Furniture Care and Protection

Here are a variety of tips and opportunities to protect your furniture. If you're interested in the Protection 1st plan, please ask your Schneiderman's Sales Associate for more details. Following the Protection 1st plan information are a few tips that you can follow to take care of your furniture and help it last for generations.

Protect your furniture from life's little mishaps.

You invest a lot of your time and money to find just the right furniture for your home. Don't let a spot, spill or accident ruin that investment. Protect the appearance of your new furniture with the Protection 1st Plan. It keeps life's little mishaps from becoming big problems.

Take comfort with the protection of Protection 1st.

If the unexpected happens, just call Protection 1st’s 800 number for expert help with any problem covered by the Protection Plan. If a technician is needed, Protection 1st will dispatch a certified, insured technician to perform the work in your home. If Protection 1st cannot resolve the problem, they will replace the item at its original value at no cost to you.

Whether your purchase is fabric, leather or vinyl upholstery, area rugs, mattress, wood or other hard surface furniture, the Protection 1st Plan will protect it so you don't have to worry about it. Relax and enjoy your new home furnishings. We've got you covered for five full years.

We've got you covered for 5 full years.

With a Protection 1st Plan, you are assured of the same level of service every time – exceptional.

Protection 1st’s service team has more than thirty years of experience in solving problems. They draw on a nationwide network of technicians to assure fast response and timely repairs. And they constantly monitor service and repair personnel to ensure they're delivering the highest levels of customer satisfaction.

Any furniture that's worth purchasing is worth protecting – especially since the added cost is only a few cents per day. So protect your new furniture – and your peace of mind. Invest in a Protection 1st Plan.

Furniture Care

In addition to our Protection 1st program, the following suggestions are general guidelines for furniture care. While we can offer you tips and advice for keeping your furniture at it’s very best for years to come, please check with the furniture manufacturer or a Schneiderman’s sales associate for care instructions specific to the item you have purchased.

Wood

• In addition to keeping yourself comfortable, it is good for your wood furniture to be kept in an environment at a humidity level around 25 to 35 percent. Especially with Minnesota's humid summers and dry winters, you'll want to use an air conditioner in the summer and a humidifier in the winter.

• Do not place wood furniture in continuous direct sunlight or directly in front of radiators, heaters or fireplaces.

• Store table leaves near the table (in a closet on the same floor, for example) so as to keep them at the same humidity level as your table.

• Do not place plastic or rubber directly on a wood finish. Chemicals in the plastic can damage the finish. To avoid this, place a strip of leather, felt or cork under the object before setting it on the wood.

• Dust frequently with a clean, dry, lint free cloth. For deeper cleaning, hardwood furniture can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution. Be sure to test on an out of sight spot first. Always wipe with the grain of the wood so as not to damage the finish. Dry immediately with a clean, lint free cloth.

• We recommend furniture be polished every six months.

• Always use coasters to protect your wood furniture from stains and prevent spills and damage from hot cups or dishes.

• Blot all spills immediately. Keep solvents, alcohol, nail polish and polish removers away from your hardwood furniture surfaces.

• When dusting, always lift lamps and other objects - don't slide them across the surface.

• Open and close doors, drawers and lids gently.

Leather

• Because leather types and finishes vary, consult the manufacturer or your Schneiderman’s sales associate for details on cleaning your specific leather pieces.

• Keep leather upholstery at least two feet away from heating vents and avoid positioning leather furniture in direct sunlight.

• To clean uncoated leather, your only safe bet is frequent dusting. An art-gum eraser may be used to remove some ordinary dirt. The uncoated surface easily absorbs liquids and oils so water, leather creams, and solvents are not recommended.

• Coated leathers resist staining and can occasionally be washed with a mild sop and water mixture. Wipe with a damp cloth and buff dry. Leather cream can be used once or twice a year if desired.

• Dust leather upholstery regularly with a clean dust cloth; do not use furniture polish, oils, varnishes, ammonia water, soaps or dusting agents.

Upholstery

• All cushions and pillows should be reversed on a regular basis. This keeps the filling evenly distributed for maximum comfort.

• Due to the wide range of fibers used today, it is impossible to publish cleaning instructions that apply to all fabrics. We recommend using a professional cleaning service whenever possible. You should also check with the manufacturer and your Schneiderman’s sales associate for further cleaning details on your purchase.

• Frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and grime is recommended for all upholstery to prevent overall soiling.

• There are four standardized upholstery cleaning codes used by the entire furniture industry today. Ask your Schneiderman’s sales associate which code applies to the items you have purchased.

  • W – (Water based cleaner) - Spot clean, using the foam only from a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo. Apply foam with a soft rag or brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry.

  • S – (Solvent or dry cleaning products) – Spot clean using a mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Clean only in a well ventilated room and avoid any product containing carbon tetrachloride which is highly toxic.

  • W-S – (Solvent and/or water based cleaners) - Spot clean with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo or the foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or dry cleaning product, follow instructions carefully and clean only in a well ventilated room.

  • X – (Vacuum or brush only) – Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust and grime. Water based foam cleaners or solvent based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, staining, or distortion of the surface pile and therefore should not be used.