TLE

• Furniture is a piece of equipment, such as chairs, tables, beds, cupboards, and others, that are put into a house or a building to make it suitable and comfortable for living or working in
• Living room furniture includes:

  • Sofa bed: accommodates many people seating, can be transformed into a bed, available in various sizes and models
  • Sectional furniture: includes ottoman, upholstered couches, and recliners, can be used as a set or individually, allows flexibility in living room space
  • Ottoman: commonly used for feet, some use it as decorative tables, can be used for organizing small items
  • End table: placed near or on the side of a chair, sofa, or couch, hosts reading or table lamps, provides space for glasses or snacks, serves as storage in modern designs
  • Curio cabinet: has glass doors, used for displaying collections and souvenirs
• Other types of furniture include:

  • Dining room tables: designed for formal dining
  • Bedside tables, nightstands, or night tables: small tables used in a bedroom for lamps, alarm clocks, glasses, or personal items
  • China cabinet: resembles a cupboard, holds fine chinaware
  • Cupboard: a storage cabinet for household items, protects from dust and dirt
  • Dresser: a piece of furniture with drawers, used for keeping clothes and accessories, top used for displaying cosmetics
  • Gateleg tables: have hinged leaves supported by hinged legs
  • Coffee tables: low tables for use in a living room, in front of a sofa, for drinks or personal items
  • Refectory tables: long tables for seating many people for meals
  • Workbenches: sturdy tables for assembly, repairs, or precision handwork
  • Nested tables: a set of small tables of graduated sizes that can be stacked together
• Different furniture styles include:

  • Gothic furniture: heavily carved and decorated, characterized by columns and extravagant tracery, uncomfortable but stylish, originated in France in the 12th century
  • Renaissance furniture: inspired by artwork from the Bible, influenced by Italian artists like Michelangelo, featured geometric shapes towards the end of the movement
  • Tudor furniture: large, carved, with straight lines, influenced by Renaissance and Gothic styles, lasted from about 1485 to 1603
  • Jacobean furniture: mainly made from oak, legs on tables and chairs often twisted, evolved to be more padded, lasted from 1603 to 1649
  • Rococo furniture: excessive, elaborate, fanciful, made use of curves, popular in the 18th century, especially in France and Germany
• Different furniture styles include Gothic, Renaissance, Tudor, Jacobean, Rococo, Neoclassic, Art Nouveau, Scandinavian, Country, and Japanese
• Rococo furniture style was excessive, elaborate, fanciful, and made use of curves, popular in the first half of the 18th century in France and later in other European countries
• Neoclassical furniture style began in 1750, influenced by archaeological discoveries in Greece and Italy, lasting until 1880 with rectangles and bold, straight lines replacing the curved shapes of Rococo
• Art Nouveau furniture style, ornate and delicate, featured long and curved lines, often including pictures of women's bodies, flowers, and leaves, beginning in the 1890s and ending around 1910
• Scandinavian furniture is characterized by simple but quality craftsmanship using lightweight materials like plywood, famous for high mass production, introduced outside Scandinavia in 1930
• Country furniture style is created by craftsmen influenced by old-fashioned and traditional styles, producing a rustic look, commonly handmade
• Japanese traditional decor styles are minimalist, with sliding doors, mats for sitting, and movable folding screens to divide the room
• Procedures and techniques in removing stains on furniture:

  • Butter stains:

  1. Apply dry cleaning solvent on a clean, white cloth and blot at the stain, never rub
  2. Mix mild detergent with warm water, blot at the stain
  3. Sponge off with clean, warm water and allow to dry
• Cheese stains:

  1. Mix detergent with warm water, blot at the stain
  2. Mix ammonia with water, blot the stain
  3. Blot with clean water to remove any detergent or ammonia, let dry
• Ink stains:

  1. Spray hairspray onto a clean, white towel and dab at the stain, followed by blotting with a dry towel
  2. Treat with isopropyl rubbing alcohol, blot the stain
  3. Apply nail polish remover or acetone, blot from the outside edges toward the center
  4. Use spirits of turpentine, blotting as with the other treatment options
• Coffee stains:

  1. Mix mild detergent with warm water, blot from the outside in
  2. Blot with a mixture of white vinegar and water
  3. Absorb excess with a clean, white towel, allow to dry
• Water marks:

  • Use a warm iron on a clean cloth placed on top of the stain until the ring is gone
  • Use white toothpaste to help, then wax or polish the furniture
• White marks:

  • Make a mixture of cigarette ashes and lemon juice, apply to the area with a cloth
• Milk and alcohol stains:

  • Use a scratch concealing polish, working it into the grain
• Cigarette burns:

  • Use a dry steel wool soap pad or a dampened cloth, run along the grain
• Heat marks:

  • Remove paint with water if possible, lift dry paint with a putty knife
• Paint marks:

  • Rub liquid or paste wax into the stain, or rub with ammonia on a dampened cloth, wipe dry and wax as necessary
• Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor and also for the work of installing a floor covering
• Floor covering is a term used to describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface
• Good-looking flooring could improve the value of the home and attract more visitors
• Types of flooring:

  • Hardwood flooring: beauty and durability
  • Bamboo flooring: durable, elegant, comes in various colors
  • Ceramic tile: waterproof, hides scratches well
  • Wood parquet flooring: unique geometrical patterns
  • Laminate flooring: cheap, easy to maintain, resists burns and scratches
  • Marble flooring: durable, versatile, easily cleaned and maintained
  • Carpets and rugs: easy installation, easy replacement of damaged parts
  • Vinyl sheet: available in various colors and styles, easy installation, affordable
  • Rubber flooring: low maintenance, suitable for various rooms
  • Cork flooring: natural, harvested product, easily absorbs stains
• Reasons for cleaning the floor:

  • Prevent injuries due to tripping or slipping
  • Beautify the floor
  • Remove stains, dirt, litter, and obstructions
  • Remove grit and sand which scratch and wear down the surface
  • Remove allergens, such as dust
  • Prevent wear to the surface
  • Make the environment sanitary
• Methods of cleaning the floor:

  • Different types of floors require different treatments
  • Ensure the floor is not left wet after cleaning and mopping
  • Sawdust can be used on some floors to absorb liquids
• Proper way of cleaning wood flooring:

  • Clear the floor of furniture
  • Sweep or vacuum dirt and debris
  • Mop the floor along with the grain using appropriate cleaning solutions
• Cleaning tile and stone floors:

  • Remove dirt or dust with a vacuum cleaner or broom
  • Use appropriate cleaning solutions for different types of floors
  • Mop and scrub the floors after spraying the cleaning solution
• Floor care and maintenance tips for different types of flooring:

  • Vinyl: sweep, vacuum, clean with water and neutral detergent
  • Laminate: vacuum or wipe with a dry mop, use laminate cleaning solution
  • Wood: sweep, clean with damp cloth and wood cleaning products
• General floor maintenance tips:

  • Use a doormat at the entrance
  • Use felt or plastic protection on furniture legs
  • Lift heavy furniture instead of sliding
  • Never spray cleaning products directly on the floor
  • Sweep or vacuum regularly to prevent damage
  • Remove spills promptly
  • Keep pets' nails trimmed and paws clean
  • Place protective felt pads beneath furniture legs
  • Use a dolly and protective sheets when moving heavy objects
  • Remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on the floor