Spring Cleaning and Furniture Care: Expert Advice from Harrison's Family of Stores
Harrison Team- Apr 29
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
May 5, 2025
As spring brings renewed energy to Michigan homes, it's the perfect time to give your furniture the attention it deserves. Proper care not only preserves the beauty of your pieces but also extends their life and maintains their value. Each Harrison's location brings specialized expertise to furniture maintenance, reflecting our distinct showrooms' unique perspective and product focus.
Join us as we explore spring furniture care through the lens of each Harrison's location, from investment piece preservation to budget-friendly refreshes, family-friendly maintenance to specialized comfort care.
Clarkston: The Art of Preservation for Investment Pieces
At Harrison's Design + Furniture in Clarkston, quality furniture deserves meticulous care that honors craftsmanship and preserves value for generations.
Material-Specific Excellence
Every fine material requires its approach to care, and attention to these nuances distinguishes proper preservation from mere cleaning:
Fine Woods: For pieces with exceptional veneers or solid hardwoods, we recommend twice-yearly deep conditioning with high-quality furniture oils appropriate to the specific wood species. Focus on even, gentle application with the grain, and allow proper absorption time before buffing with a microfiber cloth.
Natural Stone: Marble, travertine, and other natural stone surfaces should be resealed every six months, particularly during spring when winter's dry air may have depleted previous protection. Choose a penetrating sealer formulated explicitly for your stone type, and follow application instructions precisely.
Premium Leathers: Full-grain and aniline leathers benefit from professional-grade conditioning that maintains supple texture while preserving the patina that makes each piece unique. Spring is ideal for addressing any winter dryness before summer humidity creates different conditions.
Our Clarkston staff includes specialists trained in material science who can recommend product-specific solutions for your most treasured pieces.
The Preservation Environment
Beyond direct care, the environment surrounding your fine furniture impacts its longevity:
Light Management: Reposition pieces that may receive direct sunlight as seasonal angles change. Consider UV-protective window treatments for rooms with significant sun exposure.
Humidity Control: As spring brings fluctuating humidity, monitor levels in rooms with important wood pieces. The ideal 40-60% relative humidity range prevents warping, cracking, and joint stress.
Air Quality: Spring cleaning should include HVAC system maintenance and filter replacement to reduce dust accumulation on furniture surfaces.
Our design consultants can provide room-specific guidance for creating environments that protect your investment while maintaining aesthetic excellence.
Midland: Spring Refresh for Vintage and New Furniture
At Midland Furniture Garage, refreshing your furniture shouldn't require specialist services or expensive products. Our approach combines practical solutions with creative revitalization techniques.
Budget-Friendly Deep Cleaning
Spring is perfect for going beyond regular dusting to address accumulated winter grime:
DIY Wood Cleaner: Mix equal parts white vinegar and olive oil with a few drops of lemon essential oil for a natural wood cleaner and polish. This combination cuts through winter buildup while nourishing wood surfaces without harsh chemicals.
Upholstery Refresh: Before bringing in professional services, try this: Sprinkle baking soda liberally on fabric upholstery, let it sit for 1-2 hours, and then vacuum thoroughly with an upholstery attachment. Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water for spot cleaning, test in an inconspicuous area, and then gently blot stains.
Vintage Metal Revival: For brass, copper, or chrome elements showing tarnish, try a paste of equal parts flour, salt, and white vinegar. Apply gently, let sit briefly, then buff with a soft cloth for renewed shine.
These approaches use household items that deliver professional-level results without specialty products.
Creative Revitalization
Spring is also the perfect time to consider giving tired pieces new life:
Hardware Update: Swapping drawer pulls, knobs, or handles can transform case goods instantly. We've just received vintage-inspired hardware to elevate basic pieces to statement status.
Strategic Reupholstery: Rather than recovering an entire sofa, consider reupholstering just the cushions or adding a contrasting welt for fresh impact at minimal cost.
Repurposing: With minor modifications, that outdated dining hutch might make a perfect entryway storage piece or bar cabinet. Our team excels at identifying creative "second lives" for solid pieces with good bones.
Visit our Midland showroom for hands-on demonstrations of these techniques.
Grandville: Family-Friendly Furniture Care Checklist
At Harrison West Design + Furniture, we understand that beautiful homes and busy families can coexist peacefully. Our practical approach to furniture care emphasizes efficiency, safety, and solutions that the whole family can help maintain.
