Keep your home theater furniture looking great with these cleaning tips. Regular maintenance will extend the life and maintain the appearance of your home theater furniture. Stuff happens. From popcorn spills on leather chairs to water on your electronics, we have remedies for your “whoops” moments.
General Tips
Do
• Keep the manufacturer’s information booklet that came with your furniture. Consult for information on how to clean your specific material.
• Take the time to spot test any cleanser in an inconspicuous place before you use it. Really.
• Keep up with regular maintenance. It is much easier to clean your furniture before dust and dirt really accumulate.
• Treat stains immediately. It’s worth pausing the movie to eliminate a stain before it sets in.
Cloth Chairs
Do
• Vacuum regularly.
• Use a wet cleaning cloth like baby wipes for maintenance and stains.
• Get some dry cleaning cloths if your upholstery is dry clean only. You can use them for regular cleaning or for stains.
• Rent an upholstery cleaning machine if your sofa or chair is very dirty.
• Use a lint roller for animal hair.
Don’t
• Use vinegar on stains, unless you want your home theater to smell like a pickle jar. Some recommend this, but if you live in a humid climate, it just takes too long to completely dry.
Leather Chairs
Do
• Wipe down regularly with a dry, white cloth.
• Use a leather conditioner once or twice a year.
• Start with gentle cleansers first.
• Use a mix of lemon juice and cream and tartar for tough stains. Spot test first. Leave the mix on for 10 minutes, then wipe away.
• Wipe.
Don’t
• Use alcohol.
• Scrub.
Faux Leather Chairs
Do
• Treat as if it was real leather, except that you can use soapy water on dirty faux leather chairs.
• Use a small amount of water and soap on a clean cloth.
• Clean small areas.
Don’t
• Wipe the entire item of furniture with a wet cloth at once.
Carpet
Do
• Vacuum once a week, going slowly over areas that get a lot of foot traffic.
• Use a stain remover on tough stains. Spray the edges first, so the stain doesn’t spread.
• Rent a steam cleaner every once in a while to get carpets really clean.
Don’t
• Put off vacuuming for too long.
Electronics
Do
• Gently remove dust with a compressed air canister.
• Wipe with an electrostatic cloth, like Swiffer cloths.
• Check your user manual to find the right cleanser for your TV screen.
Don’t
• Spill stuff on your electronics. If you break this rule, unplug the device immediately. Wipe away the spill. If anything got inside your device, take it to a professional before you consider plugging it back in.
Animals and Furniture
Do
• Use a lint roller on animal hair.
• Get a cleanser from the pet shop for animal stains. Look for one that contains enzymes. Enzymes organically breakdown the chemicals in body fluids that cause odor.
Don’t
• Use vinegar. I can’t even begin to tell you how terrible vinegar and cat urine smell together.
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