My mattress is several years old and has developed ripples on the surface. What's going on?
Most of the time these "body impressions" are normal. Chick for more information.

Do I need to get the box spring?
Most likely, yes. All manufacturers design the sleep set, the mattress & box spring, to wear out at the same time. That is why they ONLY guarantee them in sets. The box spring is actually the workhorse. It acts like a shock absorber, making the mattress last as long as possible. Just like your worn out mattress, the springs in the box spring have fatigues or weakened over the years. So, if you keep your old box springs, then put a brand new mattress on top of it, and then lay on it for the next 10-15 years - what's going to happen? Since the support in the middle of the bed is weakened, you'll break down your new mattress much quicker.

How do you select the furniture for the store?
Sometimes I think need a pair of dice or a WeeJee Board. Seriously, I first look for well-known manufactures and then check with other stores in the Mid-West to verify their reliability in both quality and service. I sometimes rely on the factory representatives to help select "what's hot" or selling well in other small county seat, college towns. We end up with a mixture of casual and county styles. Lastly, I like companies that can ship their goods fast. And that means we get shipped within 10-30 days of placing an order. You don't want to wait and neither do I.

How does your free financing really work?
Besides your parents, the only "bank" that will lend you money and not charge you interest for that loan is a finance company like American General. For example, once your credit has been checked and approved, you may opt for 6 months interest free financing on a credit card type of loan. If you pay off the balance before 6 months, your loan is indeed 100% interest free. You are sent a monthly statement that shows the finance charges and the original purchase amount. If you pay off the loan in time, those finance charges magically evaporate. If not, you will owe all finance charges and you must begin making minimum monthly payments-just like a credit card. Lastly, some interest free plans require you to make monthly payments while other plans do not require monthly payments.

What are your warranties?
There are (2) components of any warranty - parts and labor. Furniture warranties are fairly standard from most manufacturers. Labor warranties are usually 6 months to a year. Parts warranties are usually from 2 years to lifetime. Sadly, lousy salespeople often gloss over this distinction leaving you with the wrong impression that the product has a "lifetime warranty" for both parts and labor. If your furniture has a manufacturing defect, it will be most likely be repaired at no charge to you within the first year of use. After that, you would pay for any labor related charges. General guidelines are:

Case Pieces (Bedroom, Entertainment, Home Office, Occasional, Dining Pieces) - 6 months to 1 year against any manufacturer's defects for parts and labor.
Upholstery - (Couches, Chairs, etc.) Parts generally vary from 2 years to lifetime, based on the Manufacturer; 1 year on fabric, 1 year on labor.
Conventional Bedding - Sealy warranties bedding for up to 10 years.

It is a good idea to keep your warranty information & sales receipt it in a well-known place just in case you need it.

Mattress warranties: A little pet peeve of mine. Some companies actually put a 20-year warranty on their beds. In comparison, Sealy and other major brands have a 10-year warranty. The implication is clear. The reality is muddy. The over-selling of a mattress based purely on a 20-year warranty is unfortunate. First, please read the fine print on any warranty. It usually states that the manufacturer has to right to replace or repair your bed. And, you may be responsible for the transportation costs. Second, since no manufacture puts a weight restriction on their beds, how could they truly know how long a bed would really last? It's no secret that Tarik Glenn of the Indianapolis Colts (325+ pounds) would wear out a bed sooner than Marvin Harrison or one of my kids. Bottom line - shop at a store you can trust.

Why don't you have living room furniture priced as a group?
We could. However, most of the time, furniture displayed this way is simply less expensive furniture lumped together. We are a mid priced/value oriented store. Carrying cheaper made furniture to meet an attractive "group" price would be contrary to our philosophy. And the BIG "savings" shown at stores with featuring room groupings really reflect their "marketing" personality. We believe that choice is more important. Buy only what you need and fits best into your room. We do have inexpensive lamps, and the popular inexpensive 3-pak occasional tables for lower priced options. Remember, since we have guaranteed low prices for 29+ years, you will always get the best deal whether you buy one item or many.

I've been looking for the right couch for over a year. Why is this so hard?
Let me guess, "you'll know it, when you see it." If I had a dollar for every time I heard that expression, I might be retired by now, living large in Hawaii. Seriously, there are a few factors that can make this important decision get so frustrating. Maybe you aren't really looking for just a couch. Rather, you are looking for a new look or feeling. And, it can be hard to visualize any couch in a nice, neat, store sitting in your living room. Or, perhaps you're looking for an exact style that is 20 years old and not available today. Lastly, since you don't buy couches like water, you are concerned with making a horrible mistake. My first response to you would be, "can you describe your ideal couch or the feel you want the room to have?" Oftentimes, when a customer discusses what they need in a couch, we have something pretty close already on the floor. The color may need to be changed from blue to green. However, that's easy and your search for the "Holy Grail" is really over. That's why we show over 50 different sofa models. That's a lot of choices. Add 1000+ fabrics available for custom orders, and you should be able to find a great new couch. Did you know that over 45% of couches purchased are custom ordered? Finally, I'd suggest picking a store or sales person you trust, and spend some quality time with them. It will probably save you lots of time and aggravation in the long run.

