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How to Care for Your Furniture in Hot and Humid Weather

Are you new to the heat and humidity here in Florida?

For those of you just joining life here in the Sunshine State, it might not be second-nature to know how to take care of furniture exposed to the light, heat, and humidity we experience here in the South.

There are specific risks endemic to, and precautions that must be taken in bright, hot, and humid environments concerning furniture. You don't want to buy a beautiful sectional like this Natuzzi Editions Intenso Contemporary Power Reclining Leather Sectional only to find that light, heat, or humidity has affected the leather after a few years.

natuzzi-intenso-contemporary-power-reclining-sectional

So if you prefer to leave the windows open year-round, the Baer's Furniture team is going to show you how to keep your stunning furniture looking great for years — even in a tropical environment like Florida.

Sunlight, High Temperatures, Humidity, and Furniture

Repeated and intense sunlight can break down the pigmentation of nearly any material or fabric. And to make matters worse, it rarely washes over your furniture evenly. We might love our Florida sun, and natural light looks amazing in almost any space, but you need to take precautions to protect both fabric and leather pieces.

Another consequence of intense sunlight is the way that it heats the furniture materials. For example, a wooden piece that's exposed to the sun will expand during the day and contract at night. Over time, the wood loses its resiliency and could crack.

Humidity is the third tropical component that can affect your furniture by causing water-retaining components to become damp. This can attract mold or mildew in hard-to-clean places. Imagine losing this fine Bernhardt Petra Contemporary Chair because you didn't take a few basic precautions.

bernhardt-petra-contemporary-chair

At Baer's Furniture, we want you to have a stress-free experience with your furniture, which is why we prepared a list of tips to not only protect your furniture but to improve your relationship with the fabulous Florida weather.

Solutions to Keep Your Furniture Safe in a Tropical Climate

There are several solutions to the problems presented to furniture by light, heat, and humidity.

Frequently Clean Surfaces

Use antibacterial and fabric-safe wipes to occasionally wipe down your furniture to prevent mold and mildew. Wiping down your furniture will prevent moisture from accumulating and potentially damaging furniture.

All organic furniture parts are vulnerable to mold and mildew, and frequent exposure to high heat and humid environments increases the risk. Occasional wiping will keep your furniture clear of pathogens and more comfortable to sit on.

Dehumidify

Another good way to deal with humidity is to simply dehumidify your furniture's primary area. Good dehumidifiers are inexpensive and can be furniture life savers. Lowering the humidity around your furniture will prevent the wood in the furniture from expanding due to moisture and subsequently cracking over time. It will also prevent moisture buildup in the furniture that can lead to mold and mildew and improve the air you breathe. That way, you can keep your Bernhardt Remi Contemporary Sofa in pristine and undamaged condition and enjoy a healthier atmosphere.

bernhardt-remi-contemporary-sofa

Polish Metal

Certain types of metal, in particular brass, nickel, and silver, are susceptible to oxidation in warm and moist environments. This can ruin the appearance of your furniture, though it doesn't generally cause structural damage. An excellent way to avoid this problem is to simply polish your furniture's metal parts on a regular basis. Getting a good metal polish and brush to use on your furniture's metal features will ensure that they stay in excellent condition and will not be affected by temperature and moisture.

Filter Natural Light

The UV rays in sunlight are damaging to materials, but they can really affect leather furniture, which should be treated regularly with a leather conditioner to keep the material supple. An obvious remedy to UV rays is to install window treatments, but you may prefer to keep your curtains and blinds open during the daytime. There are many companies that will tint your windows with UV-reducing film. This can protect your furniture from sunlight and decrease your power bills.

Firm Steps to Take

The steps you are going to want to take right now in order to ensure that the light, heat, and humidity do not damage your furniture are:

1. Buy a Dehumidifier for Your Home

This is pretty straightforward. In order to eliminate problems from humidity, just eliminate the moisture with a dehumidifier.

2. Set a Schedule to Wipe Down Furniture

You will want to set a specific schedule, such as once a week, to wipe down all the surfaces of your furniture with a fabric-safe antibacterial wipe to sanitize and prevent the buildup of mold on your furniture's surfaces.

3. Set a Schedule to Polish Metal Furniture Surfaces

Set a specific schedule — once a month is ok —to polish all the brass, nickel, and silver surfaces on your furniture in order to prevent unsightly oxidation. Oxidation can take a while to develop, so just because you do not see it immediately does not mean that it is not occurring.

Come to Baer's Furniture

Was your furniture damaged by the heat and humidity you were unprepared for? If so, you can get some gorgeous, high-quality replacement furniture at Baer's. Come visit our thousands of feet of floor space dedicated to the finest home furnishings. Find a Florida furniture store near you now!

Family Owned and Operated Since 1945

Here at Baer's we are so much more than just a furniture store. We are your Florida design and decor partners offering a huge selection of furniture by quality name brands at a great value. Take advantage of our 75 years of experience in the designer furniture industry and turn your house into the home of your dreams. Visit one of our 16 locations across Florida today.

Information Accuracy - We have taken great care to provide you with information that is accurate and useful. Please notify us if you find an error and we will do our best to correct it. We ask that you contact us directly to confirm information about pricing, color, features, dimensions, availability and lead times.