Restaurants Save Money by Repairing, Not Replacing
Restaurant managers and owners can develop very strong relationships with quality repair and restoration professionals. And they should; having a leather, vinyl, and color restoration specialist in your back pocket is a crucial element to your profitability in a business with so much wear and tear on your bottom line
Repairing vs. Replacing in Restaurants
Restaurant managers and owners can develop very strong relationships with quality repair and restoration professionals. And they should; having a leather, vinyl, and color restoration specialist in your back pocket is a crucial element to your profitability in a business with so much wear and tear on your bottom line.
Full-service professionals can repair the deepest cracks, rips and tears to leather and vinyl surfaces, leaving them looking like new.
Been there. Done that. We've all sat at a booth or table at a restaurant and noticed that there are rips, tears, or even potentially ages old cigarette burns (in the case of "vintage" joints). At any rate, something is in dire need of repair. And there's nothing worse than sitting at a booth or bench that that rips and cracks below your legs or a table that has deep scratches or chips in your eating area. You may have also been in restaurants that have excessive sun damage on chairs, window treatments and other areas, making the space you are sitting in feel old and dated. It takes your experience right down the tubes.
If you're a restaurant owner or manager, then this is just part of the gig. Certain areas of a dining room can really suffer from wear and tear of high customer traffic. The cost of replacing these items, unfortunately, can be brutally expensive when you consider how many booths, tables, and chairs sustain damage and wear throughout a restaurant's lifetime.
“Restaurant managers and owners can develop very strong relationships with quality repair and restoration professionals.”
A Cost-effective Solution
So how does one reduce the massive expensive of operational wear and tear in the restaurant business? That's where Color Glo International comes in. As a solution to this common problem, many restaurant owners are partnering with companies that repair and restore damage to vinyl, leather and plastic surfaces. It can literally save your business hundreds or thousands of dollars in replacement costs depending on the size of your restaurant, and especially over time.
In some of our customer case studies, we find that restaurants have 5 or more booths with rips and tears, vinyl upholstery in need of major repair and other blemishes in high traffic areas. While it's certainly true that any restaurant builds its reputation on service and food offerings, customers also want a comfortable dining environment. There is certainly no charm or warm and fuzzy feelings that come from a space that is in disrepair.
The bottom line for all restaurant owners, whether large or small, comes down to two questions:
- Can I afford to replace old/worn items?
- Do I have the time, tools and patience/skillsets to tackle it on my own?
Likely not, on both accounts. Repair and restoration specialists can come in during non-business hours and do restoration work on-site, typically within one day depending on your needs.
A common misconception
Many restaurant owners believe that when they buy seating and other wearable surfaces for their restaurant that they are buying a timeline of durability. They think that when they rip or tear, they need to replace these items. This often causes them to sit unaddressed, due to the high cost of replacement.
Full-service restoration professionals can repair deep rips, cracks, and tears to leather and vinyl surfaces. The repair and restoration work makes these surfaces look like brand new, which is just as good as a full replacement. You won't wait for ordering, shipping, installation or any of the other costs associated with replacement. In fact, you'll probably spend less than half of the cost repairing and restoring what you already own.
Ultimately, it's a business decision. If you could repair to a new state at a fraction of the price of replacement, why wouldn't you consider this option?
Big savings for chains
Consider this mathematical example. If you're an owner of a chain or you manage a group of restaurants, this is where the savings can become grossly apparent. If one booth costs $100 to repair vs. $600 to replace and you have 7 locations with an average of 8 booths that require attention, you've just saved $28, 000. You also didn't have to wait for supplies, installation or any other tedious tasks along the way. Your business operates as normal and takes on a transformation during non-operating hours of the day.
One of most valued partners you can have in the service industry is one that focuses on restoration and repair of your high-traffic and wear/tear areas. There is no doubt that it is really important to maintain your restaurant's appearance and comfort in order for your guests to return time after time again.
Since the cost of operating and repairing restaurants continues to reach exorbitant levels, many restaurateurs have become increasingly savvy by making smart alliances with restoration specialists that perform work on regular basis. This ensures that areas of concern are being addressed quickly before they become more expensive repairs or very unsightly for their clientele.
Today, your reputation management is an area of concern in multiple areas. Keeping your space in top condition for your guests will keep them coming back; this is directly managed by you. But it also keeps your customers from leaving negative or poor reviews online and elsewhere around the internet. Your reputation management online might be handled by your favorite digital marketing company, but it starts inside your doors. Color Glo International can help you stay on top of your reputation with a quality service that is convenient and timely, all the while saving plenty of dollars on the bottom line.
Does your restaurant need a facelift?
If your booths, chairs and other leather or vinyl surfaces are in serious need of repair and your image is not as compelling as it was the day you opened your doors, then find a Color Glo Specialist to help design a repair/restoration schedule to maintain your reputation.
Aviation Restoration and Repair
Aircraft purchases can be an enormous expense even for the affluent. So replacing worn items inside of your airplane or helicopter investment is the last thing you want to do. Like vintage automobiles, antique furniture, office furniture and even medical chairs and seating, your aviation equipment's interior can be restored to new with Color Glo.
Airplane and helicopter interior repair
Aircraft purchases can be an enormous expense even for the affluent. So replacing worn items inside of your airplane or helicopter investment is the last thing you want to do. Like vintage automobiles, antique furniture, office furniture and even medical chairs and seating, your aviation equipment's interior can be restored to new with Color Glo.
There are things you should consider when sourcing companies that restore aircraft interiors, so read below how our process and history ensures success in this marketplace.
Our Speciality. Color Glo, together with Aero Interior Maintenance, offers services that are targeted at leather, vinyl, and plastic surfaces used for interior components of aircraft. These components would include aircraft seating, side panels and reveals, headliners, seat bases, window reveals, table tops, and drink rails. The industry uses many different types of plastics, vinyls, and leathers to accomplish both practical and maintainable surfaces but also to bring elegance to these interiors.
- Cleaning and conditioning – Would include basic cleaning of built up soiling, newsprint ink or ink stains, removing simple scuffs, applying a final coat of leather conditioner.
- Repairing worn areas – Many high wear areas such as seat armrests and upper back cushions have the actual coating wore thin or all the way through the actual finish coating thus exposing the actual leather to premature wear and leaving it unprotected from the elements. Cleaning, repairing surfaces, and re-dying with multiple coats of finish will bring these areas back to a like new condition.
- Repairing & Re-dying of damaged areas – Many times faded colors, damaged surfaces from scuffs, scratches, and cracking can be repaired to a like new condition. This would include leather, vinyl, and hard plastics. These areas are then re-dyed back to an original color.
“Our Speciality. Color Glo, together with Aero Interior Maintenance, offers services that are targeted at leather, vinyl, and plastic surfaces used for interior components of aircraft.”
Quality Control
Many companies have tested their products to prove that they will not alter existing burn certificates but what they haven’t done is create an FAA repair station that controls who uses these products, how they use them, and how they will qualify their work. This is called a quality control system. Using an FAA certificated system will assure that trained people are using these products, these products are traced from point of origin to point of use, and a quality control system is used to issue FAA approved paperwork to the aircraft owner returning the aircraft to service after the maintenance we provide is completed. Color Glo in correlation with AIM, use either FAA form #8130-3 or logbook entry forms at the customer requests. Rest assured that existing burn certifications will not be voided when AIM maintains your interiors.
Our Guarantee
A common question is “How long will it last?” It is simple to make something look good going out the door but the real value to the end user is often found months later after these surfaces have been used and cleaned by the customer. We cannot control how you clean or maintain these surfaces after they leave our hands but we feel confident that it will wear well and often times as well as the original finish. Our guarantee is that we will make you satisfied or your money back, no questions asked. We have not experienced cracking, peeling, tackiness, the product coming off onto clothing, and the many other problems that many products cause. We take great pride in the fact our products stand the test of time again and again. We have a long list of customers who continually ask us to perform our maintenance on every annual inspection of their aircraft. They have found that routine maintenance can keep the appearance and condition of these interiors in a like new condition even though they may have thousands of hours of actual use.
Need help with aircraft restoration?
From private aircraft to commercial airliners, government or military, Color Glo is a market leader in the repair, reconditioning, renewal and color restoration of leather, plastic and vinyl in the aviation market.
Baandam X the Camp: Charity Project 109
Charity Project 109. Color Glo Thailand helped raise Money to help the wild guardian officer. The event took place Saturday to Sunday, April 7th & 8th at the courtyard of the camp.
Baandam X Glo Auto
Charity Project 109. Color Glo Thailand helped raise Money to help the wild guardian officer. The event took place Saturday to Sunday, April 7th & 8th at the courtyard of the camp.
