A Guide to Good Furniture Care

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!

Holly Linington

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Caring For Upholstery Fabrics

You’ve bought your first furniture set and now you need to take care of it. Having a sofa is great and definitely adds to the beauty and atmosphere of your home, but you also need to know how to clean it and take care of it properly, otherwise you will have a grungy, tattered piece of furniture squatting in the middle of your living room before long. There are several simple steps that you can easily follow to make sure that your beautiful, comfortable couch will look great and last long enough for everyone to enjoy.

Basically, you just have to remember two general rules for cleaning upholstery. Since loose dirt and stains are the most common factors for soiling your furniture, learning how to deal with them will save you a lot of time and money later in the future. Cleaning up loose dirt can easily be done by vacuuming or just brushing away the dirt. You have to do this as soon as possible, though, before the dirt gets embedded in the fabric. As for cleaning up stains and spills, you can use a dry cloth to soak up and wipe away the liquid.

The best way to clean up your upholstery, however, is to first learn the cleaning codes. Each and every fabric has its own specialized cleaning method, so make sure you know about them. Look for the cleaning codes on one of the attached tags on your furniture, as they will tell you how to properly clean your upholstery. If you can’t find the code, try cleaning a little spot in an inconspicuous area of the furniture to test for compatibility. There are four cleaning codes that are currently used by upholstery manufacturers. I will tell you about them, as well as the recommended procedures related to each code.

W – Vacuuming and light dusting are recommended. Use only water-based cleaning agents or foam from mild detergents or non-solvent upholstery shampoo. Apply the cleaning agent in a circular motion, using a soft cloth or brush.

S – You can also vacuum or dust lightly. Use water-free cleaning solvents or dry-cleaning solutions for spot cleaning. Be sure to avoid using products with carbon tetrachloride. Use a soft cloth and clean the upholstery in a well-ventilated area. Getting the services of a professional cleaner is also recommended.

WS – This is quite easy, since you can practically use any of the recommended methods above. If using a solvent or dry-cleaning product, be sure to do it in a well-ventilated area. Avoid products with carbon tetrachloride.

X – Clean your furniture by vacuuming and light dusting ONLY. Avoid using liquid cleaning agents of any kind. Using water-based cleaners or solvents may cause shrinking and/or damage the surface appearance of the upholstery.

Try to clean your upholstery at least every month. If you have a futon, try to flip the cushions over at least once a month, and wash the covers at the same time as well. When you use liquid cleaning agents or foam, you can remove the excess foam with a spatula or even a piece of cardboard. And remember to keep the material as dry as possible during cleaning; this will help keep the fabric from shrinking.

By: Syahrul Azlan Idris

Money Jargon Financial News – Money Jargon UK offers news and help articles on a range of financial services and current changes in the finance sector.

Reupholstering at Home: A Do-It-Yourself Manual for Turning Old Furniture into New Showpieces

This is a revised and expanded edition of a highly successful reupholstering book that has sold thousands of copies. It gives step-by-step instructions with 350 clear and detailed photographs to show how to rebuild that dilapidated chair or sofa to look like new. The author explains what tools and materials you will need, and offers expert advice about which types of fabric are best for your needs. The author then leads your through specific steps with text, photographs and captions to reupholster your chair, couch, or hassock. The result is furniture you are proud to own for years to come, and you did it all yourself!

Price: $14.95

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The History of Sofas – A Long Loved and Leisurely Way To Relax

Sofas have been called by many names, we are familiar with them being called couches, but they have also been called settees, lounges, davenports, or chesterfields. But it does not stop there they also go by other names because of their various styles such as a two-seater, a three-seater, a corner sofa, or perhaps a chaise lounge.
A small version of a couch is sometimes called a loveseat, and, as you likely already know, there are sofas that fold out into beds, as well as futons – which are incredibly similar. There are even lounges or elaborate sofas with canopies for privacy or decoration.

Not many people collect antique sofas – or have sofas of older styles custom designed. I don’t think it is a bad idea, actually. If one were to decorate one’s home with an antique theme – with beautiful furniture, accessories and other décor, a lounge similar to the designs used in ancient Rome may be extremely beautiful. The distinct look of such a motif would be incredibly impressive to your guests, as well as an elegant environment for you and your family.

