Beginners Question - Removing Complex Backgrounds

Hi all,
I am new to Photoshop and have just bought Elements 12, i apologise if this question is in the wrong place.
The company i work for often required images of our products to have the background removed and replaced with plain white, so the product is effectively floating in white.
I have followed various Youtube videos on how to remove backgrounds, but all of them seem to have chosen the most basic of images to edit.
The photos of our products (outdoor furniture) are in real environments such as highstreets and pavements etc. When i use the quick select tool or the lasso tool i just can't seem to get a nice straight edge around the actual product. The tools seem to be touch and go and one section seems to be okay where another seems to be out of place and 'zig-zaggy'. I often either cut into the product so it looks like someone has taken a bite out of it or i go too far out of the edge of the product, it just looks like a wave up the side of the product, i just can't seem to get a nice smooth finish all round the product. Sometimes if there are lamposts and other items in the way it wants to go around them rather than chop it off the image.
Absolutely anybody who can point me in the right direction would be very much appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Mark

No pen tool in Elements. It would help if you posted an image but some things to consider:
Sometimes it's easier to select the area you want to get rid of and then invert the selection.
No one selection tool is likely to be adequate for a complex image so expect to change tools regularly.
Use tools like magic wand, quick selection or lasso to select the bulk of the selection.
Use the selection brush to add/subtract edge areas. The [ and ] keys are your friend here as they rapidly decrease / increase the brush size.
Use the Select menu options for fine adjustments - refine edge, feather, grow / contract.
There is the hidden 'Quick Mask' mode accessible, when (a) you have a selection, and (b) create a layer mask (background must not be locked, by pressing the \ key. You can then paint in and out your selection.
While getting your selection made, save it regularly (Select> Save Selection) to avoid losing work if you inadvertently deselect!
Cheers,
Neale
Insanity is hereditary, you get it from your children
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