MARBLE

Marble is a beautiful surface tabletop. But because it is quite soft and porous. Marble can easily be stained, scratched and chipped.

l To help prevent staining, marble surfaces are often coated with protective sealers. Depending on use, these coatings should be reapplied every year or two.

l Regular cleanings should be as gentle as possible. Dust the surface once or twice a week with a soft cloth.

l Wash the marble periodically with a cloth dampened with warm water, and, if necessary, a bit of mild dishwashing liquid.

l Remove the soap with another damp cloth.

l Never use dusting sprays or abrasive cleaners on your marble.

l Apply marble polish (available in hardware stores) on a regular basis to maintain the stone's luster.

l To prevent ring marks, place coasters or trivets under glasses and dishes.

l Use mats or runners beneath hard objects that might scratch the surface.

l If your marble does stain, you can try to remove it with a poultice made especially for drawing out stains.

INDOOR WOOD FURNITURE

l To clean the finish on your wood furniture just use warm water and mild dish soap. Cleaning furniture with water won't hurt it -- just be careful not to soak it.

l Wipe the dirt off the surface with soft cloths or paper towels until they come up fairly clean. Then dry off any residual moisture with a soft cloth.

l After a good cleaning, the best way to protect the finish is to use a good-quality soft paste wax.

l Keep your furniture out of the sun. The temperature of the summer sun coming through a window can go above 40 degrees. It will cook fine finishes, fading and destroying them over time, and dry out and shrink the wood, which will cause cracks.

l Don't place wood furniture near heating units or vents. Dry heat will cause the wood to dry and shrink, leaving cracks. Use a humidifier in the drier months to bring the moisture up to the 40 to 45 percent level.

LEATHER

l The use of a good leather conditioner is recommended every 6-12 months.

l Protect your furniture from sun and direct light. Like any upholstery material, leather can fade to some degree if exposed to the sun.

Always try any cleaning method in a hidden area first, so you know what the results will be!

l For minor spots and spills, wipe up any excess liquid immediately with a clean absorbent cloth or sponge. If necessary, use a lightly moistened soft cloth with clean lukewarm water, and let it air dry naturally. If water is used, clean the entire area where the spot occurred.

l Do not use soap, or soak the stain heavily with water. This may cause more damage than the stain itself.

l Do not use cleaning solvents, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, detergent soaps, or ammonia water.

l For butter, oil, or grease stains, wipe off excess with a clean dry cloth and then leave alone as the spot should dissipate into the leather after a short period of time.

l If the stain persists, it is recommended that a professional leather specialist clean the leather, to avoid any potential damage to the leather itself.

Remember that leather is a natural product and requires some care to maintain the natural beauty of the hide.