How do I take care of my wood furniture?
Rule #1, do not allow water to touch your wood furniture. Rule #2, see Rule #1. Use coasters for drinks, and blot up any liquids immediately. Use a heavy pad when setting anything hot or cold on your wood surface. To learn more, click .

How should I take care of the fabric on my furniture?
You may want to ask your Sales Consultant about the durability of the fabric before you decide on it. Some fabrics, by their very nature, are considered less durable, but that is not the case with all fabrics.

It can be confusing. Think of cotton. Jeans are made of denim, a highly durable cotton, and can certainly be used in upholstery made for Family Rooms. Chintz, though cotton, tends to be better suited for less used areas of your home. Many natural fibers (Chintz, silk, etc) can be stained easily, while some are more resistant (denim). Many synthetic fibers hold their shape well (Olefin) while others just don't fare as well (Rayon). The key here is to Ask your Sales Consultant. They can help you make the correct selection for whatever your needs are.

As far as stain protection is concerned, we recommend Ultra Care fabric protection. At the point of purchase (or anytime prior to delivery) have your Sales Consultant add this to your order. We offer a 10 year warranty against food and drink stains, pet and human bodily fluids, along with other benefits...even on the toughest fabrics.

We also recommend that you fluff and turn your cushions and pillows (if possible) on a regular basis to keep your upholstery looking like new.
Last but not least: To prevent overall soil, don't forget to run your vacuum cleaner over your upholstered pieces when you're vacuuming the floor. The dust and dirt you see on the floor...you don't necessarily see on your sofa...but it's there...and it's VERY damaging to your new upholstery.

To further help you care for your upholstered furniture, the following is a list of fabric cleaning codes and their proper care methods:
CODE "S": Spot clean using a water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Pretest a small area before proceeding.
CODE "S-W": Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or mild dry cleaning solvent. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do not saturate. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to restore appearance. Hot water extraction or stream cleaning is not a recommended cleaning method. Cushion casings should not be removed and laundered or dry cleaned. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove material. Clean spots or stains from the outside to the middle to prevent circling.
CODE "W": Spot clean using the foam only from a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply foam with a soft brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry. Pretest a small area before proceeding.
CODE "W-S": Spot clean with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or the foam from a mild detergent. With either method, pretest a small area before proceeding.
CODE "X": Spot clean using a mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Pretest a small area before proceeding.

How should I care for my leather furniture?
Since leather is a natural product, there will be faint surface marks on your leather, whether you purchase pure and natural top grain or grain-corrected top grain. These scars, scratches, and color variations are not defects, but rather an indication of genuine leather. They do not affect the durability of your furniture.

Never use furniture polish, saddle soap, abrasive cleaners, or household cleaning products on any leather upholstery.

Protect leather furniture from direct sunlight to prevent fading. This precaution is especially necessary for full grain and unfinished top grain leathers. Also, you should keep your leather furniture away from direct heat sources such as heat vents, radiators or fireplaces. Leather may crack or peel when placed within three feet of a heat source.

Blot up spills immediately with a clean white cloth or sponge.

For protected (semi-aniline and pigmented) leather, wipe with lukewarm water and allow to air dry. About once or twice per year, clean your leather with the leather cleaning and conditioning products included in your Complete Leather Protection Kit available at Furniture AwareHouse. Routine vacuuming is recommended to keep your leather looking its best.

Living with unprotected leather (unfinished top grain) is like living with a well loved, well-used leather saddle or jacket. Natural oils will stain untreated leather slightly, giving it a lovely patina over time. Care should be taken to blot up food or liquid spills immediately, as they will be difficult to remove later.

For oil, butter or grease stains, blot the excess grease with a clean, white cloth. Do not apply water to the spot. The grease spot should dissipate into the leather over time.

If your leather becomes soiled from use or it has a stain which you cannot remove, you should contact a professional leather furniture cleaning service.Furniture AwareHouse recommends the Leather Protection Program, which provides:

How about reupholstering our old furniture?
Generally speaking, reupholstering is a fine option if you want to keep that piece of furniture. Period. It is not a money saving option.

How long can you hold/store my furniture purchase(s)?
We have the luxury of space. We will gladly store your purchase until you are ready for delivery and at no cost. In fact, the record for us holding a purchase is 3 years and 3 months. We just ask that you either pay for your purchase or get it financed while you wait. So whether you are building a new home, changing addresses, or whatever, we can take this worry off your minds.