Tips on Cleaning Your Furniture

The holidays are coming to a close, and your guests are finally on their way back home. It is time to get rid of all of the dirt, food, and germs that have been left around your house and get it back to normal! When we think of cleaning, most of us forget about the furniture. Furniture is a great place for dirt and bacteria to hide. Follow these tips to keep your furniture clean and looking nice after the holiday season.

How to Start

If the cushions on your couch are removable, take them off. Using the hose of your vacuum to remove any leftover debris is a great way to start cleaning your furniture. It is also important that you read the label on your furniture or the booklet that came with it. These will give you specifics on how your furniture can be cleaned.

Spot Clean or Steam Clean your Furniture

The correct way to clean your furniture depends on the fabric. Always test a small discrete area before jumping in with any cleaning regimen. If your furniture can be cleaned with water, a small amount of soap and water and the brush on your vacuum can do the trick. Leather can be cleaned with soap and water, and buffed with a dry cloth. For stubborn stains, check out these tips for stain removal on leather. If you do not feel comfortable cleaning your own furniture, you can always call a professional. Many of them will offer suggestions and make sure your furniture is not harmed in the cleaning process.

Let it Dry

After cleaning your furniture, it is important to give it enough time to dry before replacing cushions and going back to regular use. If you do not let your furniture dry completely, leftover wetness can get trapped and create mold. Sitting on your furniture before it is dry can also leave you feeling damp, which is not comfortable!

If this holiday season left giant cranberry stains or wine spills on your furniture, Hennen’s is here for you! Stop by any of our locations (or check out our website) and see the area’s largest furniture and flooring selection.

Preparing Your Home For A Holiday Celebration

The holiday season is a time to be thankful and gather with friends and family. When trying to make time to spend with all of your loved ones, your home can become crowded with decorations and guests. With the season right around the corner, it is important to plan ahead for your celebrations and make sure you make the most of your space.

Add Additional Seating

There are many ways to add seating to your home without spending a ton of money. By adding cushions to the floor, your younger guest will be able to find a seat anywhere in the room, without sitting directly on the ground. Keeping folding chairs in a closet is a great way to add seating when you need it. You can take out one chair at a time, or set all of them out for your guests. Sneaking seating can also be added and pulled out when needed!

Set Up A Buffet Table

Food is an important part of any gathering. It is common to place all of the food on the dining room table and pass each dish around. To create more seating and avoid clutter on the the table, set up your food buffet style and allow guests to create their own plate before taking their seat. By having a buffet table, you avoid having to reach over other people for food and no longer risk spilling food or breaking dishes. For more styles of tables, check out the selection at Hennen!

Always Have Extras

As a host, you will never know when someone is going to invite their significant other or bring a friend from out of town. Always plan ahead when it comes to the amount of food you will provide. It is also nice to have small gifts on hand so there isn’t anyone left without a gift to open. Gift cards or a bottle of wine are always good options. If there are no additional guests, they can always be used later on or for personal use. You can also purchase e-giftcards and print them out from home!

By following these tips, you will be prepared for the holiday chaos and be able to spend more of your time with your family and friends, enjoying your celebration!

Do you have any other rituals you do to prepare for the holidays? If so, share with us with a comment below!

Keys to a Relaxing Widow's Weekend

When your significant other is a hunter, it is common for them to spend a weekend away with their friends during hunting opener. While they are gone, make sure you make the most of your time alone by following our tips to a relaxing weekend!

Curl up on your couch

Your living room is normally a place for watching television and sometimes even your dinner table. With your counterpart gone, take some time to relax on the couch. Pick a show that you never get to watch, read a book, or take a nap. The choice is yours!

Check out our living room set ups that would be great for relaxing!

Surround yourself with calming colors

Warm colors are often associated with stimulation. Step out of your red kitchen and move into a room with cooler colors.

Blue is the color of both the sky and the ocean and has proven to be a calming hue. Green is also said to lessen depression and is both a soothing and refreshing color. It reminds people of a walk through the park or other calm activities. Click here to read more about color associations.

Photo from Flickr.com

By adding an accent pillow or throw blanket in blue or green to your living room, you can increase your relaxation!

Light a scented candle

Along with color, scent also plays a key role in relaxation. Scents like chamomile, lavender, and vanilla, are among those said to play a role in relaxation. There are many other smells that can also help you relax. Scents are now used as a remedy for sleep and stress reduction.