Seasonal Care Schedule
Creating a simple, systematic approach to furniture care ensures it becomes a manageable routine rather than an overwhelming project:
Weekly Maintenance: Quick dust with microfiber cloths (assign age-appropriate furniture to children as part of chore routines)
Monthly Care: Vacuum upholstery, including under cushions and along seams where debris collects
Seasonal Deep Clean: Address specific seasonal issues (winter salt residue, spring pollen, summer sunscreen transfer, autumn mud)
Performance Fabric Maintenance
Today's performance textiles require specific approaches to maintain their protective qualities:
Blotting vs. Rubbing: Always blot spills immediately—never rub, as this can compromise stain-resistant finishes and drive spills deeper into fibers.
Manufacturer Guidelines: Different performance fabrics (Crypton, Sunbrella, Revolution) have specific cleaning protocols. We maintain a reference library of care instructions for all brands and can provide guidelines for your particular pieces.
Professional Cleaning Timing: Even performance fabrics benefit from annual professional cleaning. Spring is ideal for removing winter's accumulated indoor pollution before summer's open windows introduce new particulates.
Our Grandville design team can demonstrate proper techniques for maintaining your specific performance pieces while keeping them family-friendly.
Kid and Pet Solutions
Homes with children and pets benefit from additional care strategies:
Preventative Measures: Designate snack-free furniture, use washable throws on high-use areas, and create pet-specific furniture zones to minimize cleaning needs.
Teaching Moments: Spring cleaning provides opportunities to teach children about caring for possessions—assign age-appropriate tasks with child-safe cleaning solutions.
Quick-Response Kits: For immediate spill response, maintain small cleaning kits in multiple rooms. These kits should include clean microfiber cloths, a gentle cleaning solution in a spray bottle, and blotting materials.
Visit our Grandville showroom for family-friendly furniture care advice.
Rochester Hills: Specialized Care for Premium Comfort
At ScandiComfort and Light & Loom, we approach furniture care with technical precision, focusing on maintaining the aesthetic appeal and functional mechanics of specialized comfort pieces and window treatments.
Ergonomic Mechanism Maintenance
Premium comfort pieces like Ekornes Stressless recliners and sofas incorporate sophisticated mechanical systems that benefit from seasonal attention:
Movement Inspection: Test all moving parts of recliners, adjustable headrests, and swivel functions for smooth operation. Note any resistance or unusual sounds that may indicate a need for adjustment.
Mechanism Cleaning: Use compressed air to remove dust from reclining mechanisms, swivel bases, and adjustment hardware. Avoid liquid cleaners on mechanical components.
Lubrication Assessment: Spring is ideal for checking whether pivot points and mechanical elements require professional lubrication. Our trained technicians can provide this service to extend the functional life of your comfort pieces.
Leather and Comfort Textile Care
Specialized comfort pieces often feature premium leathers and technical textiles that require specific care:
Stress Point Attention: Areas of highest body contact—headrests, armrests, and seat cushions—require more frequent conditioning. Address these zones monthly rather than just during seasonal cleaning.
Technical Fabric Maintenance: Breathable comfort textiles should be vacuumed regularly with upholstery attachments to maintain proper air circulation. Avoid conventional stain repellents, which can compromise breathability.
Natural Leather Process: True natural leathers in Stressless pieces develop character with use. Rather than attempting to prevent natural variations, use appropriate leather conditioners to ensure these changes occur evenly and beautifully.
Our comfort specialists can demonstrate proper care techniques for your Stressless or other ergonomic pieces.
Window Treatment Maintenance
Spring cleaning should include attention to window treatments, which accumulate dust and affect light quality:
Dusting Techniques: Different window treatments require specific approaches—honeycomb shades should be compressed when dusting to protect the cell structure, while wood blinds benefit from microfiber glove cleaning.
Operation Checks: Test all mechanical and motorized functions, checking for battery replacement needs or programming updates in automated systems.
Professional Services: Some specialized treatments benefit from annual professional servicing, particularly motorized or oversized installations. Our Hunter Douglas-certified technicians can schedule spring maintenance for complex window treatments.
Visit our Light & Loom department to demonstrate proper cleaning techniques for all Hunter Douglas products.
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