Couches or sofas are usually in the living room and / or other lounging areas of a given abode. If you are re-decorating your home, you may consider purchasing a new sofa. Sofas come in many styles and have been very popular throughout history. Now virtually everyone who resides in a home, apartment, etc. owns a sofa. Similarly to owning a television or radio, a sofa is one of the most essential pieces of priority furniture in a home – no matter what your income. If you look in the right place, you can find a great sofa at an inexpensive price, too!

Until the 20th century the sofa or couch was the name which referred to a long, upholstered seat – one end would be inclined enough for the person lounging on it to rest his or her head. In the late, middle ages the couch almost signified a daybed, and again, we do have our modern versions of the daybed, do we not? Window seats are also very beautiful, comfortable, luxurious and simple to install.

The daybed was the most popular and common kind of sofa in the 17th century. Especially into the 19th century the sofa, couch, or lounge bed was often thought of as a ladies lounging seat. However, reverting back further in history, men would often lounge as they ate or relaxed, and the women would stand or sit in chairs. As a matter of fact, it was not until the industrial era that sofas began to appear eventually in the homes of more and more common people. Soon it became so that virtually everyone, singles, couples, and / or whole families, would acquire at least one sofa for their home.

Sofas and psychologists have been associated with each other for some time. Although not all psychologists will instruct his or her client to lie down for sessions, the idea hinges on many Freudian psychoanalysis theories – therefore, is used often by doctors that adhere to such notions. Lying down as a therapist or psychoanalyst of some kind may be an important aspect of his or her method for interpreting dreams. It has been theorized that stream of consciousness is much easier for the client to voice when in a calming, physical position. It is the concept that the relaxation provided by reclining in such a way, as well as not looking the doctor or healer in the face – helps the individual “open up” or speak more freely: a logical idea.

Presently, even on situation comedies on American television, the couch is sometimes virtually serves as an additional lead – character in the show. For example: The Simpsons, a television show with which almost every American is familiar – even if only by reputation. I can not imagine a time in the future where the sofa or some version of it will be eliminated. Like all furniture that has been designed by people throughout the ages, the sofa is one that is revived, improved, designed by variations on a basic theme – and yet is timeless.

Anne Clarke

Sofa Tables – a Quality Furnishing That Will be Sure to Please

The living room is one room of the house where families seem to gather to spend quality time together. So, are the sofa tables in your living room living up to their potential?

Sofa tables are the center of many activities in your living room and even other rooms throughout your home as well. But, today we’ll focus on the just what you could do with one in your living space. Placed, as the name indicates, by the sofa, one can quite possibly be the most used piece of furniture in your living room. During the day, it may serve only as to display a decorative vase, or perhaps a candlescape.

At the end of the day, though, as family members drift in to collect together in the living room, this furnishing takes on a new significance. Young children may work on their homework at one, just by putting a chair behind it. Teens may use it as a place to put down a drink as they talk animatedly on the phone to their friends. While entertaining friends, sofa tables can be used as a central snack table, holding plates of hors d’oeuvres while guests rest their glasses on the surface as they chat.

The type that you integrate into your living room will depend on both your current style of furnishings and also on how you plan to use the table.

If your use of one will simply be to be decorative on its own and perhaps displaying favorite items, a simple yet elegant table may work well for you. Coordinated with other woodwork in the room, as well as the upholstered furniture, the right table can be the focal point of your living room. Etched glass top tables or finely crafted wood tables with ornate and detailed carvings into the woodwork can be quite an exquisite addition to your living room.

If children will be using it, a more rugged style that will withstand the daily rigors of children’s antics may be in order. Wood will most likely be your best choice, as it provides the most durable option. Certain woods, such as pine, are easily dented, scratched and gouged, and therefore will not have long lasting properties, but will be more affordable. One can be constructed of a hardwood, such as oak, shorea, or teak will offer the best endurance, although at a higher cost.

Wrought iron or metal sofa tables might provide a good alternative if it coordinates with the decorating style in your room, and will be durable. Quite often, however, these types of table may have glass top tables, but are also available with tiled tops.

When entertaining, sofa tables with an easily cleaned surface are desirable since snacks and drinks will be placed upon it. Some are designed to store and display wine bottles underneath; a nice touch to decorating.

All living rooms benefit both socially and decoratively with the inclusion of sofa tables. Whether it will be used mostly by children or guests, or maybe simply be a decorative piece, one will take center stage in your living room.

Jesse Akre

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