Photo from Flickr.com

Use these tips to make the most of your time as a hunter’s widow.  Frankly, you can’t go wrong combining your couch, relaxing colors, and some delicious scents. Visit a Hennen’s near you to see what we can do to help make your home a comfortable and relaxing one!

Three Things that will Enhance your Football Experience

As the summer months come to an end, the short, Minnesota fall season makes it’s way into our homes. When we think of fall, most of us think of leaves changing colors, everything pumpkin, and FOOTBALL. Football allows viewers to share pride, be competitive, and bond through tradition. No matter what your tradition is, we have come up with three things that will enhance your viewing experience.

1. Your Seat

Whether you prefer watching your football relaxing at home or celebrating with friends in a bar, your seat can make or break your experience. 

Having friends over for game day can require a lot of seating. Adding a sectional or accent chairs to your home can help house your guests comfortably and prevent the crowding of temporary seating.

If you are going to a bar or restaurant, or viewing at a friend’s make sure your chair has a back support. Sitting for a long period of time without any support can cause back pain and soreness that will not make for a happy Monday!

2. Your Snacks

What you use to fuel your game day excitement can differ from week to week. If it is your turn to host the party, or you just want a snack to feed your family, here is one we love with four simple ingredients that is guaranteed to please!

You will need: your favorite crackers, cheddar cheese, summer sausage, and ranch dressing.

Using a rinsed aluminum can or a circular cookie cutter cut the edges of your cheese and meat to create a football shape. Place your football cutouts on top of a cracker, and draw laces with ranch dressing.

For full instructions and step-by-step photos click here: http://bit.ly/1sJrwD5

    

3. Your Company

The key ingredient to your ultimate football experience is the people your surround yourself with. Football is a time to share your traditions, to create new memories, and to enjoy the time you get to spend with friends and family. It is a perfect excuse to host a party or plan a place to meet your friends.

If watching football is in your plans in the coming weeks, try out these three things to help create your ultimate viewing experience and let us know how it goes! Visit Hennen's Furniture to find a seat that is a perfect fit to enhance your tradition.

The Dangers of Humidity in Your Home

Humidity is constant during Minnesota summers - 83% on average! Besides making the outdoors a little unpleasant, humidity actually has dangerous implications for your home. In fact, the Smithsonian Institute cites changes in relative humidity as the number one cause of furniture damage! So what does humidity actually do that is so bad?

Wood Furniture: Unfortunately, your beautiful wood furniture likes to absorb and desorb water from the air when humidity fluctuates. This absorption causes problems because the wood expands and contracts with the fluctuations. Depending on the direction of the wood grain, the furniture will expand and contract differently, leaving things like drawers and doors warped.

Walls: Humidity is not a wall’s friend. Moisture in the air can be dangerous for walls because it can condense on the wall’s surface and cause stains, paint bubbling and mold - Yuck! Mold can be very dangerous causing problems from itching eyes, allergic reactions, coughing, sneezing and even be as serious as causing permanent lung damage.

Wallpapered walls are especially at risk for this kind of damage. Many wallpapers are made of vinyl which creates what is called a vapor layer that makes it basically impermeable to water. Because of this, water gets trapped between the wallpaper and the wall allowing mold to grow and the paper to bubble and peel.

Floors: Like all wood, wood floors can warp with changes in humidity, but carpet is also affected by excess moisture. Have you ever walked into a house and been hit with that damp musty smell? As with walls, the moisture in the air gets into your carpet and other fabrics and allows a great environment for mold to grow. Damp carpet is also perfect for humidity-loving dust mites.

While you can’t avoid humidity, you can protect your home from damage. One of the best ways to avoid this issue is simply limiting the fluctuation in relative humidity inside. When the temperature is lower, humidity is generally lower so using an air conditioner is the first defense against humidity damage.

If you have an air conditioner and the air in your home still feels damp, you can use a simple dehumidifier during the most humid months. A more high-tech option is using a humidistat which actually adjusts temperature to maintain a consistent relative humidity. After dehumidifying, if there is still that damp musty smell, consider sprinkling baking soda over the carpets and vacuuming it up. Baking soda is a deodorizer and can help eliminate the musty funk.