Black House Museum in conjunction with the camp vintage flea market - a vintage market in Bangkok. Charity Charity Project 109 is open for the photo of a sudden brush. A Special Set of National Artists, vine, Index, four jatujak. The element of the 4 Elements (Elephant, horse, bull, Eagle) is printed on a special type of paper. Premium Limited Edition In Large A1 (59 x 85 cm. , ) price is 1,000 baht per photo. There are 4 types of production. Only 200 photos per day.
Every cent of income that comes through without breaking any cost is given as a welfare fund to assist the wild guardian officials in Thailand.
There's a special event on Sunday. Meet and greet with a handful of singer-Star Artists. We'll also highlight the lucky draw of special prizes from the black house museum. The Solar Medal, the landscape, the work of the national artist. Vine. Index. Special Set. Solar Coin. Shan Tri. 1 sets And many other goodies include more than two hundred thousand baht.
Don't miss!!! See you on Saturday - Sunday 7-8th April at the camp jatujak.
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How to Tell If Wood Furniture Is Worth Refinishing
When you find a piece of wood furniture you'd like to restore, it's really tempting to pull out your wallet and slide it in the truck. Often times though, we don't realize how much work or expense this may equate to. There's a handful of things you need to consider before making the choice to refinish wood furniture.
We've all done it - found a piece of worn wood furniture at an estate sale or flea market and thought "I'll just refinish this and it will be brilliant".
When you find a piece of wood furniture like this, it's really tempting to pull out your wallet and slide it in the truck. Often times though, we don't realize how much work this may equate to. It may also far exceed the cost of simply buying new (in some cases). There's a handful of things you need to consider before making the choice to refinish wood furniture.
Read on.
Is it high-quality construction?
This is the most important thing to consider. Wood furniture pieces that endure the ages are a high-quality build. Its hard to find these days in modern furniture design, so you are probably running across these in estate sales or grandma's attic. Know your construction standards.
“Your find doesn’t have to have antique value to be a great vintage piece that will give you years of service.”
You'll want to look for signs that the piece was made before 1950, maybe even 1960, but really no later... It was after this time period that particle board and laminate surfaces began cutting corners and cheapening production cost. By today's standard, even furniture that was mass produced on an assembly line in the 1950's would be much sturdier and of a higher quality than today's cheap furniture.
Your find doesn't have to have antique value to be a great vintage piece that will give you years of service, but still, you need to be extra-careful with really old pieces. There are a lot of vintage pieces of wood furniture out there made before the 1850's and attempting to refinish them yourself can really hurt their value. If you find a piece like this and you inevitably want it, consult an expert before starting this project.
Is the piece of wood furniture painted?
Put on your expert eye here. You should be leery of things that are painted - there is usually a reason for that. If a piece of wood furniture had run its course, the owner may have painted it to cover water damage or stains, burns, filled holes, etc. It could ultimately reveal a double-time job and not yield the result you were expecting.
You are probably better off finding something that an old stank on it, like aged dirty varnish that just needs to be stripped off. You can typically see through varnish at what lies beneath - there shouldn't be too many surprises. It's also easy to do with some basics from the hardware store; it should come right off.
Does the piece require re-gluing?
Next up. Give the wood furniture piece the rocking test. Put your hands on it and rock it back and forth, test drawers, look for sway, sit on it, etc. If the piece is not sturdy, you will have to take it apart and re-glue it using clamps. This isn't necessarily everyone's lane, so if you don't have the skill or workspace for that, you'll need to hire a professional woodworker to help with the job.
It does take time to knock a piece of wood furniture apart and completely remove the old glue and start from scratch. If you need to hire an expert to re-glue this piece for you, you can expect to pay a nice penny for it. For example, a chest of three drawers can easily run you $350 - $400.
What will it look like when it's done?
It's really hard to know what the piece of wood furniture will look like once it's refinished. To get an idea of what your piece will look like refinished, find a protected spot where the original wood is visible, such as the back of a solid-wood drawer front, underneath the top surface of a chest of drawers or the backside of a leaf in a drop-leaf table. This is where you can determine if you like the look of the grain and that you understand what color will emerge in the end. Wood that is older will often re-finish much darker than newly milled wood.
Make sure that you like the look of the grain and that you understand what color you’ll come out within the end—old wood often finishes much darker than newly milled wood. Here are the characteristics of several common types of wood on older furniture pieces:
Walnut
Walnut has a more lively grain than cherry or maple. It is one of the few wood types that can actually get lighter over the years. So the range of tones that you can achieve with stain can be limited by the natural rich brown color.
Cherry
Cherry is a very smooth wood with a mild grain that can be stained a variety of colors. If the wood furniture piece is 100 years old, however, and you've stripped it, the refinished wood is going to be very dark.
Mahagony
Mahagony is a love it or lose it wood type for many. No matter what you do to it, you are going to expel a reddish color during the refinishing process. It may be brown-red, but in the end, it will be red in appearance. For some, this is defining and unique, elegant and rich. For others, they couldn't imagine it in their home. You decide.
Pine
Most pine, regardless of era, would have probably been painted right away. So in this case, it's pretty rare that you'll run across one that you'll want to strip and refinish. But who knows... If you do, you can expect a honey-brown color that is darker than new pine.
Maple
Maple pieces made from the 1890's through the 1920's are often a beautiful figured bird’s eye or tiger maple and will have a strong yellow tone if you refinish them. Plain maple from the 1960's, (which was often stained an orangish color) can be stripped and made more modern with a light brown stain.
Oak
Oak was the core element of Victorian furniture. "Old" furniture was often made of quarter-sawn oak with a bold flecking in it. When you refinish the type of oak wood furniture, you can get a beautiful old tiger oak grain that appears golden in color. Very royal!
“Just remember to buy the piece for what it is rather than what you think it could be.
”
Will the refinishing job be difficult?
If you a DIYer, its all about the process for you, but you need to be prepared for the level of involvement in this project in order to restore a piece of wood furniture to new. Just be on the lookout for a few signs that your project may require extra work, advanced techniques or help from an expert.
- The piece has slats or spindles that are very close together
- Different parts will need different applications.
- It's made from random boards that are not from the same tree.
- It has deeply carved or applied filigree. (Time-consuming...)
The bottom line
Be prepared to walk away. Not every piece you find will be an amazing story of restoration. It could just end up being a tremendous headache and expense. It starts with a time investment into some furniture history, tell-tale signs and some patience in your quest. If you can exercise these things, you'll find your gem in the rough.
If you've acquired a piece but you are not sure what you have, then consult an expert. You may also want to contact professional restoration specialists to help bring it back to life before your journey gets too treacherous.
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How To Refinish Wood Furniture
If you're thinking that your wood furniture is worn, beat, sun-faded and potentially scratched up by the cat, then you might consider refinishing the wood. Such items in your household might be a dresser, nightstand, family room table, dining room table, chairs, etc. There are basic essential tools you'll need to perform this job properly.
Some essential tools for refinishing your wood furniture
If you're thinking that your wood furniture is worn, beat, sun-faded and potentially scratched up by the cat, then you might consider refinishing the wood. Such items in your household might be a dresser, nightstand, family room table, dining room table, chairs, etc. There are basic essential tools you'll need to perform this job properly.
Step 1 - Round up your tools
- Wipe-on stains and finishes
- Good cloths
- Fine steel wool and paste wax
- Some random odds & ends
- Stripper for paint removal
- Stripper for finish removal
- Power sander
- Good sandpaper
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- A thick stripper for paint removal. There are all kinds of strippers available on the market, but for these types of projects, you'll want to get thick coats of paint off an old piece of furniture. You'll need a thick product that clings to it in order to get the job done. As your local hardware guy for his advice.
- A thin stripper for finish removal. For old finishes, you won't need something as "powerful" as the above recommendations. Look for a watery stripper that you can use to wash down the piece by soaking it over and over again with a brush (earmark this brush for this function). The stripper dissolves everything and it should fall right off. Obviously, you'll want to do over a drop cloth, pan or something to protect the work area.
- A power sander. Once you've stripped the surface of the wood furniture piece you are working to restore, you'll need to smooth the surface out by sanding it. You can sand by hand, if you want..., at about 150 strokes per minute. If you're like us though, you'll want to cut this tedious activity down and save your arm by using a power sander. This will increase your productivity to around 7,000 strokes per minute. You'll probably want sander discs on hand in grit sizes from 80 - 200.
- Sandpaper. In addition to power sanding discs, get some 320- and 400-grit sheets of sandpaper plus a couple of blocks for hand sanding. Again, there is sandpaper galore when you explore the hardware store, but some do actually stay sharp and last throughout your project; as your guy. There are also a lot of blocks on the market, but to keep it simple, use a felt block or a wood block with some cork glued to it to save your sandpaper in use.
