Be very careful! Wood or metal, upholstery or leather.  The materials that your furniture is made of, need special care so that time, filth or improper handling will not damage its beauty.

Wood
Each type of wood needs a special kind of care.  “You cannot apply varnish or any other type of liquid, unless original production residues are removed first.  Errors are made due to a lack of technical orientation from the vendor of the product and from whoever is cleaning it. On wood, it is advisable to use products based from oily resins, that have a high penetrating power, as well as fungicide and insecticide components.  This makes wood more durable because it prevents the absorption of water, and cracking. If your wooden furniture has become damped, do not ever try to dry it by exposing it to the sun; avoid extreme heat situations.  Furniture must receive proper ventilation, but not extreme temperatures. If mildew or mold attack your furniture, let them vent for several days.  With time, some kinds of wood will turn a deeper shade of color than what they originally were, that is why they should not be sanded deeply, as this damages the protective layer.

Metal
It is important to choose an anti-corrosion system, that is compatible with the user’s requirements, while taking into account the environment that the metal is in. Rust must be removed with abrasive methods, like brushes, sandpaper, spatulas or emery.  Once the rust has been removed, the first layer of the chosen anti-corrosion system is applied. Now that your metal furniture piece is properly protected, you can wash it with natural powdered detergent, if filth or dirt are detected on the paint.

Upholstery and Leather
The first thing you must do in order to properly care for your upholstery, is to determine the type of material, be it cotton, linen or polyester that it is made of.  Determine whether the fabric is original or not, and whether it has several dye components. You must ensure that the upholstery’s colors will not fade if treated with shampoo and water.  In order to determine this, you should make a small test.  On a small corner of the upholstery, that is not easily visible, apply some water and shampoo. If the fabric is not prone to fading colors, determine the type of dirt or filth that needs to be removed, be it grease, ink, water, gum or others.  All these different kinds must be treated with solvents suited for each need. Vacuuming is yet another option.  After using it, wash the furniture with water and shampoo.  Vacuum again, and apply an anti-bacterial compound.  You can follow the same procedure when cleaning leather, after making sure the colors will not fade.  

Furniture for Exterior Use
The best precaution you can have to make sure that exterior furniture is kept in the best possible state, is to keep it stored under proper cover, especially when it rains, or when the weather is humid and windy. This recommendation should be followed, especially if the furniture is made from bamboo, fiber or wicker, as moisture will make them loose their strength and shape. A-biotic agents are the cause for the alteration of non-living furniture and basically comprise all atmospheric agents:  sun, temperature and humidity.  UV rays burn the wood’s surface and fibers, and change their size, thus forming cracks and dark spots.  Weather changes cause expansions and contractions in the wood. Water, by absorption or evaporation, causes swelling and cracks.  These effects from the outdoors overlap in their intensity and recurrence, and degrade the materials, unless proper and periodical maintenance is undertaken, while avoiding extreme exposure to the elements.