Most furniture care advice tells you to “vacuum regularly” and “fluff your cushions.” That’s fine, but it’s like telling someone the secret to a healthy body is “exercise sometimes.” True, but not particularly useful. The reality is that furniture longevity depends on understanding what’s actually causing wear and tear—and most of it isn’t what you think.

Your furniture faces three types of degradation: mechanical wear from use, environmental damage from your home’s conditions, and contamination from dirt and oils. Each requires different strategies. Let’s dig into what actually works.