How to care for leather finishes

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Leather finishes are simply exquisite to look at. They provide a unique and premium texture to furniture and are relatively easier to clean compared to cloth or fabric covers. However, caring for leather isn’t the simplest task in the world. Stains can last forever if you don’t know how to clean them. You also run the risk of ruining your leather by using the wrong cleaning method. Here are some tips on caring for leather finishes.

Basic cleaning
The most basic way of cleaning a leather surface is to wipe it clean using a soft cloth or microfiber cloth. Another way is to take a damp cloth and moisturizing soap and lather the leather surface. Remember never to rinse leather material. If you want it to shine, use a buffer.


Removing spots
Stains and other marks like ink require a different approach. To remove spots like these, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and rub the mark. Wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth after the alcohol rub.

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Keep the leather surface supple
The texture of leather tends to lose its luster overtime. To bring back its supple feel, create a solution that’s 1 part vinegar and 2 parts linseed oil. Place both solutions in a container and shake thoroughly. Apply the solution to the leather and let it sit for 12 hours. After wiping the solution, buff the surface thoroughly.


Buying new furniture is an important investment. For this reason, Guardian Protection Products, Inc. offers protection plans and a complete line of cleaners, protectors, and polishes to help people take care of their new furniture. The company's protection plans cover, on average, five years. To know more about the company and its products, visit this website.

A quick review on rug maintenance

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Guardian Protection Products Inc. has touched on the topic of rug maintenance years ago, and it’s good to take a refresher on keeping rugs and carpets clean and in good condition. These are fan-favorite household fixtures. Children love rolling and playing around on carpets and rugs. Parents sit on them. Babies crawl on them.


The main purpose for cleaning rugs and carpets is to rid them of the dust and dirt, and sometimes even minute insects and parasites that can harm people. A carpet that isn’t well-maintained may gather all these things over time and trigger a lot of health problems, from allergies to asthma, to even infections.

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While Guardian Protection Products, Inc. offers the best services in town for cleaning carpets, it’s also prudent that homeowners know just how to maintain it. For example, liquid spills should never be rubbed into the carpet. This only makes matters worse by pushing the liquid further into the fibers. A clean towel will suffice. Put it over the liquid and press down for easy absorption. Using hand-dishwashing soap and water is also effective, before spraying the area with water and patting dry with a towel.


However, it’s still best to hire professionals. Not only will the carpet and rug look brand new, professionals such as Guardian Protection Products, Inc. also have methods to ensure the cleanliness of household fixtures for a long time.


Do you have any tips on how to keep a carpet clean? Feel free to share in the comments section below.


Guardian Protection Products, Inc. helps people protect their new furniture from life's little accidents by offering furniture protection plans and cleaning products. The company’s protection plans encompass a wide array of furniture materials and cover the cost of materials and labor to service the client's furniture item in the event of accidents from single incidents during normal residential use. For more articles on cleaning furniture, visit this page.

Avoid costly wood furniture repair with these simple care tips

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With conscious effort to schedule a regular annual or bi-annual cleaning, wood furniture could resist expensive repairs that come with normal use and age of the pieces. Hereunder are simple furniture care tips to keep in mind.


Keep your furniture away from direct sunlight as much as possible, as even rays passing through windows, especially during summer, will cook the wood’s finish. This in turn could lead to fading, shrinking of the wood, and cracks. Similarly, don’t set up the furniture too close to vents or heating units.

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When cleaning, you can use warm water and a dish soap but be careful not to soak the furniture. Use an old, unused toothbrush for hard-to-reach areas while removing surface dirt with paper towels or a soft rag. Make sure to dry off any remaining moisture using a soft cloth.


After each cleaning, apply a thin coating of a soft paste wax. Wait about five minutes then rub gently with a soft cloth. Buff anew thereafter but more vigorously after another 30 minutes to an hour. This will help maintain a nice gloss to the finish that should last for months.


Lastly, note that, unlike leather, it’s not advisable to apply oil or polishes on wood furniture. The manufacturer’s protective finish is not just applied on it to add shine and appeal, but to seal the wood and prevent oils from seeping through.


An established leader in furniture protection, Guardian Protection Products Inc. offers a wide array of protection plans and cleaning services for different furniture materials, including fabric, leather, and wood. For more tips on advice on furniture care, check out this blog.

Maintain and protect your expensive upholstery with these simple tips

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Investing in good quality upholstery for furniture or home finishes is a good decision—until it gets damaged or stained. Instead of replacing the upholstery completely, there are effective ways to clean these hard-to-remove spots and maintain and salvage the furniture. Here are some tips to keeping your upholstery looking spotless.


Stock up on stain protectants. Fabric protectors make sure that stains don’t stay permanent. Serious stains include wine or food stains and pet stains. Regularly spraying your upholstered furniture with stain protectants will thicken the fabric and will make stains slide off as long as you immediately wipe it with a dry cloth.

