Fabric Upholstered Sofa - Care Instructions
Fabric has long been the material of choice when it comes to truly classic and contemporary sofas. Although with the introduction of leather sofas, the lack durability of a fabric sofa became apparent, the majority of people would still prefer a fabric sofa as it presents a more affordable
Please beware that dye from some clothing (none colour fast clothing) can transfer onto leather/fabric, which is more noticeable on lighter shades of leather and fabric materials. Please check the labels on your clothing.
This guide is designed to help you maintain your fabric sofa or settee and covers a variety of tips on how to best preserve its appearance and prolong its life span.
Clean your fabric sofa regularly
Think of your new fabric sofa as a toddler, with sticky fingers that pick up every bit of dirt. The fabric fibres are like tiny little fingers that trap dust and dirt quiet efficiently. Thankfully you don't have to clean your fabric sofa as regularly as you would a toddler's hand. However the more often you do it, the better. We would advise once a week, or every two weeks at the very least.Here are four easy steps to a better healthier sofa.
- If you haven't done so already, invest in a powerful vacuum cleaner. These days there are so many new gimmicky vacuum cleaner manufacturers, trying to part you with your money with fancy new names and technologies. Sure, some of them work wonders, but cost a fortune. This is why we have been using the good old Henry vacuum cleaner for decades. For the power and performance at this price point you cannot beat the Henry HVR160 form Numatic.
- Now that you have the right tool for the job, vacuum your fabric sofa twice a week or as often as necessary. If you have a powerful enough vacuum cleaner, it will suck out all the dust/dirt right off the fabric fibres, leaving it free to breath. Use the specially made soft brush head that's for upholstery and gently move it across the fabric to avoid scratching it. Don't forget to remove the seat cushions, where possible, and vacuum the underside also.
- While vacuuming your sofa, its the best time to look for any grime or marks and treating them with a damp cloth making sure not to soak the fabric. Do not use any cleaning products or detergents, as they may have an adverse reaction. For stains that cannot be removed in this way, you will need the services of a professional cleaner.
- If you accidentally soak the fabric while cleaning, please do not sit on the sofa. Leave it to completely dry, otherwise you will be left with unwanted creases in the fabric.
Cleaning removable covers
Most our cushion seats and scatter cushions come with a removable cover. Please use professional dry cleaning only. Please do not use the cushion seats whilst the covers are off.
Velvet upholstery
As you may have noticed, velvet has a special texture that can change its shade when rubbed in different directions. This fine texture can still trap dirt underneath, hence the need for a special brush that's used to relay the nap of fabrics such as Velvet. We use the Propress brush, Propress is a British manufacturer of high end steamers that are used in fashion houses to keep the fabric in their garments looking immaculate. You can of course buy any other brush within your budget. But please do test them out and ensure they are a good fit.
Button tufted sofas
We use traditional methods when button tufting our sofas. This means the material around every button has been folded by hand and not sewn together. If the material is sewn together, it will lead to unsightly tears as the fabric is pulled apart when the sofa is in use. As a part of a weekly/monthly maintenance, you will need to refold the material back into place, since they do fall out when pulled and pushed. This can also happen during the delivery of your furniture. We advise checking the sofa all over and re-folding the affected areas back into place.
Keep out of direct sun light and extreme heat
Think of the fabric on your sofa, as the skin on your body. Too much sun light will fade it and since we can't rub sunscreen cream all over it, we need to keep it away from the sun. Fireplaces, radiators and warm/hot pipes are also culprits. They can completely dry out the fabric causing it to crack and warp.
Plump up your cushions to maintain form and prolong life span
Alongside an everyday cleaning regime, it’s essential to plump up your sofas cushion seats, arms and back to ensure your sofa maintains its shape and provides you with optimum support. This is especially important if your sofa is filled with feathers or loose fibres. Since they are not as resilient as high density foam and cannot return to their original shape. This will also reduce the amount of feather that can escape through their casing and reduces the frequency of re-filling the feathers.
Tackling spills and stains
Speed is of the essence when it comes to any potential stain. The quicker you act the more chance to remove the stain completely, or at the very least reducing the damage. First, remove as much of the liquid as possible by using kitchen towels or dry cotton cloth. Then use a damp cloth and gently dab on any visible marks. Do not push or rub hard, as this can spread the stain. At this stage you may find the stain has been removed. If not, repeat the steps above to take as much of the stain away as possible.Some stains are very resistant and may not be removed easily. We do not recommend using any detergents or cleaning products. You will need to enlist the help of a professional cleaning company who would use specialist deep cleaning machines to remove the stain.