Upholstery Maintenance

Quality upholstered sofas and armchairs are not only very comfortable but also add enticing features to your home. It is necessary to invest a little time in the upkeep of upholstered pieces of furniture as when they are neglected they rapidly lose their appeal and may find themselves being replaced as quickly as the next year.

By learning the basics of upholstery care and practising the prevention and treatment techniques that they teach you can ensure the enjoyment of your beloved upholstered furniture for many, many years.

Firstly try to prevent unnecessary damage caused by newspaper ink, sunlight, fabric dyes (new jeans can often stain fabric), paints and polishes (don’t paint your nails sat on your expensive suite!). Just by thinking and using a little common sense many common accidents can be avoided. Make sure you leave your newspaper on the coffee table to prevent the ink staining your upholstered armchair. Sunlight is a factor many of us do not allow for, try not to place upholstered furniture directly by a window if you have no choice then make sure that shade is provided to prevent fading.

Shoe polish can result in permanent damage to upholstery fabric and should not under any circumstances be used to add colour to upholstered furniture, it will definitely result in disaster. Also be careful with dark coloured blankets and sheets especially when damp as the dye can easily be absorbed by the upholstered furniture fabric, so dumping wet washing on your furniture is a bad idea.

If you keep your upholstered furniture clean, it will help to maintain its lovely new appearance. Keeping upholstered furniture clean is simple and if carried out regularly will prevent your expensive furniture from looking tired and worn out. Firstly Hoover all upholstered pieces of furniture regularly and then damp dust all headrest and arm areas as these mark quickly compared to the rest of a piece of furniture. It is important to use a cleaning solution that is recommended by the manufacturer to avoid the chance of any adverse effects on the fabric. Occasionally treat your upholstered furniture to a professional cleaning to remove maximum levels of dust and dirt, the results really are remarkable. Professional cleaning is not cheap but you furniture will look like new so shop around to find a reputable cleaner who provides a service that is good value for money.

A common mistake is to wash cushion covers separately the zips are intended to allow access should the cushions require refilling. When hovering sofas and chairs remove the cushions rotate them, beat them and then Hoover them.

Should a spill happen it is vital to react quickly and in the correct manner for the type of substance that has been spilled. Always blot a liquid spill rather than rub, use a clean piece of absorbent kitchen towel. If the spill is solid or food, remove as much of it as possible by using either a spoon or a blunt knife scrapping it gently towards the centre. If the spill is powder or as do not wet it and rub it as it will make the stain much worse, instead Hoover the powder or ash. Reacting quickly will help prevent the stain from leaving any permanent mark. If there is some staining it will be necessary to use a fabric cleaning solution making sure that you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the type of stain, if the stain still remains contact an professional upholstery cleaner.

Jenny Austin is an expert in café furniture , for further information on how to choose your French Polisher , or which Ready made Curtains service to choose please visit lovethosecurtains.co.uk.