Fast Furniture Fix-Ups

by Lou Manfredini, Ace's Home Expert

You may think your furniture is on its last legs, but If the wood table has watermarks, the dining room chairs are wobbly, or the couch has unsightly stains, consider these quick fixes to freshen up your furniture.

Fast Furniture Fix-Ups

Repairing a Wobbly Chair or Railing Spindle

  1. Knock the loose joint apart with a rubber mallet or hammer.
  2. Use sandpaper or steel wool to remove any old glue from both parts that need to be reattached. If the glue is difficult to take off, try adding vinegar to it.
  3. Spread wood glue generously on both surfaces and reattach the joint.
  4. Use a pipe or band clamp to apply pressure on the glued joint for 24 hours.
  5. Once the glue is dry, angling in a small screw will hold the joint tightly.

Remove Beverage Rings from Wood

Some common marks can be removed without completely refinishing a piece of furniture. For light scratches, watermarks and rings caused by cups without coasters, you can try a white ring remover cloth. If that doesn’t work, use a wood amalgamator like Howard’s Restore-A-Finish or Formby’s® Conditioning Furniture Refinisher.

  1. Drench a wad of #0000 steel wool in the liquid and squeeze out lightly.
  2. Apply it in the direction of the grain, and your woodwork will look like new again.
  3. Finish by wiping clean with a cotton rag.
  4. You should always test in a small, inconspicuous area first just to be sure it doesn’t damage the finish.

Cleaning Upholstery

Typically, vacuuming and light brushing will remove dirt and grime. Many furniture fabrics carry an upholstery code, usually found on a label under the cushions, which gives specific instructions on the proper methods for cleaning that fabric type. Always test your cleaning products in an inconspicuous area to be sure they won’t discolor or damage the fabric.

To spot clean:

  1. Use an upholstery shampoo or specialty spot remover safe for use on the fabric.
  2. Dab at the spot, working from the outside in toward its center so you won’t damage the fabric or spread the stain.

For leather upholstery, it’s a good idea to treat it with a leather oil or conditioner. This keeps the leather from cracking and remain more pliable to avoid rips and tears.

 

For more tips, go to tips.acehardware.com.

Published: 3/6/2020