- Wipe-on stains and finishes. If you're a novice in this area and getting into your first or second project, you may want to use wipe-on polyurethane and gel stains (or gel topcoat) products. They take a bit longer to use, but they are easy to use and they turn out looking really nice. Brush on products are also an option, but they are thicker and stay wet longer so drips, sags, brushstrokes etc are more of a common challenge you'll have to deal with. If you're a pro, well... then you're probably on to spray guns.
- Good cloths. That's right, your cloths must be "good", and by this we mean spun cotton products that stand up to the test of time. There's no need to buy new shop rags: just wash some old cotton T-shirts. One thing to be careful about is to make sure they are lint-free. You'll leave little visitors all over your product otherwise. After using your rags or cloths, put them outside to dry right away. Dry rags won't combust like a wet rag has the potential to do.
Fine steel wool and paste wax. The curing of your wipe-on finish may take some time - a couple of weeks to be exact. At this stage, you'll want to do a soft rub-out with fine steel wool and paste wax. By gently rubbing the surface along the grain and buffing it out with a soft rag, you'll end up with a beautiful soft finish.
Odds and ends. Plan ahead. Like any project, it’s a good idea to have a few things on hand before you start a refinishing project. These items could be painter’s tape, pencils and markers, disposable plastic cups, finishing nails, stirring sticks, household ammonia for brush cleaning, clean canning jars, old tablespoons and yellow wood glue. You'll be looking for all of this stuff throughout your project.
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How to refinish wood furniture
Apply stripper
Depending on the size of your project, you will have chosen the appropriate stipper. Use your thick stripper for above for large projects and wood furniture with layers of paint on it. For small projects, you can now use aerosol spray paint stripper. It’s easy to control and it won’t spill, so it's convenient for a lot of people that are doing projects at home. Once you've applied your stripper, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll see the old finish start to lift up off the wood.
Remove any old finish
Use your scraper tool to remove the old finish. Keep a disposable shop cloth or paper towel roll around to wipe the blade between scrapes. You may have to apply stripper and scrape more than once in order to remove the majority of the old finish.
Image DIY Network
Clean it with mineral spirits
You'll want to clean the area at this point. It's kind of like a medical procedure... everything must be in order and as clean as possible. So once you’re done stripping and the surface and it has dried, wipe the wood with mineral spirits using a clean cloth. This will remove any residual stripper from your project. Allow it to dry for a few hours at least.
Sand it smooth
You've heard the phrase "smooth like a baby's butt" - this is your time. Use your power sander with medium-grit sandpaper (about 150-grit) until you can see the bare wood. Then switch to a finer sandpaper (such as 200+ grit) until the entire piece is uniform and "smooth like a baby's butt". Afterward, wipe down the entire surface with a clean tack cloth to remove any sanding residue.
“You may need to apply multiple coats until you achieve the color you’re looking for.”
Apply the stain
We talked about wipe-on stains above and we're assuming you are in that novice category. Staining is easiest to do with a staining pad. Just dip the pad in the wipe-on stain and wipe it on using long, even strokes. Just like painting a surface, you'll want to apply even pressure and length to your work.
When you're done, you'll want to use a clean wiping cloth to remove excess stain. Wipe lightly along the grain - this will prevent streaking. Just like trimming your filet mignon, if you go against the grain, you'll get funky results that fight with you along the way. You may need to apply multiple coats until you achieve the color you're looking for. Follow this process until you like the end result, but it is key to let it dry between coats otherwise you won't see the true color of the stain.
Apply your paste wax
This the stage where your steel wool and paste wax come in handy. Do a soft rub-out with fine steel wool and paste wax. By gently rubbing the surface along the grain and buffing it out with a soft rag, you'll end up with a beautiful soft finish.
Or you may want to apply an oil-based clear coat for a final layer of protection. Keep in mind, this will also give it a whole new sheen and luster, so if that's not the vintage look you're going for you can skip this (knowing that you may damage your newly refinished wood faster). You can sand with fine paper.
Let it dry
After you steel wool-rub or clear coat it, let your finished piece fully cure in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area. We recommend doing this for at least 24 hours before you put your wood furniture piece back to use.
That's it! With a little time investment and some good products, you can turn your old, worn wood furniture piece into a striking new accessory for your home. Here's a video below from the DIY Network showing you one process on wood trim.
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How To Prevent Color Fading In Your Home
In order to prevent color fading in the key areas of your home and preserve your furniture for many years, you need to take adequate protective measures against the harmful effect of the sun. And remember that UV rays are present even on cloudy days. The same rule applies as if you had your skin directly out in the elements all day long.
Some tips to prevent color fading
Depending on the layout and interior design of your home, you have probably sat in your favorite chair in the early evening and been amazed as the rays of sun play tricks on the walls and surfaces that adorn your home. Maybe you're an early riser and have sat in bewilderment at the splendor of natural light filling your home and flowing through the rooms at sunrise.
The colors in your home become so rich and vibrant as the sun penetrates the room and various pieces of furniture and items of interest get drenched by the God of light. The sunlight adds depth and charm to your home, enhancing the appearance of everything in its path. It provides a natural ambiance unique to your home, and your home only.
Revel in it.
Allowing this natural wonder of light into your home, however, has one major drawback – it can literally ruin your carpeting, fine furniture and artwork on the walls. The UV rays in the sunlight can break down many of the chemicals that exist in furniture and fabric dyes and cause permanent discoloration and fading of wood. You'll want to prevent this negative by-product of the sun's beautiful rays on your home investments by finding an efficient way to protect them from color fading and deterioration.
In order to prevent color fading in the key areas of your home and preserve your furniture for many years, you need to take adequate protective measures against the harmful effect of the sun. And remember that UV rays are present even on cloudy days. The same rule applies as if you had your skin directly out in the elements all day long.
Protect your furniture from the sun
- Abstinence. The easiest method to save our furniture is to keep your pieces away from direct sunlight. Place your furniture, especially the more valuable ones, in shaded areas of the room, away from direct sunlight, windows, and skylights. You may want to reorganize your room to accommodate the natural light. Most people have never thought of this, so you'll be ahead of the curve.
- Window Treatments. Use window treatments of some sort. This can come in form of hanging curtains and draperies, blinds, and shutters, or use shades and awnings to block out the sun. This will also be useful during the hotter summer months of the year in terms of keeping your home's temperature regulated.
- Apply window film. Window films are a great way to handle sun and natural light in your home. High-quality solar window films can reflect up to 99.9 percent of the sun's UV rays. Window films are installed on the inside of your windows to create a protective layer that filters out harmful rays. They will not restrict your view, so they're really an effective tool. You can save on the energy bill by adding a window tint.
- Re-invest into your home. If the home is a long-term plan for your family, you may just want to install new windows. Modern windows are specially designed to block UV rays (they filter about 85 percent of the harmful rays) and improve the energy efficiency of your home.
“UV rays are present even on cloudy days.”
Protect furniture from fading
You may want to take another step. In addition to preventing sunlight exposure, you may also want to look at some kind of coating to protect the furniture surface.
Seal your wood furniture
Sealants will protect the wood from sunlight, heat, and water. Some sealants can also greatly enhance the beauty of the grain. Depending on the type of wood and amount of exposure you have a few options.
- Varnish. Varnish will seal the wood fibers and provide good protection against ultraviolet light and water. It is made from resins, oil, and solvents, and comes in a variety of different finishes.
- Lacquer. A lacquer will create a hard shell over the furniture surface and provide it with a durable, long-lasting protection. It is not recommended for coarse grain woods or super-soft woods.
- Polyurethane. This is also very durable and long-lasting but can be susceptible to cracking under intense heat. So if this is the alternative to removing your piece from direct sunlight, then you should probably consider something else. Again, a combination of these products and key room placement is the best idea.
- Shellac it. Shellac is a natural product that brings out the richness of wood grains. It looks very attractive on walnut, mahogany, and fine veneer woods. It isn't super durable though and offers only average resistance to sunlight and wear. Your best bet with a shellac is for use on a decorative piece of furniture that doesn't see much daily use.
- Wax it. Oil it. Waxes and oils require regular upkeep but will enhance the appearance of wood furniture substantially. So if you're looking for beauty with a splash of function and you can commit to a monthly routine of curating your amazing home - this one is for you.
Protect fabric upholstery
We can't think of a fabric that is not highly susceptible to fading from the sun. The more "high-end" the material such as silk or linen will fade and wear faster. Materials blended with acrylic, polyester, and nylon are less likely to fade (at least quickly). To prevent the fabric on your furniture from discoloration and premature wear, you'll want to consider spraying your pieces with a specialize fabric protector. You may also want to check out our article An Ounce of Prevention For Your Furniture.