Good luck battling the humidity this summer and if you have an idea about protecting your home from humidity, leave us a comment!

Dad’s Chair, A Family Tradition from Generation to Generation

Childhood Memories: Picture this, you run into the living room, on a mission. You know exactly where you are going, it’s Father’s Day and there is someone special sitting there - the same spot as always. He’s reading the newspaper in that old recliner, worn down from use over the years. It is dad’s chair.

Many of our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and mentors have their special spot. As children we can remember climbing up to the seat of that old chair to spend time with him. Whether it’s reading, talking or just watching TV, that chair was the site of many memories. We can remember him coming home from a long day at work and sliding into that seat to wind down for the first time that day.

Continued Traditions: Perhaps our fathers remember their own dad’s chair. The tradition of that special sanctuary has been handed down for generations. Was it a beat up old armchair or a cozy recliner? One thing is for sure, the chair itself may change, but the concept of his special spot has always remained the same.

So now it is time to continue the tradition of dad’s chair with our Father’s Day Recliner Giveaway! It’s time to give that special man who mentored us, stood by us and cared for us a place that he can come home to. The Giveaway contest runs from Thursday, June 5th, through Thursday, June 12th. Enter the contest on Facebook and you will have a chance to win a FREE Flexsteel Recliner worth up to $699 from Hennen’s Furniture! The contest will end June 12th at 4pm. The winner will be contacted via email and announced shortly after. 

Now is the chance to continue this wonderful tradition and give that great guy the special recliner of his own.

Five Major Signs it's Time to Replace Your Furniture

Years go by, and we use the same furniture every day for an amount of time that we can’t even recall because it’s just a routine. Even though it can be a hassle, there comes a time when we have to say goodbye to our beloved furniture and replace it.

Here are the five major signs that show when it’s time to replace your furniture:

1. If it’s showing major signs of wear and tear 

2. If it doesn’t sit level and it’s not because of a broken leg

3. If there are holes that just aren’t fixable




4. If you do remember how long you’ve had it, and it’s been over ten years (depending on the type of furniture)

5. If the cushions are flattening



This goes for all kinds of furniture, not just sofas and chairs. Before you decide to replace it, first, double-check to make sure it absolutely can’t be fixed. Replacing furniture can seem like an expensive solution, but in the long-run, it will save you physical comfort and money; and, let’s face it: it has to happen eventually.

Basic Spring Cleaning Tips and the Fun After!

No need to fret if you have yet to begin your spring-cleaning. It’s a daunting task
that never seems to end and can take up a lot of time, but there is still plenty of time
to get it done, as spring doesn’t seem to want to show up yet, and staying inside to
clean seems more appealing than facing the confusing weather.

You have empty boxes, new cleaning supplies, and the “I think I can” train playing
over and over in your head, but you just don’t know where to start, though you’ve
done this numerous times before.

We aren’t here to tell you exactly what to clean, and the best technique to do so, we
just want you to follow these basic tips and reminders to help get you started and
make your spring cleaning as easy as possible, if possible.

Before:

• First thing’s first: make a plan! Make a list of every room and write down the
tasks you want to accomplish for each one; be as specific as possible!


• Give yourself time. Spring-cleaning is not just your every day tidy-up tasks;
it’s the real deal. If you want every square inch truly clean, you simply need
to give yourself time.

• Prepare yourself with all of the necessary supplies you’ll need. When you
have a good rhythm going, it’s not the best time to realize you’re out of paper
towels.

During:

• The best way to start is to de-clutter, but that doesn’t mean just moving
things to storage, it means any of these three things: keep, toss, or donate/
sell.

• Always clean from the top down, otherwise you will basically be doing each
task twice.

• Reorganize. What you don’t need is gone, and everything is squeaky clean, so
now is the time to rearrange and reorganize.

After:

• Sit back, relax, and enjoy your “new” home. You deserve it!

Visit www.hennenfurniture.com for any of your furniture and home décor needs.

Changing the Feel of Your Home With the Seasons

In Minnesota, the seasons are always changing. When the seasons do change, it’s the perfect excuse to change your home décor and the general feel of your home, as well. Rather than looking at the same colors, themes, and decorations all year-round, use these ideas on how you can bring the change in seasons inside your home.


