Cleaning & Care
THE CLEANER, THE BETTER
For the best results possible, you'll always want to start with the specific care instructions from the manufacturer of your piece. But we're here to help and are happy to share our time-tested methods for cleaning nearly everything in your home.
ACCESSORIES
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Mirrors // Wipe clean with a cloth and a mild glass cleaning solution.
WALLCOVERINGS
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Natural wallcoverings should be cleaned regularly using a vacuum cleaner with a clean soft brush attachment to remove dust and dirt. Do not use wet cleaning as this may result in discoloration.
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Spot clean with a damp cloth. The wiping direction should be from bottom to top to protect the baseboard and prevent streaking. Do not use abrasive cleaners as they may ruin the wallpaper surface. Do not use hard scrubbers on the wallpapers as they may mar the surface.
HARDWARE
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Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. To protect the finish, do not use household cleaners or abrasives.
ART
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Unframed painting // Provided that there are no signs of loose or flaking paint, a painting may be safely dusted using a clean, soft, natural-hair artists' brush. Never use dry or moist dust cloths, stiff bristle brushes, or feather dusters to dust a painting. Threads from dust cloths may catch on areas of raised paint, moisture may cause subsequent loss of paint, and both bristle-haired brushes and feather dusters can scratch the surface of a painting.
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Framed painting // Wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth. Spray glass cleaner onto cloth and never spray glass cleaner directly onto glass to prevent liquid from seeping behind glass and ruining art. Wipe damped cloth gently over glass. Dry with lint-free cloth.
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Sculpture // Use a dry, soft cloth over the surface of the sculpture.
BEDDING
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Down // Machine wash on gentle setting using minimal detergent as to not damage the feathers. Low tumble dry. Not all down and feathers are pure white in color so don't be alarmed at spots that appear to be brown or black.
FURNITURE
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General // Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid the use of chemicals and household cleaners as they may damage the finish. Hardware may loosen over time. Periodically check that all connections are tight.
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Wood Furniture // Wipe clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. Be careful not to soak it. Use an old toothbrush for hard-to-get areas. Wipe the dirt off the surface with soft cloths or paper towels until they come up fairly clean.
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Rattan Furniture // Clean regularly with mild soap and water. Dry with a soft cloth. Do not leave rattan wet. Keep indoors and out of direct sunlight to preserve its beauty.
UPHOLSTERY
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General // Spot clean with a damp cloth and a mild and diluted cleaning solution. If zippered cover finished, cold machine wash separately, delicate cycle, mild detergent. Do not tumble dry, soak or bleach. Iron at medium setting if necessary.
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Cushion Covers // Cold machine wash separately, delicate cycle, mild detergent. Do not tumble dry, soak or bleach. Iron at medium setting if necessary.
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Leather Upholstery // Twice a year (ideally, before the start and at the end of the heating season) use dry pieces of cotton wool soaked in room-temperature distilled water and gently clean stains using a circular movement, working from the outside toward the centre. Dry with a soft towel. If the stain does not respond to water, use a special neutral soap for leather cleaning, or a special leather care product. Soak a small piece of cotton wool in the mixture of distilled water and soap and gently rub the stain in a circular motion. Dry with a clean towel.
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Velvet // Use upholstery cleaner like Woolite to clean velvet. Test the cleaner on a discrete area, like the back or underside of the sofa. Check to make sure it does not discolor the material or damage it in any way. Carefully apply the upholstery cleaner to the velvet with a soft sponge, leaving the velvet's pile undisturbed. After it is clean, be sure to vacuum and brush the velvet a number of times to keep the velvet looking neat. If the fabric is wet, use a paper towel or soft cloth to soak up the liquid. Apply dry cleaning detergent to a sponge and blot the stain repeatedly. Let the cleanser dry entirely on the fabric, using a hair dryer or fan to dry it as quickly as possible. Use a soft brush to unmat the velvet if it appears matted.
LIGHTING
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Lighting general // Spot clean with a damp cloth and a mild and diluted cleaning solution. Dust bulb with a microfiber or feather duster.
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Lamp Shades // Vacuum shades regularly to prevent dirt, dust, grit, or debris build up. If needed, wipe shades with lightly damp towel and a mild, diluted cleaning solution. Do not allow liquid to stand on shades. Never use harsh solvents as many of them can discolor or damage the surface. Minimal care and cleaning is needed to maintain the beauty of the shade. Clean with a low suction, handheld vacuum or dust with a soft, clean cloth or feather duster. Never immerse the treatment in liquid of any type.