“Make sure you choose lighter colored furniture pieces that are likely to sit in the sun, as lighter fabrics show less fading than darker ones.”
Condition your leather
Ah, the forsaken... the abandoned. We talk about leather all the time; it gets bought, placed, used and abused. But it doesn't have to get worn and beat to the point of replacement. The beauty of your expensive leather investment is that it can indeed, last a lifetime.
When leather pieces are exposed to direct sunlight, the leather’s natural oil evaporates (just like your skin does). As a result, the colors fade and the leather stiffens and cracks. The darker the leather, the quicker it will fade. Conditioning the leather can help prevent drying and discoloration. You can read a bit more about How To Care For Your Leather Furniture.
In the event, family, time and life just get away from you and despite your best intentions your leather furniture cracks and fades - all is not lost. Sun fading can actually make a piece feel vintage and antique - perhaps the end result you were after. If areas of your leather furniture have turned to damage and despair, you can bring them back to life with some natural products that fun to make and healthy to use. Make sure to read our article How To Make Your Own Beeswax Leather Polish for some great advice.
Stay tuned for "How to restore faded wood furniture"
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CGI Ranked Military Times Best in Franchise Rankings 2018
The latest Military Times Best: Franchises rankings are out, and 53 companies have made the 2018 list of the best franchises for veterans and military-connected franchisees. Color Glo International is number five.
Military Times Announces the Military Times Best: Franchises 2018
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. February 20th, 2018 - Military Times today announced the Military Times Best: Franchises 2018 rankings, as part of their rollout of Rebootcamp, their brand new website for transitioning service members, veterans and their families. 2018 is the seventh annual edition of rankings factors in company culture and support for military franchisees. 53 companies have made the 2018 list of the best franchises for veterans and military-connected franchisees. Color Glo International is number five.
About Military Times Ranking
A valuable resource for veterans – and a coveted honor for companies around the country – the annual Military Times rankings are the result of a meticulous, months-long process. Military Times invites franchise companies to fill out its rigorous survey of more than 100 questions, tests to ensure the accuracy of responses, carefully evaluates survey data and includes only the best companies in its published rankings.
Companies large and small participate in this annual evaluation. Those who make the cut proudly tout their spot on the Military Times Best list – on billboards, in ballparks and in ads across national publications.
In their seventh year, the franchise rankings evaluate company culture, investment quality, overall franchising costs, military discounts and other non-financial supports, including support for franchisees in the National Guard and reserves. Perhaps just as important is what is not factored in: whether companies advertise with our publication or otherwise pay us money. While other military news and rankings outlets have been accused of operating as pay-to-play schemes, Military Times rankings always have been, and remain, independent and objective news/editorial projects.
“The franchise brands on this list make the extra effort for their veteran and military-connected franchisees,”. “They earned their places on these rankings through their dedication to current and former service members, and their efforts should get the attention of veterans considering their launching a franchise.” ~ George Altman, the Military Times editor in charge of the rankings
For the full Military Times Best: Franchises 2018 rankings, go to www.rebootcamp.com.
Why Color Glo?
Color Glo International has recently been recognized again on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for 2018, as well certified as a world-class franchise system by the Franchise Research Institute, leading to the natural selection for the Franchise Gator Top 100.
About Color Glo International
Color Glo International is the World Leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of Automotive, Aircraft, Marine, and Furniture. Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982. Today in hundreds of markets throughout the world. Color Glo products are proven every day to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.
Contact
Mandi Brandon
Own a franchise with CGI
CGI Cares: Hurricane Damaged Homes in Houston
Terry Stamm went with a group from his church in February to work on hurricane-damaged homes in Houston. See the project!
Color Glo Cares in Houston
Terry Stamm, a Color Glo Franchisee in Kansas, went with a group from his church in February to work on hurricane-damaged homes in Houston. They make annual mission trips to areas where they can make a difference.
They worked on removing and replacing the exterior siding and soffit, put down a tile floor in a bathroom, laid vinyl flooring throughout a house, replaced 6 windows, 3 doors, painted and textured walls and so much more.
The Project
Color Glo Cares
Color Glo franchisees and employees donate thousands of volunteer hours to countless community projects across the world throughout the year - changing lives, one person at a time.
Franchise Gator Names Color Glo International A Top 100 Franchise For 2018
Franchise Gator recently released its annual Top 100 and named Color Glo International a Top 100 franchise for 2018. The online franchise directory developed the rankings to help individuals interested in purchasing a franchise identify and limit potential risks when searching for the right opportunity.
Franchise Gator Names Color Glo International A Top 100 Franchise For 2018
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. January 29th, 2018 - Franchise Gator recently released its annual Top 100 and named Color Glo International a Top 100 franchise for 2018. The online franchise directory developed the rankings to help individuals interested in purchasing a franchise identify and limit potential risks when searching for the right opportunity.
Top 100 Importance
The Franchise Gator Top 100, now in its 5th year, highlights franchise systems and concepts that are both currently expanding and considered to be strong buys for prospective entrepreneurs and franchisees.
"Each year we comb through hundreds of Franchise Disclosure Documents to find franchise opportunities that are a great fit for our audience," said Eric Bell, General Manager at Franchise Gator. "Those that made the Top 100 show strong growth potential and make for a solid investment for the worthy candidate."
Why Color Glo?
Color Glo International has recently been recognized again on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for 2018, as well certified as a world-class franchise system by the Franchise Research Institute, leading to the natural selection for the Franchise Gator Top 100.
“It’s rewarding and exciting to see that the Color Glo concept continues be listed in the Franchise Gator Top 100. We’re honored and love that so many people around the world have changed their trajectory with Color Glo.”
About Color Glo International
Color Glo International is the World Leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of Automotive, Aircraft, Marine, and Furniture. Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982. Today in hundreds of markets throughout the world. Color Glo products are proven every day to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.
Contact
Mandi Brandon
Own a franchise with CGI
Color Glo International Ranked On The 2018 Entrepreneur Franchise 500
Entrepreneur has been putting together the world's first, best, and most comprehensive franchise ranking for almost four decades. This year's (the 39th annual installment) turned out to be one of the most competitive years ever with more than 1,000 companies have applied to be a part of the list. Color Glo International is proud to have made that list again in 2018.
Color Glo International® Ranked On the 39th Annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500
"With more than 1,000 companies applying, the 39th annual Franchise 500 ranking is one of our most competitive ever. Those franchises that rose to the top reveal the newest trends as well as the industries that keep going strong decade after decade."
Understanding the ranking
Entrepreneur has been putting together the world's first, best, and most comprehensive franchise ranking for almost four decades. This year's (the 39th annual installment) turned out to be one of the most competitive years ever with more than 1,000 companies have applied to be a part of the list.
Color Glo International is proud to have made that list once again amongst some of the nations top opportunities across various niches including restaurants, hair care, real estate, technology, themed parks, and more.
The five pillars of the franchise 500®
The key factors that go into their evaluation:
Costs & Fees
Franchise fee
Total investment
Royalty fees
Size & Growth
Open & operating units
Growth rate
Closures
Brand Strength
Social media
System size
Years in business
Years franchising
Support
Training times
Marketing support
Operational support
Franchisor infrastructure
Financing availability
Litigation
Financial Strength & Stability
Franchisor's audited financial statements
Before they determine rankings
Beginning in July 2017, Entrepreneur asked franchisors to fill out an online form and submit a copy of their full current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) or Canadian Disclosure Document. A total of 1,023 supplied the required information. Submissions were then vetted by an editorial team before being entered for data analysis.
To be eligible to rank, a franchisor must be seeking new franchisees in the U.S. or Canada and must have had a minimum of 10 units open and operating as of July 31, 2017, with at least one franchise located in North America. Companies in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings were not eligible. Then, each eligible franchisor was scored based on more than 150 data points, and those with the highest cumulative scores became the Franchise 500.
Color Glo International was also ranked amongst Entrepreneurs Top 500 Franchises For Veterans.
About Color Glo International
Color Glo International is the World Leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of Automotive, Aircraft, Marine, and Furniture. Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982. Today in hundreds of markets throughout the world. Color Glo products are proven every day to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.
Contact
Mandi Brandon
mandi@colorglo.com
Own a franchise with CGI
Global Franchise Opportunities in 2018
Once you've decided to invest in your future with a franchise opportunity, you'll need to go through that decision-making process to decide which path is right for you. You might be looking to go down a completely new road in your life. But you might also be looking to find the perfect fit to hone your skills and jumpstart your career. If you work in the service, cleaning, automotive or marine sector, then we think you'll find your passion right here with Color Glo International.
