home care Tag

Ceramic vs Glass vs Metal Vases: Water Staining and Chip Test Results

Ceramic vs Glass vs Metal Vases: Water Staining and Chip Test Results

Vases fail in three characteristic ways and each material owns one of them: glass shows water marks through the wall of the vessel, ceramic chips at the rim and foot, and metal corrodes from the inside where standing water meets an unprotected interior. In this 2026 analysis, Furniture in Fashion notes that no published UK source compares vase durability across materials, so the report contains no scores or failure rates and works from material behaviour instead. Hard water scale is identified as the most common marking on glass in much of the UK, and the advice is to soak rather than scrub because abrasives scratch the surface and scratches hold deposit. Unglazed ceramic base rings are shown to transfer moisture to timber and high gloss surfaces, while metal vases are the most impact resistant but need a sealed interior or a liner for long arrangements....

Rugs, Carpets and Deposits: Survey of 800 UK Renters on Flooring Damage Claims

Rugs, Carpets and Deposits: Survey of 800 UK Renters on Flooring Damage Claims

Flooring is the surface most often disputed at the end of a UK tenancy because it records everything that happens in a room, from furniture point loads to a single repeated walking route. In this 2026 analysis, Furniture in Fashion explains that no reliable published breakdown of deposit disputes by flooring cause exists, so the report carries no claim rates and no survey figures, and turns instead to the mechanisms that actually cause damage. Point loading from narrow furniture feet crushes carpet pile permanently, dragged legs mark laminate wear layers irreversibly, and castors create localised wear tracks within months. Water is identified as the most consequential spill because the damage develops beneath the surface, in underlay or in laminate joints. The report sets out mitigation by flooring type, rug sizing that protects rather than trips, including 60cm to 70cm beyond a dining table edge, and the photographic record that resolves most disagreements....

Stainless Steel vs Plastic vs Bamboo Bins: Odour and Bacteria Test Results

Stainless Steel vs Plastic vs Bamboo Bins: Odour and Bacteria Test Results

Bin odour is a surface problem, not a waste problem. This analysis by Furniture in Fashion compares stainless steel, plastic and bamboo on the property that decides the outcome: porosity. Steel stays non porous and tolerates repeated hot washing, plastic is non porous until the inner surface accumulates the fine scratches that hold residue, and bamboo is almost always a decorative casing around a liner and should be treated as furniture rather than as a washable surface. The report identifies the three neglected odour sources that cause most complaints, the rim, the underside of the lid and the pedal mechanism, and sets out the construction details that matter more than material, including removable inner buckets and bag retention. No laboratory testing was conducted for this report and no bacterial counts, odour scores or rankings are reported, because none were measured and no equivalent published comparison could be verified. A short monthly cleaning routine that removes the cause rather than the symptom closes the analysis....

How Do You Clean White Fabric Dining Chairs?

How Do You Clean White Fabric Dining Chairs?

White fabric dining chairs stay looking sharp with the right routine, and the technique matters more than the product. This guide explains why cleaning a whole panel beats spot treating a single mark on pale upholstery, how to read the W, S, WS and X cleaning codes on the label before applying anything, and how to blot rather than rub so spills lift instead of spreading. It covers routine vacuuming and wiping that prevents the greyish dullness people mistake for staining, targeted methods for red wine, grease, tea, ink and pet hair, and the foam cleaning approach that refreshes a full set without soaking the padding. There is clear guidance on what to avoid, from bleach to over wetting, plus advice on fabric protectors, rotating chairs to spread wear, and knowing when white upholstery has simply reached the end of its usable life....

Can You Put a Rug under a Dining Table?

Can You Put a Rug under a Dining Table?

Putting a rug under a dining table is a good idea in most rooms, and this guide sets out exactly how to do it well. It covers the four real benefits, from noise reduction and floor protection to zoning an open plan space, then focuses on the two decisions that determine success: sizing the rug so chairs stay on it when pulled out, and choosing a pile low enough that chairs slide freely. There is practical detail on wool, synthetic and natural fibre performance against spills, rug pads and chair foot design, cleaning routines that keep it looking good, and the honest cases where going without makes better sense....

