Care Guide

Caring For Your Furniture

At Once a Tree, we create unique spaces and understand that your home’s furniture and decor are part of your lifestyle and, therefore, should be cared for in a way that expands their natural longevity. Whether you’re having a high-end furniture item custom made, or buying something from one of our trusted Canadian brands, knowing how to care for each piece is the key to an elegant living space.

Read below our Care Guide for the different kinds of materials you will find in our catalogue: Wood, Upholstery, Fabric, and Leather.

WOOD

Dust with dry, soft cloth or untreated dusting cloth.
Avoid alcohol or petroleum-based products on lacquer finishes.
Felt pads should be used on items placed on wood surfaces to avoid scratches.
Irregularities such as sapwood, knots and uneven colouration should be expected in natural wood and enhance the inherent beauty of the material.
Over time, air and sunlight will change the colour of natural wood. You can occasionally rotate items placed on your wood furniture to allow a more uniform colour to develop.
To ensure even colouration of extension table leaves, expose them to the same light as your table. Once the leaves have reached mature coloration, they may be stored flat and top down.
Fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels may cause wood to warp, swell or shrink. Keeping furniture doors closed will help minimize the changes in this most commonly affected part of furniture.
Wood naturally expands and contracts causing bed connections to loosen over time. This process is a natural characteristic of wood. Tighten hardware occasionally to restore the bed to original stability
Direct contact with rubber bumpers and candle wax may react with the wood’s finish and leave a stain.

UPHOLSTERY

While all fabric will fade over time, direct sunlight can dramatically fade dark colours. We recommend placing your upholstered pieces where they won’t be exposed to direct sunlight.
An annual professional cleaning will keep your sofa or chair looking its best.
Cushions will compress over time. Comfort wrinkles and creases occur naturally as upholstered furniture adjusts to normal use. Fluff and rotate cushions weekly to keep them looking fresh and to help them wear evenly.
Vacuum weekly with an upholstery attachment. Although you may not see it, dust settles on your upholstery and can soil or cause wearing.

FABRIC

Prompt attention to your stain is advisable. Clean up as much of the spill as possible with a clean, dry, white cloth. Blot - don’t rub.
Please call a Design Associate for the fabric cleaning code of your piece before using anything.
If the stain has dried, remove excess by gently using a soft nylon brush.
Never use a cleaning solvent containing bleaching agents. Test a mild upholstery cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area. Begin with a few drops of the solution on a cloth, hold it against the colour and wait a few seconds. Look to see if any of the other colour has transferred to the cloth or if there has been a change in the colour of the fabric. If so, contact an upholstery cleaning specialist.
Apply a small amount of a mild cleaning solution to the cloth. Over saturation may affect the upholstery materials (backing, foam, etc.) under the fabric.
When applying a solvent type cleaning solution use one dry clean cloth to apply the solution and a second cloth to blot the stain. If cleaning instructions call for use of any water, use distilled water only.
Blot stain with the cleaning solution. Do not rub, brush or scrub. Excessive rubbing may cause permanent stains, colour distortion or permanent damage to the fabric. Always follow the instructions on the cleaning solution bottle.
Work from the outer edge toward the center of the stain to avoid enlarging it. The stain should start to release as you blot. Repeat process using a clean spot on the dry cloth to avoid redepositing the stain. Continue to apply cleaning solution sparingly and blot until stain no longer transfers onto the cloth.
When you have removed as much of the stain as possible blot any remaining cleaning solution or moisture from the fabric. If the spot is in a place where you can leave a clean, dry cloth on the stain, do so and weigh down the cloth allowing it to remain on the spot while it dries.
Fast drying helps to prevent rings. Use a fan or hair dryer on the cool setting to remove excess moisture and assist in the drying process. Then let the area dry - this may take several hours.
If the stain persists contact an upholstery professional for cleaning.

LEATHER

To prevent fading and cracking, avoid exposure to direct sunlight or heat.
Fluff seat and back cushions to help them wear more evenly.
Dust and vacuum regularly.
For spills, we recommend using distilled water and a light coloured cloth.
Do not use water to wash out butter, oil or grease stains. Wipe dry with cloth. The spot will dissipate into the leather over time.
To protect and maintain leather we recommend purchasing a leather conditioner.

Do you have any questions about the caring of a luxury furniture or décor item? Contact us and we will be happy to help.