Choosing A Franchise Opportunity
Life offers up a lot of opportunities, specifically when it comes to your career, investments, your family, your home, and your passions. With so many options in every area of our life, it can be difficult to make the right choice. How do you know what the right choice is? What is the right school for your interests? Who is the right partner for your marriage? What is the right position to accept in your current job?
These decisions can also be directly attributed to franchises. With so many different brands and with all types of values, service records, and industries, you'll be able to find one that aligns with your personal interests or passions - you'll also quickly weed out those that don't. With franchise ownership, your skill-sets, ideals and driving inspirations can all be realized very quickly.
“Color Glo International® Certified as a 2018 World-Class Franchise® By The Franchise Research Institute®”
See what Color Glo Franchisee Ruben in South Africa has to say about his experience.
Next Steps With Your Franchise Opportunity
Once you've decided to invest in your future with a franchise opportunity, you'll need to go through that decision-making process to decide which path is right for you. You might be looking to go down a completely new road in your life. But you might also be looking to find the perfect fit to hone your skills and jumpstart your career. If you work in the service, cleaning, automotive or marine sector, then we think you'll find your passion right here with Color Glo International.
CGI Franchise Ratings
Accolades in the franchise world are hard to get, so they should be taken seriously. Recently, Color Glo International was ranked as a certified 2018 world-class franchise by the Franchise Research Institute. In this recognition, numerous bullet points from our franchisee responses were mentioned from their interviews:
- 99% gave a positive rating to the overall quality of the franchisor.
- 98% believe their franchisor encourages high standards of quality performance throughout the organization.
- 99% gave a positive rating to how their franchise business compares to the local competition.
- 99% gave a positive rating to the overall communication between home office personnel and franchisees.
- 97% gave a positive rating to the long-term growth potential for their franchise business.
Top Franchise Questions
After my initial investment, what other monies will I have to spend to get started?
Your investment provides for training and required equipment and inventory. However, as with any business, you should have access to a certain amount to cover your start-up. Usually, this is within 30 to 90 days.
Do I need a truck to carry all of the equipment necessary for work?
No! However, CGI recommends a minivan or pick-up with a topper to provide visual impact (decals, etc.) and simplify access to your materials.
Would I have much competition?
No! Competition is very limited.
What do car dealers do now with a used car “taken in on trade”?
Generally, they send it to a “detail shop” for interior cleaning and exterior washing and polishing. Detail shops can not redye sun-faded fabric, leather or vinyl materials, nor completely remove bad stains.
Where besides the automotive market can I make money?
Anywhere you find leather, vinyl, fabric, plastic and more. Today, besides improving vehicles of all types, Color Glo offices nationwide have been authorized as the warranty service agents for national furniture wholesalers and retailers. Additionally, our franchisees stay busy working on airplanes, boats, ATV’s, office furniture, medical benches, leather coats and purses and so much more!!!
What type of profit should I expect?
Due to not being overwhelmed with overhead, as in most businesses of to-day, you will be retaining 75% to 90% of your receipts.
Franchise Industry Overview
Color Glo is an international color restoration and repair company with hundreds of franchised offices throughout the U.S. and several foreign countries. We specialize in repairing all types of damaged, mismatched, dirty, faded upholstery found in the home, office, automobile, private or commercial aircraft, boats and commercial seating venues. In addition, Color Glo offers re-dyeing or color restoration services for when you just want to improve the appearance of the existing finish or in many cases we can even provide a complete color change.
Why we're top rated
Color Glo has serviced thousands of clients in commercial facilities including theaters, auto dealerships, office buildings, marinas, schools and colleges, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, apartment buildings, homes and more.
Our process uses specially formulated proprietary water-based and environmentally friendly, non-flammable, odor-free products that are made in the USA. Color Glo re-conditioned items dry in minutes which allows the customer to use their investment almost immediately.
Color Glo customers also like the fact that the process takes place at their own site. There is no downtime involved in dropping off your item
Is a Color Glo Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
If you're determined and motivated and love the industries that we niche in, then a CGI business will benefit your family and career with exponential returns. Contact us today to schedule your Discovery Day and find out why we are ranked for franchisee satisfaction by our franchisees, Franchise Gator, Entrepreneur.com and more! It’s your future, don’t just spend it watching others succeed!
Color Glo International Certified as a 2018 World-Class Franchise
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. Dec 26th, 2017 – Color Glo International® has received World-Class Franchise® certification from the Franchise Research Institute® for the eighth consecutive year. Color Glo International is the World Leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of Automotive, Aircraft, Marine, and Furniture. Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982.
Color Glo International® Certified as a 2018 World-Class Franchise® By The Franchise Research Institute®
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. Dec 26th, 2017 – Color Glo International® has received World-Class Franchise® certification from the Franchise Research Institute® for the eighth consecutive year.
The recognition comes after an independent franchisee validation survey conducted by the Franchise Research Institute, in which 76.1% of all Color Glo International franchisees participated. The survey was designed to determine the quality of 10 key metrics crucial to franchisee success within the Color Glo International franchise system.
According to Jeff Johnson, Founder of the Franchise Research Institute, “Color Glo International understands the importance of the partnership between franchisor and franchisees, and relies on unbiased data to make decisions which help to maximize franchisee sales and profitability. Further, Color Glo’s willingness to share this ‘look behind the curtain’ provides a level of transparency in their franchise that is critical for franchise candidates.”
The survey asked Color Glo International’s franchise owners to rate their franchisor through a series of questions in categories such as overall quality, growth potential, support and communication.
Franchisee Responses
Among the responses received from Color Glo International’s franchisees:
- 99% gave a positive rating to the overall quality of the franchisor.
- 98% believe their franchisor encourages high standards of quality performance throughout the organization.
- 99% gave a positive rating to how their franchise business compares to the local competition.
- 99% gave a positive rating to the overall communication between home office personnel and franchisees.
- 97% gave a positive rating to the long-term growth potential for their franchise business.
“We are honored to continually receive recognition for all the hard work that the Color Glo family pours into our franchisees and the success of their operations.”
Color Glo International’s franchise satisfaction results are available at HERE.
About Color Glo International
Color Glo International is the World Leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of Automotive, Aircraft, Marine, and Furniture. Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982. Today in hundreds of markets throughout the world. Color Glo products are proven every day to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.
Contact
Mandi Brandon
mandi@colorglo.com
Want to franchise with CGI?
The Importance of Refinishing Furniture in Commercial Buildings
Unlike your personally owned furniture at home, your commercial furniture will not have extra protectants and careful handling. It gets bought and placed, and used. Therefore, furniture in commercial buildings tends to deteriorate quickly and starts showing severe signs of wear and tear only after a few years of use.
Refinishing furniture in commercial buildings
The appeal and functionality of commercial workspaces are driven entirely by the environment, which is comprised of furniture and work areas. Whether you're an employee or a client, it's one of the first things people see when they enter the building. Not only does it provide a first impression, but it also sets the tone for an internal and external culture of the daily operations of your company.
“Lucite tables, four legs and shotty furniture generally aren’t good for employee morale. Of course, there are other ways to motivate...”
You probably don't want your office environment looking and feeling like Investors Center...
Despite the importance of commercial furniture...
It's really tough to keep your commercial furniture in great condition. Your customers and even your employees use and abuse it every single day. Heavy daily use will degrade the value of your furniture faster than your pocketbook can handle it.
Unlike your personally owned furniture at home, your commercial furniture will not have extra protectants and careful handling. It gets bought and placed, and used. Therefore, furniture in commercial buildings tends to deteriorate quickly and starts showing severe signs of wear and tear only after a few years of use.
Replacing your commercial furniture every couple of years really is not a financially feasible option. New furniture is very expensive and quickly eat at business margins or extraneous budgets for office supplies. If you've put your office space together with comfort and zen, then you likely don't want to be sourcing new furnishing designs again anytime soon.
So what's the solution?
Enter Color Glo International. There is a solution that is easy, efficient and affordable that can bring brand new life to your worn or slightly damaged commercial furniture. Refinishing your commercial furniture can restore the original luster and sturdiness of your office pieces. Or you can opt to give them a completely new look at just a fraction of the cost you would pay for brand new items.
There are some financial benefits. Repairing a damaged piece of furniture will cost you much less than buying a new one of similar quality. One market that continues to increase prices while offering less quality is furniture - both home and commercial. Color Glo Specialists have the proper equipment and professional experience required to repair and restore all different types of furniture that are typically found in commercial buildings. No need to replace items, we'll make them look the same as the rest.
