Expert Demystifies Hotel Furniture: Key Tips on Material Selection and Daily Care for Small & Medium Hotels

       During the lecture, Dr. Liu started with the most confusing issue for SMH operators: material selection. He pointed out that unlike residential furniture, hotel furniture must balance aesthetics, durability, and cost-effectiveness, with environmental adaptability being a key factor often ignored. "For hotels in Chengdu, where the annual average humidity exceeds 70%, choosing solid wood furniture without moisture-proof treatment is a disaster," Dr. Liu explained, showing photos of a local hotel’s wooden desks that had warped and moldy after six months of use. "Instead, furniture made of bamboo-wood composites or HPL (high-pressure laminate) is more suitable—they have strong moisture resistance, cost 30% less than solid wood, and can withstand frequent cleaning."

         He also compared several common furniture materials through real data. For guest room beds, high-density foam mattresses (density ≥30kg/m³) have a service life of 5-7 years, while ordinary sponge mattresses need to be replaced every 2-3 years; for restaurant chairs, metal frames with powder coating are more rust-resistant than ordinary spray-painted ones, especially suitable for hotels with catering services; for sofa fabrics, polyester-cotton blends with a thread count of over 300 are more stain-resistant than pure cotton, and can be cleaned with mild detergent without fading. "Many owners think that expensive materials are better, but in fact, matching materials to the hotel’s location and business type is the most cost-effective," Dr. Liu emphasized. A hotel owner from Chongqing nodded repeatedly: "We used pure cotton sofa covers before, and they got stained easily. After switching to polyester-cotton blends as Dr. Liu suggested, the cleaning workload has decreased a lot." 

        In addition to material selection, scientific maintenance is another key point of the lecture. Dr. Liu debunked several common misconceptions that SMH operators often have. "Using alcohol to disinfect furniture is a big mistake, especially for leather and wooden surfaces," he said. "Alcohol will damage the paint and leather fibers, causing them to crack and fade. For daily disinfection, it’s better to use a chlorine-free disinfectant diluted 1:100 with water, and wipe it dry immediately after disinfection." He also reminded everyone to pay attention to the placement of furniture: avoid placing it directly under air conditioners or windows, as long-term exposure to wind and sunlight will accelerate aging; for wooden furniture, apply maintenance oil every six months to keep the wood moisturized.

      The interactive session was particularly lively. "My hotel’s wardrobe doors always make a creaking sound when opened and closed. How to fix it?" asked a participant who runs a boutique hotel in Dujiangyan. Dr. Liu immediately gave a practical solution: "First, check if the hinges are loose—tightening the screws may solve the problem. If not, apply a small amount of silicone lubricant to the hinges, which is non-toxic and odorless, and won’t stain the furniture." For another participant’s question about removing tea stains from wooden tables, Dr. Liu suggested: "Mix toothpaste with a little baking soda, apply it to the stain, and wipe it gently with a soft cloth. This method is mild and won’t scratch the table surface." The participants took notes frantically and even recorded the key points with their mobile phones.

       After the lecture, many SMH owners said they had benefited a lot. "I used to buy furniture based on price and appearance, and didn’t know anything about materials and maintenance. As a result, I spent a lot of money on replacements every year," said Mr. Wang, who has run a hotel for three years. "Today’s lecture taught me a lot of practical skills. I plan to replace the furniture in the guest rooms according to Dr. Liu’s suggestions, which should save a lot of costs in the long run."

      The organizer of the lecture, Chengdu Hotel Industry Association, stated that they will carry out such popular science activities in other districts and counties of Chengdu in the future. "Small and medium hotels are an important part of the tourism industry, and their operational level directly affects the guest experience," said a spokesperson for the association. "We hope to help more SMH owners master professional knowledge about hotel furniture through these activities, improve their operational efficiency, and promote the healthy development of the industry."

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