A
Guide to Good Furniture Care
by: Holly Linington
During my long career in
the furniture business I've often been asked, "What is the proper way
to care for my fabric?" After all, you've purchased your dream furniture
piece but you're terrified to use it out of fear of damaging it. But
you don't have to live in fear! After extensive research and testing
I have found the following guidelines and suggestions to be helpful.
Upholstered Furniture
Because of the wide variety
of fabrics and fiber combinations, there is no guarantee that these
methods will be completely successful and I recommend that a professional
upholstery cleaner be contacted in particular cases. However, these
simple solutions will keep your new upholstery crisp and clean for years!
. Vacuum at least once a
week to remove grit that can cause abrasion, and be sure to dust vacuum
the top surfaces as often as possible. Professional cleaning is the
best way to make a slightly soiled sofa look new again, but weekly vacuuming
will make professional cleaning a less frequent event. (Never brush
any fabric with a stiff fiber or metal brush, since they're destructive
to the fibers. Instead, use your vacuum attachments like the upholstery
brush or the attachment for dusting draperies and furniture. The latter
brush has longer bristles and is less abrasive to your upholstery fabric.
It may be your best option if your fabric deserves a softer brushing.)
. Reverse the cushions each
week after vacuuming. Rearrange the furniture occasionally to ensure
even wear of the cushions and other areas.
Cushions and pillows filled
with down or similar cushioning material should be hand-fluffed and
reversed regularly to retain their original softness and resiliency.
. Protect fabrics from the
sun. Fabrics should not be placed in direct sunlight because the ultraviolet
light will cause the fibers to degenerate and colors to fade. Occasionally
dyes can fade from impurities in the air as well, but protection from
the sun is a good way to prevent premature loss of color.
. Keep pets off the furniture.
Pet urine and pet body oil can be difficult to remove.
. Use proper care with structural
weave fabrics (where the design is created by the weave) to protect
against snags. These fabrics may be cleaned by sprinkling dry powder
cleaner over the fabric, spreading it uniformly and letting it stand
for the recommended period before vacuuming with gentle suction. (However,
I do recommend professional cleaning with stains on a woven fabric.)
. Caution those wearing clothing
with transferable dyes, such as blue jeans, that the dye could transfer
onto light-colored furniture.
Fabric Cleaning Guide
Today's new fabric treatments
improve the chances of your fabric's survival. Fabric protection products
are usually applied by the retail store for an additional cost. Most
of the various brands work the same way by causing spills and soil to
sit on the surface of the fiber instead of migrating to the fiber's
interior.
Today's fiber protection
products are free of ozone damaging chemicals, and most are hypoallergenic
and invisible to the eye. Some even provide additional UV protection
from color fading caused by intense light. One of the greatest benefits
of fabric protection products is that they come with specific written
warranties that provide peace of mind.
Whether your new upholstery
has been fabric protected or not, you should follow the same basic guidelines
in cleaning liquid spills or surface soil that can't be brushed off
(such as newspaper ink).
Fabric Cleaning Codes
Before attempting to clean
a spill or spot on your furniture, you should identify the fabric and
the correct cleaning method recommended by the manufacturer. This information
is represented by a cleaning code (W, S, WS, or X) often found under
a cushion, on the bottom of the furniture or on the manufacturer's tag.
If you cannot find this information, contact your salesperson at the
furniture store where the item was purchased.
W - Spot clean only with
water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner.
S - Spot clean only with
water-free cleaning solvent. Do not overwet. DO NOT USE WATER.
WS - Spot clean with upholstery
shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or a mild dry cleaning solvent.
Do not overwet.
X - Clean only by vacuuming
or light brushing with a non-metallic brush. DO NOT USE WATER OR DRY
CLEANING SOLVENTS. Do not use a foam or liquid cleaner of any type.
Never apply cleaning solutions
to visible areas of your upholstery fabric without first testing on
areas that are not visible. It is important to pretest for color loss
and fabric compatibility.
Cleaning Instructions
As a general rule, when a
spill occurs, it is important to clean the fabric immediately. The longer
a spot remains, the harder it is to remove. It may even become permanent.
Blot, don't rub. If the spill
is still "fresh", use a clean, dry and very absorbent 100% cotton cloth.
Should you have to use paper towels to blot out spills, be sure the
paper towel (or cloth) is white, as colors in the towel may, when applied
to a wet surface, fade onto the upholstery. Color from one fabric can
rub off onto another fabric, even when dry -- a process known in the
industry as "crocking".
If blotting with a dry cloth
doesn't quite finish the job and you have cleaning directions from the
furniture manufacturer, follow those. If none are available, use the
instructions provided here.
I hope this information has
been insightful. Use these tools when necessary, but most importantly,
enjoy your upholstered piece -- it was meant to be used!
|
Powered by>