- Leather Chairs
- Luxury Wall Paneling
- Office Suites
- Shelving
- Cabinets & Tables
- Medical Furniture
High traffic common areas can stay looking like new with yearly visits to refurbish the material.
Aesthetic benefits
It is absolutely the furniture that defines the look and style of an office or business establishment. Without it, it's an empty shell with some lighting. It adds elegance to the ambiance and gives the impression of prosperity and trustworthiness to your business. People, both clients and employees, respond to the ambiance.
Therefore, if the furniture gets damaged, dirty, or worn out, the commercial space will lose its appeal and elegant character. This will happen within just a few years if not sooner because of the daily wear and tear. So rather than replace these items and wasting time and effort in shopping for top retail priced items, you can refinish your commercial furniture for a fraction of the price.
Color Glo Specialists will fix any sustained damage and revitalize the surfaces so that your pieces regain their initial strength and beauty. You can have them restored to their original appearance or you can dye and re-color items such as fabric, leather, and wood to create a whole new office vibe!
Same furniture. New look. Lower price.
Eco-minded
All of this is great, but there's one more benefit to consider. Refinishing furniture has a greater impact on the global environment. When one less piece of furniture is bought from new, you're choosing the most eco-friendly option possible. It's no secret that your carbon footprint is significantly reduced when you opt to restore what is old vs. buying brand new. You eliminate the need to produce one product, burn more fuel, ship more items, etc.
The process of making new furniture has been estimated to release hundreds of times more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the process of restoring or refinishing old furniture. By reusing old furniture, you're also helping to preserve wood and other natural resources that have already been put to great use.
To sum it all up
Color Glo can Repair, Restore and Rejuvenate all your Office Furniture. Keep all your vinyl and leather office chairs for longer and restore them to a like new status. We do all our repairs on site which eliminates any possible down-time for our customers and keeps your employees happy and productive.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS. Restored items demand higher resale value, increasing your margin potential if you're looking to sell them. Restoration also mitigates the very costly option of replacement and extends the life of your corporate furniture and office spaces. You will realize a huge cost savings when compared to the alternative.
On-Site Service
- Property never leaves the customers site.
- Convenient for our customers.
- Eliminates customer downtime.
- Your property is always secure.
Permanent Lasting Repairs
- Specially formulated proprietary water-based products used in this market.
- Non-flammable & odorless.
- Dries in minutes and usable same day.
Want to hire a professional?
Color Glo International Named Top Franchisee For Veterans by Entrepreneur Magazine
Minneapolis, MN - Color Glo International was recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s Top Franchises for Veterans list. This list recognizes the 150 franchisors offering incentives to veterans who join their systems.
Minneapolis, MN - Color Glo International was recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s Top Franchises for Veterans list. This list recognizes the 150 franchisors offering incentives to veterans who join their systems. Color Glo was ranked #106.
“We’re honored to make the top franchise list by Entrepreneur Magazine and serve our veteran community with opportunity.”
“Veterans often make ideal franchisees, thanks to their strong leadership skills and abilities to work inside complex systems,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur. "We’re proud to highlight the franchisors that best connect with and support veterans, as they pursue the opportunity to own their own business."
To determine the Top Franchises for Veterans ranking, Entrepreneur analyzed each company’s veteran incentive, the number of veteran-owned units, how veteran franchisees are attracted to and support by each company, and how each company scored in the 2017 Franchise 500 ranking. Color Glo’s position on the ranking is a testament to the company’s efforts to support veterans in their pursuit of the American Dream.
To inquire about franchise opportunities with Color Glo, just click the button below.
How to Restore Your Leather Handbag
For many, leather handbags and purses can be a wearable piece of art that defines who we are out in the world. And for many... it's a real investment that many of us are willing to make. You'll want to keep it for a lifetime, so here are some excellent tips on how to take care of your investment.
Cleaning your leather handbag/purse
For many, leather handbags and purses can be a wearable piece of art that defines who we are out in the world. And for many... it's a real investment that many of us are willing to make. Though women tend to "invest" in handbags more than men, the men of today carry handbags and leather luxury goods more and more.
A Proper Man-Purse.
Like a diamond engagement ring or collector's watch, when you've invested a lot of money in a handbag, you'll want to make sure it sticks around for a lifetime. But taking care of leather goods can be tricky - and when it's an item you've fallen in love, with much more lies at stake.
So, how do you clean a leather handbag?
The very first place to start is with an ounce of prevention. This should begin the day that you purchase your leather handbag and you should treat your bag with a cream or leather care product designed for it, at least once every 60 to 90 days.
Secondly, regular cleaning should be a no-brainer - even if it's a quick wipe down. For quick, regular cleanings simply wet a damp cloth and remove dust and build up that can damage the bag, it's lining and interior pockets. But once your bag has some age or wear on it, it will typically need a more thorough cleaning by a professional color restoration specialist every few months to keep it like brand new.
“Protecting your handbag can prevent the pentration of grease, staining, and all other spills and mishaps later on. ”
Here are the DIY do's and don'ts.
- Once per week - wipe your bag with warm, soapy water. You can mix a small amount of mild liquid soap with warm water and use a soft damp cloth to wipe away any dirt from the outside of your handbag. Make sure to wipe with the grain of the handbag to avoid ruining the leather. If you've ever sanded a board or trimmed a filet, you get the idea. Grain is where it's at.
- Avoid the usual household wonder liquids. You should never pull out baby wipes, vinegar or any other 'home remedy' for cleaning or tackling stain removal on your luxury handbag. These products have chemicals (whether occurring naturally or man-made) that can destroy your hard-earned investment.
- Ink and pen marks! The key to removing ink marks is to treat them immediately. Your best bet here is to call your local Color Glo Specialist and schedule an appointment. If you're a die-hard or simply unable to, try a special ink removing product for leather and follow the care instructions, making sure to condition the area afterward. Then leave it to dry properly before using the handbag again. If the ink stains are old, do not try to remove these yourself. Seek professional help... you will need it.
- Stuff your bag while not in use. If you're a collector of leather handbags or have a few of them that come out on special occasions, then it would behoove you to stuff your bag with terry cloths or some filling material. It will keep its shape for a lifetime.
Keep your handbag stuff when not using it. Photo: Handbag Clinic
- Grease Stains. Just wipe them off. Using water or liquid will simply make them a mess to clean up.
- On tougher dirt and ground in problem areas, use a professional leather cleaning agent. A good cream does not need to be rinsed (which could damage your bag further). You may find a bit higher investment in good leather conditioning creams, but like most things in life, they will perform far better.
“Use a leather conditioning/cleaning product that is made for the material your handbag is made out of.”
- Always use a product designed for use on your particular material. A general leather cleaner will not be as effective on a suede or nubuck interior than a product specifically designed for it. Just do your homework or consult with the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Spot testing is key. Always, always spot test a small area that out of sight. You would do the same thing before spraying Scotchgard™ on your brand new fabric couch. You should take the same care with your luxury leather handbag purchase. It's likely you paid more for it than the couch...
- Dust bags - use them! If your bag came with a dust bag, then you should probably ask yourself, why? Dust bags are not intended for nice branding and good looking packaging, they are intended to keep your handbag DUST-FREE when they are not being used.
You can always use a pillow case or something similar if you don't have a dust bag.
- Sunlight. Don't leave your handbag in direct sunlight. Just like your good furniture, you wouldn't leave in the window in blazing sun every day. The same color fasting will occur.
- Do not use saddle soap. It will most likely be too strong for the leather on your bag and could cause it to discolor.
- Smelly bags... to forever banish lingering effluvia, put an open container of baking powder carefully inside your bag, place your bag into a dust bag or pillow case and leave it to sit for 24 hours. It should absorb that scent you didn't like.
For the Fashionistas...
You may not have thought of this, or maybe it has affected you already. Do not rock light color handbags with dark clothing. The dye from your dark clothing may run and transfer to the handbag. This is one of the single hardest stains to remove.
If you do end up with a really stubborn stain, try matching a shoe polish to the color of your bag and buffing a small amount over the affected area.
Want to hire a professional?
How to Clean Your Automobile's Interior Wood Trim
Wooden trim can really bring the class level of your automobile investments to a new level but if its not cleaned and cared for properly (like all other parts of your car) it will begin to look faded and tired, and can leave the overall impression of your interior looking drab.
Cleaning interior wooden trim
Ahh wooden trim... Think classic jaguar. Wooden trim can really bring the class level of your automobile investments to a new level but if its not cleaned and cared for properly (like all other parts of your car) it will begin to look faded and tired, and can leave the overall impression of your interior looking drab.