Get a handheld vacuum. There are creases and crevices that will be difficult to reach or clean with a cloth, and a handheld vacuum is the best solution for this cleaning dilemma. Not only does a vacuum collect dust, but it also gathers small debris stuck in the folds and creases.

Always check cleaning instructions. Different kinds of fabric require different kinds of cleaning and maintenance, which is why it is always better to check specific instructions on the labels.


Try cleaning with steam. If the upholstery can be cleaned with water, try loosening up dirt build-ups with steam. Steam makes the stain more responsive to treatment, whether you decide to use stain removers or a washcloth.


Buying new furniture is an important investment. For this reason, Guardian Protection Products, Inc. offers protection plans and a complete line of cleaners, protectors, and polishes to help people take care of their new furniture. The company's protection plans cover, on average, five years. Fore more articles about maintaining your furniture, visit this page.

Top Reasons Why You Need a Mattress Protector

Using a mattress protector is an easy, affordable way to protect one’s mattress and extend its lifespan. A mattress is a worthy investment and it only makes sense to use these protectors or thin pieces of bedding material used like a fitted sheet and encase the mattress properly. Here are top reasons why a mattress protector works.

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Waterproofing

Did you know that many mattress warranties will be voided once the mattress is stained? A mattress protector will shield it from water damage and other stains. Accidents happen, so it could only be a matter of time before the next drink spill on the bed. 

Bed bug and allergen protection
These tiny critters feed on human blood and can set up show in one’s mattress; a protector can keep them away. This product also offers a barrier against dust mites as well as other allergens such as molds and dead skin cells, preventing their buildup in the mattress.

Enhanced comfort
A protector can also come with added quilting or fabric that adds a soft, inviting layer in between the mattress and one’s bedding. 

Temperature control
There are some protectors that also come with fabric and materials that assist in breathability and temperature control while one is sound asleep. It pays to do one’s due diligence in selecting a mattress protector. It should be quiet, waterproof, and breathable, won’t change the feel of the mattress, and designed for maximizing comfort and longevity of any mattress. It should also be machine washable and includes a 10-year protection plan or something similar. 

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Guardian Protection Products, Inc. protects the beauty and value of furniture with protection plans that cover fabric, leather, wood, mattresses, and more, as well as offers a complete line of furniture and mattress protectors. Read more on this site.

Beware of these huge mistakes in carpet care

Who doesn’t love carpets? They’re extremely comfy and cozy. But they need lots of care. In fact, it would be very easy for the uninitiated to ruin a perfectly good carpet. Here are some of the more common mistakes people make with their carpets. 

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Vacuum 

Vacuuming carpets is one of the staples of carpet care. However, homeowners are cautioned against vacuuming new carpets that have yet to have dust and dirt settled in. Vacuuming can flatten the standing fiber of carpets and ruin the whole thing. Non-electric hand sweepers should do the trick. 

Stains 

One of the rules of thumb of carpet care is never to rub stains. Doing so only spread the undesirable substance. In order to prevent making the situation worse, simply dab the stain with cleaning solutions using a clean cloth. This blots the stain, pressuring it, and soaking the moisture inward. 

Water 

Still on the topic of stains, some overzealous owners may use too much water when dabbing. This can harm the carpet in two ways. First, it may cause the carpet to lose its color. Second, using too much water may lead to the shrinking of the carpet. 

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Guardian Protection Products Inc. protects the beauty and value of furniture with its amazing protection plans. Learn more about the company here.

Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite: Some Prevention Tips

Bed bugs are blood-sucking parasites that smell horrible, irritate the skin, and generally create great discomfort in anyone’s household. It’s imperative that these insects don’t share your home. Here are some tips on how to keep bedbugs away.

Sweep the floor and vacuum carpets and rugs regularly
A regular cleaning habit is key to preventing bedbugs from entering your house. Vacuum once a week and sweep more frequently. Also, dispose of collected trash immediately. If there happens to be bedbugs, they will spread faster if you don’t throw out the contents, particularly from your vacuum.

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Remove all clutter
Clear out the clutter in your house, as these can become breeding places for bedbugs. Also, they will make it harder to spot potential presence or infestation.

Wash and dry bed linens
Bedbugs are most likely going to be on your beddings and furniture upholstery. Wash them regularly in hot temperature and bring them immediately to a cleaning professional if you find any sign of blood spots.

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Inspect second-hand furniture and travel suitcases thoroughly
If you’ve just acquired used furniture, make sure to examine them closely before bringing into your home. Do the same for travel gear like suitcases if you’ve just returned from a trip or vacation. Again, if you’re sure that there are bedbugs in them, the best recourse is to contact a pest-control professional.

Guardian Protection Products Inc. offers protection services and products that help customers protect their families from health threats presented by unclean furniture. For more on their protection plans, go to this website.