Spring

•  Keep spring colors and accessories light, both in feel and color.
• Use flowers to add color, scent, and liveliness to the room. Flowers go hand-in-hand with spring, so displaying them inside will allow you to enjoy the season indoors, as well as outdoors. (Don’t be afraid to put them everywhere!)
• De-clutter. Rooms can fill up with extra blankets and things used when stuck indoors throughout the winter. You’ll want to bring airiness and freshness to each room for spring.
• Brighten up the room with lighter wall colors, brighter curtains, colorful throw pillows, and bright area rugs. Use both bright colors and pastels. 
• Play with patterns of all kinds, but especially floral.

Summer

• Hang string lights both indoors and outdoors to always be able to enjoy summer nights.
• Get creative with sand for fun centerpieces.
• Play with stripes and use them throughout the room, for example, for fabrics or on walls.
• Fruit baskets can make beautiful decorating pieces.
• Lighten dark furniture with lightly colored slipcovers.
• Use nautical décor and themes throughout a room.
• Don’t be afraid of bright, bold colors.
• Use light curtains, rather than drapery, and pair them with sheers.

Fall

• Mix neutral colors with warm tones, both on walls and throughout your décor.
• Get creative with pumpkins: put floral arrangements inside, layout different shapes and sizes, place candles inside, etc.
• Use mason jars for, well, just about anything.
• Start adding layers to your furniture as the crisp weather rolls in; for example: adding wool, cotton, chenille or cashmere throws over furniture.
• Accessorize with autumn’s hues and fall foliage. You can do this by creating arrangements using small trees, branches and colored leaves, or sprinkling autumn leaves over your mantel or any flat surfaces.
• And don’t forget the traditional cornucopia filled with fruit, vegetables, gourds or flowers!

Winter

• Create winter arrangements using pine greenery, pinecones, birch, bare branches, and bright-colored berries. This will also add a wonderful fragrance to your home.
• Vintage ice skates and old sleds make for the perfect vintage, winter décor piece.
• Use cool colors throughout your home, but don’t overdo it and increase your winter blues, so add pops of cheery color.
• Adding a fluffy area rug to your wood floors will add a cozy feel to the room.
• Add some sparkle to act as a beautiful snow dusting on flat surfaces, or as part of your centerpieces.
• Play up your fireplace mantel and make it the focal point of the room, since that is more than likely where a lot of your attention will be throughout the winter cold winter months.
• Candles and string lights will add a cozy feel and keep light in your home during those short winter days. 

Of course there are numerous different ways you can bring the seasons into your home, but these general ideas will be a good place to start.

Visit www.hennenfurniture.com to get the things you need to make these changes happen.

Furniture as an Investment, Rather Than an Expense

Saving money is always a plus, however, some things shouldn’t be purchased based on the lowest price tag. For example: furniture.

Think of it this way: would you rather buy a few cheap pieces that will quickly wear out? Or would you rather invest in high quality that will work and look great for years to come? In the end, it will probably have been cheaper to invest.

Sure, some pieces of furniture can be great finds at thrift shops, garage sales, and even on the side of the road with a “FREE” sign taped on, but there are three key pieces of furniture/furniture sets that should be treated as investments:

       1.  A sofa

A sofa is not only one of the first things people see when they walk into your home, but it is also a piece that gets used all the time by everyone, so quality should be priority. Generally, with the proper care, sofas should last about 10 to 15 years. Of course that timeframe depends on the amount of usage and how it’s used. 10-15 years is a very long time to own something that gets used every day, so it’s important to take that into consideration when making the decision to buy based on price tag, or quality and longevity.

       2.  Dining table and chairs

A dining set is another set of furniture that gets used every day by everyone. Often time they are also the first thing people see when they walk in, therefore, purchasing the set should be carefully thought out based on quality. Another important thing to keep in mind is that it needs to be durable and easy to clean, as there will be spills, scratches, and other inevitable accidents.

        3.    A mattress

Paying more for a quality mattress should be a no-brainer because a quality mattress can improve both your physical and mental health. Though your mattress may not be seen or used by everyone, unlike the dining set and sofa, it’s used by you every day/night and should meet all of your physical needs. On average, your mattress should last anywhere between 8 to 10 years, again, depending on many elements that can increase or decrease the longevity of it, so treating it as an investment will pay off in the long run and benefit you in many ways.

So start saving up your money so you can get the quality furniture from Hennen Furniture that you deserve!