If your wooden trim is excessively dirty or has been left unattended and it has build up on it, then it should be thoroughly cleaned with a diluted all purpose cleaner and a microfiber towel. Using soft-bristled detailing brushes can also be used to access tight areas, corners and curves. It is important when using an all purpose cleaner that you ensure you thoroughly remove all residue and do not allow it to dry anywhere on the trim.
Next Step
After contaminants, dust, and grime have been cleaned off you will be able to see the true condition of the wooden trim. If it has become oxidized or lightly scratched/swirled over time you can polish it to remove these imperfections.
An all in one polish product made for the paintwork of your car may ideal for polishing wooden trim. A small amount should be applied to a sponge or microfiber applicator pad, then worked into the trim using both circular and linear motions. Once the polish has dried it should be buffed off with a soft microfiber towel.
“An all in one polish product made for the paintwork of your car may ideal for polishing wooden trim.”
While polishing your wood, you should be careful not to contaminate the surrounding trim with polish residue. In fact taping off the trim with painters tape may be a good idea depending on the car.
If the trim has been neglected over a considerable amount of time you may need to repeat the polishing process a number of times until the trim has been restored to a satisfactory standard.
Some classics may have wooden steering wheels.
What do I do now?
You've polished; what now? After polishing, your wooden trim can be waxed with a good quality natural carnauba based product. This will help to protect and seal the trim. It will also bring out the clarity of the grain in the wood and vastly enhance the reflections of the clear coat. The wax should be applied via a sponge or microfiber applicator pad, left to cure, then buffed off with a clean, soft microfiber towel. You'll want to ensure again that you do not contaminate any of the surrounding trim with wax residue or your job will become a bit more involved...
Maintenance is key
After your wooden trim has been cleaned, polished and protected it should be routinely maintained. Owning an automobile is either a passion or a pain for many people and wooden trim can increase your time invested. It needs be properly maintained along with the rest of the interior of your car to keep it looking its best. It should be vacuumed off using a soft brush attachment to remove any dust and loose contaminants, then wiped over with a soft microfiber towel and a detailing spray. Using a detailing spray works very well in maintaining interior wooden trim. You may want to read our other advice on how to clean the interior of your car.
If you find that you have a problem with your trim attracting allot of dust and other loose debris soon after it has been cleaned. This could be due to static that has been created from buffing it with a microfiber towel. A good way to combat this problem is to use an anti-static screen cleaner that is designed to clean computer monitors, mobile phone screens and other similar surfaces. The cleaner should be misted over the surface then lightly wiped over with a fine, soft lint free cloth.
For more reading, check out how to clean plastic exterior car parts.
Want to hire a professional?
How to Clean Plastic Exterior Car Parts
Your car has a lot of exterior plastic (believe it or not), which may require a different approach than the interior of your car. Knowing what to use is key, as plastic can be discolored or adopt a permanent haze if you're not real careful.
How to clean plastic car parts
We've talked about how to clean the exterior of your car in the past, and even the leather seats and upholstery. We also covered how to clean your car's interior plastic parts. But what about all the exterior plastic parts that weather the elements?
Your car's plastic will build up dirt and dust naturally just by moving and operating or even sitting there. Your clean natural clean tendencies are simply not enough. By cleaning your car's exterior as well as the interior, you can keep it looking newer much longer. Very good for resale and very good for you as you cruise the strip.
Your car has a lot of exterior plastic (believe it or not), which may require a different approach than the interior of your car. Knowing what to use is key, as plastic can be discolored or adopt a permanent haze if you're not real careful. Many years ago, we had to be careful not to confuse rubbing compound for turtle wax... Well, with today's chemicals and endless options, you'll want to excercise the same caution when clean your car's plastic parts.
Your potential for failure :-)
Your car is made of several types of materials, though most of the parts that are for aesthetics or looks are plastic. Plastic is used because it is easily molded to a desired shape and can be tinted to match the vehicle’s color. It can also be painted to match. Plastic parts range in purpose including:
Molded plastic parts for door panels or quarter panels.
Close-out panels designed to block mechanical parts from view.
Smooth, painted components such as bumper covers and trim areas.
Textured plastic parts.
Soft-touch plastics for attractive interior/exterior finishing.
“A general rule of thumb is painted plastic on the exterior of your car can be cleaned in the same fashion as the rest of your paint.”
Plastic components can (and do) get dirty just like the rest of your vehicle. Common offenders are oil from the road, dust, and debris, and potentially even food, beverages, bugs and more. Plastic may need to be treated differently than the rest of your car depending on its composition and finish.
Clean the textured plastic exterior parts
Textured black plastic on the exterior of your car is typically very rich in color. And whether they are black, grey, or tinted to match the rest of your auto's paint job, they can fade from the sun. Textured black plastic is typically used for parts such as mud guards, unpainted bumpers, windshield wiper cowls and other similar accessories.
You'll notice when this fading has happened because what used to be deep and rich will now appear to have a white tinge or cloudiness to it.
Your plastic can be restored.
Materials Needed
Clean lint-free cloth
Plastic trim cleaner (we recommend a Color Glo product that your local color restoration specialist will use when working on your project).
Trim brush or toothbrush
Image: Your Mechanic
Step 1:
Apply the cleaner. Apply a quarter-sized drop of trim cleaner directly to the plastic part. Work in small sections just like when you're washing your car. So don’t use a spot of cleaner larger than a quarter and keep your work area tight and controlled.
Step 2:
Brush in the cleaner. Brush the cleaner into the trim with a small, plastic-bristled brush or toothbrush - everybody keeps these around for just this purpose. First spread the cleaner thinly over as large a section as you can with the brush. Then, brush the wetted spot with the brush until the plastic underneath appears un-faded and even. You'll be surprised.. it will come right out.
Step 3:
Wipe the area dry. Wipe the spot dry with a clean, lint-free cloth, removing any remaining cleaner and dirt. And that's it! From here you can read up on how to clean the exterior of your car to bring the entire vehicle back to new.
Want to hire a professional?
An Ounce of Prevention for Your Furniture
We've all heard the saying...“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin was talking about fire prevention in the city of Philadelphia when he coined this phrase, but it’s one that can be applied to any situation.
We've all heard the saying...
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin was talking about fire prevention in the city of Philadelphia when he coined this phrase, but it’s one that can be applied to any situation. This philosophy will go a long way if we apply it to the objects that make our body comfortable – that is, the furniture we sit on, such as restaurant and office seating; transportation seating, and yes, even those dentist chairs!
Whether you’re an individual or business, making and keeping these types of seating comfortable is important. However, in this article we’ll focus on homeowners and their furniture.
Furniture problems and preventions
So let’s talk problems and prevention. And if you’re picturing grandma’s plastic-coated furniture, then know there are better solutions. Here are some things you can do to not only keep your seating comfortable but looking good as well. Try to do as much prevention as possible to avoid having to go for the cure. Also, realize that the type of seating material is going to determine the type prevention as well.
Problem: Scratches
Scratches can result from a variety of sources: pet claws and sharp objects being the most common. We’re talking about human-caused scratching and other marks (we’ll deal with pet-related issues in the last point).
Prevention: A large part of the prevention of scratches is simply being mindful of what we have in our hands and how we let that object come in contact with our furniture. A protective coating can help protect tiny scratches, but a deep scratch can only be prevented by carefulness on the part of the person who uses the furniture.
Problem: Stains
Stains can come from a variety of sources. The list is endless: food spills, liquids, ink, bodily fluids, and even water. We think that a quick swipe with a cloth (or our sleeve) solves the problem, but the surface isn’t really clean and residue can remain.
Prevention: Once again, stains can generally be prevented by carefulness on our part. Be mindful of how and where you place things that could stain your furniture. And if you do spill something, clean it up immediately, making sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions so as not to cause further staining.
Problem: Dirt & Dust
Dirt and dust mostly come from constant use and the environment. Sometimes it’s brought in by people and pets, and it’s pretty much always around, and furniture is often the recipient.
Prevention: Since most of this unpreventable, being proactive in keeping the furniture dust free, vacuumed and wiped clean, will stop the buildup of dirt and dust. If you let it build up your furniture will look dingy and clean up will take longer and require more effort.
Basement and lower-level living spaces can naturally cause dust and dirt build up.
Problem: Tears, Cracks & Punctures
Cracks can come from constant use, while tears and punctures are caused by sharp objects coming into contact with the material.
Prevention: There isn’t much we can do about the cracks that occur from constant use. But you can keep the material well-conditioned to prevent dryness that will lead to cracks. As for tears and punctures, once again be mindful of the objects you have in your hands. If you’re carrying something sharp, like a knife, have it in a sheath or make sure the blade is in such a position that it won’t come in contact with the soft material of your furniture. When talking specifically about your leather furniture, you may want to learn how to make your own beeswax leather polish to ensure your expensive investments last a lifetime.