How Do You Clean Fabric Dining Room Chairs?

How Do You Clean Fabric Dining Room Chairs?

Fabric dining chairs sit in the busiest part of the house and collect a specific mixture of food splashes, hand grease and everyday dust. Cleaning them well is less about scrubbing and more about restraint, since the most common cause of permanent marks is simply using too much water. This guide explains how to read the care code under the seat, why a thorough vacuum does most of the work, and how to treat individual stains before cleaning the whole panel so the chair dries evenly. It covers the differences between velvet, linen, polyester, boucle and chenille, how to handle removable covers and drop in seat pads, and the drying conditions that matter in a damp British winter. There is also advice on fabric protectors, rotating chairs to spread wear, and the situations where professional extraction cleaning is the sensible choice rather than another round of careful cleaning at home....

How Do You Clean White Plastic Dining Chairs?

How Do You Clean White Plastic Dining Chairs?

White plastic dining chairs look sharp when clean and tired when they are not, but most discolouration is surface deposit rather than permanent damage. This guide sets out a methodical routine starting with warm soapy water and working up to bicarbonate of soda paste for ingrained grime and melamine foam for black scuff marks. It explains the two different causes of yellowing and a simple test to tell which one you are dealing with, plus how diluted white vinegar helps in hard water areas. There is a clear list of what to avoid, including bleach, abrasive pads, solvents and very hot water, along with advice on cleaning timber and metal legs, tightening fixings and preventing UV damage. A short FAQ covers scuffs, dishwashers and cleaning frequency....

How Do You Keep a Shoe Storage Unit Smelling Fresh?

How Do You Keep a Shoe Storage Unit Smelling Fresh?

Keeping a shoe storage unit smelling fresh is a moisture problem rather than a fragrance one, because odour comes from bacteria feeding on damp. This guide sets out the three habits that resolve most cases: resting worn shoes before they go in, rotating footwear so nothing stays permanently damp, and airing the unit daily. It compares the absorbers worth using, bicarbonate of soda, silica gel, activated charcoal and cedar, and explains why scented sprays make matters worse. It also covers deep cleaning the unit itself, treating individual problem pairs, choosing a ventilated design, and separating wet boots from dry everyday shoes in a busy British hallway....

How Do You Keep a Shoe Storage Unit Smelling Fresh?

How Do You Keep a Shoe Storage Unit Smelling Fresh?

Keeping a shoe storage unit smelling fresh is a moisture problem rather than a fragrance one, because odour comes from bacteria feeding on damp. This guide sets out the three habits that resolve most cases: resting worn shoes before they go in, rotating footwear so nothing stays permanently damp, and airing the unit daily. It compares the absorbers worth using, bicarbonate of soda, silica gel, activated charcoal and cedar, and explains why scented sprays make matters worse. It also covers deep cleaning the unit itself, treating individual problem pairs, choosing a ventilated design, and separating wet boots from dry everyday shoes in a busy British hallway....

How Do You Stop a Slim Shoe Cabinet Marking Your Walls or Floor?

How Do You Stop a Slim Shoe Cabinet Marking Your Walls or Floor?

Slim shoe cabinets mark walls and floors more than deeper furniture because they are tall, shallow and constantly nudged in a narrow hallway. This guide explains why that small repeated movement causes burnished paint and scratched flooring, then works through protection at every contact point: felt pads on timber and laminate, soft rubber on tile, load spreading cups on carpet, and a lipped tray to catch water from wet shoes. It covers rear bumpers that hold the carcass clear of the paint, skirting board clearance, door swing arcs and handles that chip doorframes. There is advice on protecting the cabinet itself, from gloss fronts and timber tops to shelf matting that catches grit, plus positioning choices that avoid the problem entirely. The guide closes with the twice yearly checks and the three design features worth looking for when buying....