I’m not sure about you but when I get something new, especially a piece of furniture I really like the way it looks and I want to keep it that way. Unfortunately with furniture, especially upholstery, you have to give it the proper care it requires to keep it in good order.
Here are a few simple tips and ideas to make looking after your furniture a lot easier.
Keeping the fabric clean for longer
Fabric lounges and chairs are often forgotten about when we are carrying out our regular cleaning and only get attention when they are noticeably dirty. If you want to extend the life of your upholstered furniture, make it a part of your regular household cleaning tasks.
One of the reasons that sofas get dirty quicker than they need to… is because air-borne dust settles on the surface and over time as we sit on it, the dirt becomes embedded in the fabric.
Here is a way to avoid that.
When you’re vacuuming your floors, take the time to attach the upholstery head if you have one and vacuum the upholstery as well. Try to do this on a regular basis.
Cushions
Also periodically turn over the loose cushions to allow an even distribution of wear and tear, then fluff up the cushions to keep them in shape.
If your base cushions are removable and the lounge design allows it, you could also flip the cushions over and move them around from one section to the another.
Some seats get used more then others, so changing the cushions over can even out the amount of use.
UV Rays
Do everything you can to keep your furniture out of direct sunlight. UV rays from direct sunlight is the number one reason why furniture fades. It’s a good idea to pay attention to where the furniture is exposed to the suns rays as I have seen furniture completely faded in one section and not another.
Cooking
Air-borne pollutants such as smoke or fumes from cooking can harm your fabric. It’s not always easy to avoid fumes from cooking but, proper ventilation can help.
Set up some house rules
If you want to avoid stains and dirt on your furniture, set up a few simple rules to avoid accidents from happening.
Do not allow anyone to eat on the sofas or arm chairs. Preferably choose dining room chairs that come with a removable and machine washable covers for chairs with a fabric seat cushion. Do not allow shoes on the furniture.
To make sure that no one forgets this rule, make sure they take their shoes off before they sit on it. If you have animals who love relaxing and resting on the furniture, purchase a throw cover to avoid a build up of body oils and fur.
Fabric Protector
Although it’s not bullet proofing do not underestimate the power of a fabric protector. It will make cleaning up a spill a lot easier and sometimes removing it, can be as easy as blotting it up if an accident occurs especially when attended to quickly.
Whatever way it goes fabric protection will make cleaning your upholstery a lot easier and give you a better outcome.
Cleaning up a spill
If you don’t have a fabric protector on your furniture, you will need act even quicker. Blot up as much of the liquid as you can with a clean absorbent towel or a chamois sponge.
Important Note:
Never rub the fabric hard because this can cause more damage. Only use a fabric spot cleaner specifically meant for upholstery and make sure that you read all of the manufactures instructions first. Always test the cleaning product in an inconspicuous area to ensure there is no colour changes or adverse reactions on the fabric.
(If there is a colour change or if bleaching occurs this damage is irreversible so always test)
Never spray a spot cleaner directly onto the fabric always spray it onto a well wrung out damp cloth and apply it with the cloth.
For stubborn food spills you can use a soft brush to gently work the cleaner into the fibres in a circular motion and use an absorbent damp towel to remove any residue.
Something to think about
If you are not sure what you are doing it always best to contact a professional cleaning company for advice or get them to come to your home and clean it properly rather than ruining the item you are want to clean.
Every couple of years or so, you may also want to have a professional upholstery cleaner come into your home to clean and freshen up your sofas.
If you don’t you may find it is harder to restore and bring it back into good condition, especially if it is heavily soiled.
