Five Tips for Keeping Your Library Furniture Clean

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Comfortable library furniture makes your library more inviting to patrons, but it can also harbour dirt and germs. Keeping your library furniture clean can be challenging, but with the right techniques, it's easy. Here's what you need to do:

1. Choose your library furniture carefully

Keeping library furniture clean starts during the selection process. Look for high quality commercial fabrics, materials and workmanship, designed to withstand high traffic and lots of use. Choose fabrics with stain resistant materials that can be cleaned easily, and look for dark colours and patterns that can hide stains.

2. Cover your upholstered furniture

Although covering your upholstered library furniture is certainly optional, it can be an effective way to lengthen the lifespan of your furniture. Covers can be washed more easily and inexpensively than upholstery, and they also catch crumbs, keeping it out of the nooks and crannies of your furniture.

Look for waterproof covers in sturdy fabrics with dark colours and patterns.

3. Monitor your library furniture daily

At least once a day, depending on how heavy the traffic is in your library, do a visual check of your furniture. Have spot remover on hand to address stains instantly, and remember to vacuum your furniture.

Vacuuming it easily gets rid of dust, pet dander and other allergens, keeping your space healthy. It also removes dirt which can lead to stains.

4. Shampoo upholstered library furniture periodically

To help your library furniture stand the test of time, shampoo it regularly. As often as you shampoo your carpets, schedule professional furniture shampooing as well. Alternatively, buy or rent a shampooing machine with a furniture attachment and have your on-staff cleaning crew tackle the job.

When choosing a shampoo for your furniture, look for one with stain protector. That makes it easier to remove future stains after the cleaning. Also called stain guard, it prevents stains from setting.

5. Ban drinks and snacks on soft furniture

Libraries toy with a range of food policies, and although there are arguments for both sides of the debate, consider banning food and drink on soft furniture. Even if you allow food and drink in other parts of your library, banning it around your upholstered furniture can help to keep it clean and dry.

Ultimately, that benefits everyone as patrons will continue to visit the library and use the furniture, rather than shunning it for being dirty.

Your patrons will love the change when you implement these tips.


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