass, and other synthetic materials, making it both durable and beautiful. Laminate furniture has flexible and diverse designs, and can be either modern and simple or classic and traditional. As a result, laminate furniture is becoming increasingly popular in the market and has become the first choice for many homes and offices.
The advantage of laminate furniture lies in its versatility and durability. These furniture are not only suitable for indoor use, but can also be used outdoors. Whether it is on a balcony, terrace, or garden, laminate furniture can add a touch of fashion to your living space. However, even the best furniture will lose its beauty and functionality over time if it is not properly maintained. Next, let’s explore how to maintain laminate furniture in different seasons to keep it in its best condition at all times.
How to maintain laminate furniture?
Whether your furniture is placed indoors or outdoors, dust and dirt are inevitable. Therefore, it is very important to clean it regularly. For the surface of composite furniture, you can use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe it gently. If there are stubborn stains, you can use warm water and a mild detergent, but avoid using strong acid or alkaline detergents, which may damage the surface of the furniture.
Although composite furniture has a certain degree of weather resistance, long-term exposure to sunlight will cause fading and aging. Especially if the furniture contains wood components, too much sunlight will cause the wood to dry and crack. Therefore, try to place the furniture in a cool place, or use parasols, curtains, etc. to block the sun.
Although composite furniture has strong water resistance, long-term exposure to rain may still cause corrosion or mold. Especially for furniture with metal parts, more attention should be paid to waterproofing. In rainy season or humid weather, you can cover the furniture with a waterproof cover, or move the furniture indoors. In addition, composite furniture may have some minor problems during use, such as loose screws, surface scratches, etc. Check the various parts of the furniture regularly to ensure that they remain stable and intact. If problems are found, timely repairs can extend the service life of the furniture.
If your laminate furniture has a fragile surface that is easily scratched or leaves water stains, you can add a protective mat or tablecloth when using it. This not only protects the furniture, but also adds a decorative effect.
How to maintain laminate furniture in spring/summer, and what should you pay attention to?
Spring and summer are good seasons for outdoor activities, and laminate furniture will also be used more during this period. However, the climate characteristics of this period, such as high temperature, humidity and exposure, also put higher requirements on furniture maintenance. Here are some tips for maintaining laminate furniture in spring and summer:
Moisture-proof in spring
The weather in spring is changeable, and humidity is the main problem. A humid environment can easily cause furniture to mold, especially composite furniture with more wood and fiber components. To prevent mold, you can place desiccants around the furniture to keep the air flowing. For furniture that is not used for a long time, you can use a waterproof cover to cover it.
Summer sun protection
The sun is strong in summer. If your laminate furniture is placed outdoors, long-term exposure will cause the furniture to fade or even deform. The best sun protection measure is to use a parasol or move the furniture to a shaded place. If conditions do not allow, you can spray a layer of sunscreen on the surface of the furniture to provide additional protection. High temperatures in summer have a greater impact on the metal parts of composite furniture, which can easily cause the metal parts to expand or produce thermal damage. It is recommended to reduce the movement and heavy pressure of furniture in hot weather to avoid deformation of the metal parts. If the surface of the furniture expands or deforms, you can try to pat it gently or cool it with cold water to help it return to its original state.
In addition, spring and summer are the peak seasons for dust, pollen and other pollutants, and the cleaning of composite furniture is particularly important. It is recommended to conduct a comprehensive cleaning once a week, especially for furniture used outdoors, to prevent dirt accumulation. When cleaning, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust on the surface and then wipe it with a damp cloth. For stubborn stains, you can use a special detergent to treat it.
Spring and summer are also the peak seasons for insect pests, especially wooden composite furniture is vulnerable to the threat of insect infestation. To prevent insect pests, you can spray insect repellent regularly or place insect repellent bags near the furniture. In addition, keeping the environment around the furniture clean and tidy without accumulating debris can also effectively reduce the occurrence of insect pests.
How to maintain composite furniture in autumn/winter, and what should I pay attention to?
The climate characteristics of autumn and winter are completely different from those of spring and summer. Low temperature, dryness and frequent rainfall and snow have brought new challenges to the maintenance of composite furniture. Here are some precautions for maintaining composite furniture in autumn and winter:
Prevent cracking
The temperature is low and the air is dry in autumn and winter, especially in northern regions. The wood components in furniture are prone to cracking due to water loss. To prevent this, you can regularly apply a layer of protective oil or wax on the surface of the furniture to keep the wood part moist. In addition, avoid placing furniture near radiators or other heat sources to avoid cracking due to excessive temperature differences.
Protection from rainy and snowy weather
Rain and snow are frequent in winter. If composite furniture is exposed to such bad weather, it is prone to rust, corrosion and mold. It is recommended to move outdoor furniture indoors as much as possible in autumn and winter. If it cannot be moved, it can be covered with a waterproof cover, and the condition of the furniture should be checked regularly to deal with any problems found in a timely manner.
Maintain temperature and humidity
The temperature changes greatly in autumn and winter, especially at night when the temperature drops sharply, the material of the furniture may be damaged due to thermal expansion and contraction. To avoid this, you can place a humidifier indoors to maintain air humidity, or move the furniture to a constant temperature and humidity environment for storage.
Although furniture is used less frequently in autumn and winter, it still needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly. Especially in winter, dust and dirt are easily accumulated on the surface of furniture. If these pollutants are not cleaned for a long time, they will corrode the surface of the furniture. In addition, the large temperature difference between indoor and outdoor in winter can easily cause condensation on the surface of furniture, which in turn causes mold growth. To prevent this from happening, you can spray mildew inhibitors on the surface of the furniture, or use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity in the air. At the same time, regular ventilation can also help prevent the growth of mold.