Problem: Fading & Bleaching
Constant use will lead to fading or a worn look in the material, while bleaching is due to the furniture being exposed to direct sunlight on a consistent basis.
Prevention: This problem is actually a fairly easy one to prevent. Simply put, keep your furniture out of direct, constant contact with the sun.
Problem: Pet-Related
Pets can cause a variety of problems: smells, residue, stains, and scratches. Some pets can be trained, but others (like cats) consider themselves the rulers of their domain.
Prevention: We all know that pets have a mind of their own, and generally don’t care about our wishes and how we want them to treat our furniture. In some cases, they can be trained, while in others we may need to use a product that will deter them from damaging our furniture. Take a look at our post on How to Make Your Own Cat Repellent for some natural ways to discourage your pet.
Final thoughts on your furniture
As you can see, most prevention involves carefulness and mindfulness on our part. If we are proactive in the care of our furniture, that will help prevent many of the accidents that can occur. It will keep our furniture looking good and comfortable to sit in. When something does happen to damage your furniture, be sure and take care of it immediately so that more damage does not occur from neglect.
We have several articles on our blog that will give you some good tips on taking care of your furniture:
If your seating has been damaged to the point where a homemade, natural or store-bought solution cannot cure it, then it may be time to turn to our professional color restoration and repair technicians. Find a Color Glo Franchise Location HERE on our website.
How To Clean Plastic Interior Car Parts
There is more to cleaning a car than just filling up a bucket with mild soapy water, scrubbing it down and rinsing it off. The plastic interior needs to be kept clean as well. Follow our simple tips to dust, clean, and restore yoru plastic car parts.
How to clean plastic car parts
We've talked about how to clean the exterior of your car in the past, and even the leather seats and upholstery. But what about your plastic car parts?
Well, there is more to cleaning a car than just filling up a bucket with mild soapy water, scrubbing it down and rinsing it off. The plastic interior needs to be kept clean as well. Your car's plastic will build up dirt and dust naturally just by moving and operating or even sitting there. Your clean natural clean tendencies are simply not enough. By cleaning your car's interior, you can keep it looking newer much longer, which is good for resale and good for you.
Your car has both interior and exterior plastic, which may require some different methods. You just need to make sure you are using the right products on your plastic interior.
You can keep your classic car or sports car looking this good with a little bit of TLC.
What you need to clean interior plastic
Vacuum the interior first. Before you begin this project, vacuum out your car to remove any debris, dirt, and dust. Your cleaning products of choice will perform much better if you take care to vacuum before getting started. You can avoid scratching your plastic dash and other areas by using the soft brush attachment.
Remove the floor mats BEFORE your start to vacuum.
Take extra care around vents, knobs, and accessories. You can damage these easily if you're not paying attention.
“Vacuum out your car first, to remove any debris, dirt, and dust”
Cleaning the interior
Dust the plastic. Use a soft damp cloth (water only) or soft hand-held dust mop (available in the car care section of any grocery or discount store) to clear away dust. Some people use a vinegar solution for this too. Generally speaking, this should be ok as vinegar is a non-abrasive natural cleaner but depending on the composition of the plastic, you may find that it leaves a residue. With today's composite materials and expensive replacement costs, sticking to water is a great option.
A small, soft-bristled paintbrush works well to clear dust from crevices around the gear shift and hand brake, the radio controls and other tight spaces where dust can settle. You can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush and Q-tips to clean crevices and hard to reach areas.
Tip. If you used a damp cloth, go back with a dry soft cloth to dry the plastic.
Photo: Your Mechanic
Treating stains on plastic
If your plastic is stained, apply a very small amount of mild soap, laundry detergent, or plastic auto cleaner to a damp cloth. If you need advice on what auto cleaner to use, just ask your local Color Glo Specialist.
Never apply any cleaning solution directly to the plastic. Wipe the area until it is clean and follow it up with a clean, dry rag. If you cloth begins to show dirt, turn it to a clean spot otherwise you'll simply be in the business of re-distributing dirt.
Tip. Always apply any cleaner to an inconspicuous spot to test how it may react to your plastic.
Image: Wikihow
Keeping your shine
Apply a protectant. Once your plastic is cleaned, you should apply a protectant. For DIY'rs, you can visit the automotive section of of any larger retailer or auto parts store to get some advice on what might be a good option. Always apply sprays or chemicals to your cloth or rag vs. directly on the plastic. You'll avoid spots and over-treated areas. Replace your cloth or applicator as necessary.
Use a polish. To add some shine to your plastic, use a plastic polish. Or you can use some natural products such as olive oil or boiled linseed oil. Put some oil or polish on a soft cloth and then rub it into the plastic. Then use a clean soft cloth to rub away any excess product. Boiled linseed oil can be purchase from a hardware or paint store. You can find your favorite strength of virgin olive oil at your favorite grocer.
Tip. If you find a good all-in-one product that you like, you can cut down the amount of products you use and potentially some cost. They are out there.
Need to hire a professional?
How to Clean Velour Upholstery
We can't help it, we love velvet and velour, especially nice grays or deep blues. But you struggle to help it retain its luster or keep from being a hair and dirt trap. Here's some advice on how to clean your velour.
How to clean velour and velvet
We can't help it, we love velvet and velour, especially nice grays or deep blues. But you struggle to help it retain its luster or keep from being a hair and dirt trap.
The velvety appearance of velour (and velvet) makes it an elegant, beautiful choice for upholstery. But it does require some extra care to keep it looking beautiful and luxurious. With dirt and dust, the fabric loses its soft touch and becomes stiff and dull looking. You may also notice slicked wear spots over time where your head or face often sits.
There is some hope. Check out these tips on how to clean velour upholstery for new looking furuntire all the time.
What you need to clean velour
First thing is first. You need to round up some basic household supplies. Gather these items:
- Soft brush
- Vacuum with brush attachment
- Bucket
- Water
- Mild liquid soap (Ex: Woolite Upholstery Soap or mild dish soap)
- Ammonia
- Muslin fabric
- Suede brush
Steps to cleaning velour upholstery
- Use your brush. Your starting point is to remove as much dirt as possible by brushing it away with your soft brush.
- Loose dirt and visible dust can be removed by using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.
- Fill up a bucket with warm water.
- Add a small amount of mild soap and stir the water. Do not agitate the water to form suds, just mix in the soap nicely to create a soapy liquid. Add a few drops of household ammonia for extra cleaning power if you think you need it. Up to you.
- Muslin fabric is a special type of material and is gentle to keep from damaging the soft fibers of the velour.
- Dip the fabric piece into the soapy water and wring it out completely. Wring it out until it just feels damp - excess water will not be your friend here.
- Rub the moistened cloth over the surface of the upholstery. Use a back and forth motion as you are cleaning. "wax on, wax off..."
- Repeat as necessary until the surface is clean.
- Change the cloth and water as necessary to keep working with clean materials.
- Once the surface is clean allow it to dry completely.
- Brush the surface with a suede brush to restore the soft texture.
“Wring it out until it just feels damp - excess water will not be your friend here.”
Velour tips and advice
- Do Not... clean velour with high heat cleaners. An example of this is a steam cleaner. The heat can (and will) damage the material and cause discoloration.
- Do ask advice... Velour is a sensitive fabric and is often best left to cleaning and color restoration professionals. If your piece is very soiled or you just don’t want to risk damaging the surface, hire a professional who is experienced with velour.
- Choose wisely. When choosing a liquid soap, avoid those with additives and color. A clear soap is the best option.
Lastly, about your velour
If it's hairy and fuzzy...
Vacuum any accumulated dust or dirt with a special upholstery attachment for velvet - this may or may not come with your vacuum. This will also remove any fuzz that has formed on the surface of the fabric. Run your vacuum attachment back and forth until the surface is clean.
Remember the days of pantyhose trickery? It works here to. If you don't have the proper attachment for your vacuum, then place a piece of pantyhose over the nozzle and start lightly vacuuming your velvet or velour. Fuzz be gone!
If you've spilled...
The number one thing you should do in a hurry is blot. Find a clean, super-absorbent cloth or paper towel and let it soak up the excess liquid. Do not dab or rub the area - you'll just work it deeper into the fibers. Its very likely you can just leave the cloth in place and it will absorb most of the liquid and it can then air dry. A spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide may get any excess staining out just by spraying and letting it sit, but be warned, you should color test an area that is out of sight first.
If your velvet or velour has lost its sheen...
Try directing a steamer at the reverse side of the matted areas to make the fibers fluffy again. Then dry brush the area, making sure the pile is going in the same direction.