DRAPERY
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To keep your linen and/or cotton drapes looking fresh and bright all the time, it's best to clean them once a year. Gently take down drapes and machine wash with mild detergent on hand wash cold cycle. Allow to hang dry and steam wrinkles out. Never use harsh cleaning agents or tumble dry. For stains gently rub white bar soap and water on the stain and leave it to work on the mark for around 30 minutes then wash.
TILE
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Clean tile weekly with a clean rag, warm water and diluted dishwashing soap or a cleaner. Diluted dishwashing soap can do the job without damaging the tile or stripping the sealer from your grout. In general, use cleaners with neutral pH levels, as cleaners with acid can damage the grout and glazed surface of the tile. Avoid using steel wool pads or scouring pads that can also scratch the surface of your tile. Always wipe away spills or messes immediately after use so they don’t damage the glaze or sink into the grout.
SHOWER LINER
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Put fabric liner and a couple of soiled towels in your washing machine. Add 1/2 cup laundry detergent and 1/2 cup baking soda to the load, and wash it in warm water on your machine's regular cycle. Add 1 cup white vinegar to the first rinse and hang liner to dry.
RUGS & CARPETING
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Rotate every 3-6 months to balance color and evenly distribute wear. All wool rugs will shed and loose fibers are normal for the break in process of handmade rugs. Clean spills immediately by blotting with a clean cloth. Use lukewarm water to remove any residual stain and a dry towel to remove remaining moisture. Vacuum with handheld attachment or on a gentle highest position possible, avoiding fringed edges.
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Mohair Carpets // The carpets, being of natural hair, are best washed with soap and water. A large carpet can be put on a deck or patio, soaked wet with a hose pipe and washed with warm water, hair shampoo or Woolite and a soft scrubbing brush. Rinse well with a hose pipe and leave to dry over a railing, a wall or a garden table and some chairs. Choose a warm and windy day and your carpet will be dry within 24 hours. After washing the carpet it looks a bit uneven on the floor but within a few days of walking on it, it will look smooth and like new again.
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Natural Carpets // Immediately remove any spills from your carpet by pressing firmly with clean, white paper or cloth towels working from the outside of the spill inward to avoid spreading. Continue blotting (blot do not rub) until no moisture transfers to the towel. For solid spills, scrape up solids with a dull knife or nail file. In general, spot clean with a damp cloth and a mild and diluted cleaning solution and dab until dry.
SURFACES
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Metal //Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. To protect the finish, do not use household cleaners or abrasives.
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Brick // For a light clean vacuum with a soft bristle attachment. For deep cleaning wipe with a dry dish cloth, gently wipe the entire surface of the brick wall to remove loose dirt and dust. Apply a thin layer of a soap-and-salt mix to the bricks using a cloth and allow the mix to sit on the bricks for 10-15 minutes. Then, with a hard-bristled scrub brush, gently scrub the brick to remove the stubborn dirt. Lastly, dip a clean dishcloth into a warm water-filled bucket and use the dishcloth to remove the detergent mix from the wall. Allow the wall to air dry.
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Cork Floors // Wipe away spills immediately. Sweep or vacuum your cork floors regularly. Dirt, dust, grit, or debris may scratch the surface of a cork floor. Regular cleaning will prevent these abrasions. Damp mop the floor at least as required with a lightly damp mop and a mild and diluted wood-floor detergent or cleaning solution. Avoid any liquid to stand on cork floors as water or moisture in any form can seriously damage the floor. Avoid abrasive soaps, oils, waxes, or ammonia-based cleaning products on cork. Also, never use harsh solvents as many of them can discolor or damage the floor’s surface. Use mats with rubber or other non-porous backings since they can trap moisture and affect the finish.
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Cork Wall // Wipe away spills immediately. Vacuum cork tiles regularly to prevent dirt, dust, grit, or debris build up. If needed wipe cork with lightly damp towel and a mild and diluted wood-floor detergent or cleaning solution. Avoid any liquid to stand on cork. Never use harsh solvents as many of them can discolor or damage the cork surface.
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Concrete // Clean with a damp cloth. Avoid abrasive soaps and cleansers. Wipe up spills quickly to avoid staining. To remove scuff marks and slight scratches from tabletops, clean with Lemon Oil cleaner. Place a small amount of the lemon oil onto a clean cotton cloth and wipe down entire surface of concrete until the oil is evenly applied and marks disappear. Use another clean cotton cloth to wipe up excess oil until the surface is dry to the touch.
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Porcelain Sinks // Regularly clean with a mild detergent, warm water and a soft cloth. Wipe down and dry any sink after each use is the best protection against hard water creating blemishes which may become difficult to eliminate. For deep cleaning pour white vinegar and baking soda straight from the bottle into the sink bowl. Using a nylon brush, scrub the surface with the vinegar and baking soda mixture.