Upholstery/Fabric Care
July 30th, 2010
Upholstery & Fabric Care Tips
Upholstered furniture adds function and beauty to every room in your home. The choices are many with a wide variety of fibers, fabrics, colors and styles readily available. Proper care helps you maintain the beauty and value of your furniture investment. The following information will help you care for your upholstered furniture.
General Care Tips
• Rearrange the furniture occasionally to ensure even use of the cushions and wear areas.
• Reverse loose cushions weekly.
• Vacuum often to remove grit that can cause abrasion.
• Caution those wearing clothing with transferable dyes, such as blue jeans, etc., that the dye could transfer onto light-colored furniture.
• Protect fabrics from the sun. Ultraviolet light(sunlight) will cause fiber degeneration and color-fade. Fabrics should not be placed in direct sunlight, as this may cause fading. Occasionally, dyes can fade from impurities within the air.
• Keep pets off the furniture. Pet urine and pet body oil can be difficult to remove.
• Use proper care with structural weave fabrics (design created by the weave) to protect against snags.
Fabric Cleaning Codes
Before attempting to clean a spill or spot on your furniture, you should identify the fabric and 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 sales representative at the furniture store where the item was purchased.
Code
W Spot clean with water-based cleaner.
S Spot clean ONLY with mild water-free solvent cleaner.
WS Spot clean with water-based or solvent cleaner.
X Clean ONLY by vacuuming or light brushing.
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. If you have cleaning directions from the furniture manufacturer, follow those. If none are available, use the instructions provided here. For fabrics codes W or WS, water-based cleaners should be used. If your fabric carries an S cleaning code, use only water-free dry-cleaning solvents.
1. Gently scrape away any excess solid matter or liquid using a dull-edge spoon.
2. Pretest the cleaner you intend to use in a hidden area for color loss and fabric compatibility. Look for faded colors, shrinkage or dark rings; these are signs of incompatibility.
3. If possible, place a clean white cloth under the area to be cleaned, such as the inside of a seat cushion. It will absorb the soil and produce better results.
4. Apply a small amount of cleaner to a soft, clean white cloth. Begin at the edge of the stain and work toward the center, turning the cloth often. Blot—don’t rub—the stain as rubbing can roughen the delicate fibers and leave the fabric looking worn and faded.
5. After cleaning, “feather” the edges of the spot by brushing gently back and forth with a dry cloth. Dry quickly with a fan. This will help prevent ringing.
6. Keep a small stain small! A cotton swab, dipped into the proper cleaning solution and squeezed out, will wick up the dissolved stain, stopping it from spreading (this is a good fix for small ballpoint ink marks).
7. If your first attempt does not remove the spot, you may want to repeat steps three through five a second time.
Stain Removal Guide
Some stubborn spots may not respond well to the blotting technique as described above. The following hints may help. As noted earlier, you should follow the furniture manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines where applicable. Always pretest the cleaner in a hidden area.
Stain Cleaning Suggestion
Ketchup, Chocolate, Cream/Milk, Earth, Blood, Excrement, Ice Cream, Mayonnaise, Mucus/Drool, Cheese, Egg, Soy Sauce, White Glue Use a solution of bleach-free liquid enzyme cleaner (laundry detergents), 1 part to 30 parts distilled water; rinse by blotting with distilled water; blot to remove excess water, then dry quickly with a fan.
Berries, Coffee, Fruit Juice, Jam/Jelly, Soft Drinks, Candy, Tea, Mixed Drinks, Wine, Urine Use a mild, bleach-free detergent, 1 part to 30 parts distilled water. If some of the stain remains, use a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts distilled water. Blot to remove excess moisture, then dry quickly with a fan.
Crayon, Asphalt, Body Oil, Butter, Oil, Lipstick, Make-up, Gravy, Hair Oil, Mascara, Shoe Polish, Shortening, Tar, Felt-Tip Pen Ink, Vaseline. Use a water-free, dry cleaning solvent. You may have to repeat procedure until stain is gone. Dry quickly with a fan when stain is removed.
Leather Care
July 30th, 2010
Fine leather is soft and luxurious making it an ideal choice for furniture. With the right care, leather improves with age, providing many years of enjoyable use. Even the best leather, however, is subject to damage.
Different types of leather require different care and maintenance. If you are uncertain about the type of leather you have, check with your sales representative or contact the store where you purchased the item. As a general rule of thumb, pretest all of the care products in a hidden area to make sure they are compatible with leather.
To maintain the rich, natural look of your leather furniture, we offer the following general recommendations.
General Leather Care Tips
• Avoid using or placing sharp objects on leather goods. Leather is very durable, but not accident or damage proof.
• Place your furniture a minimum of two feet from radiators and other heat sources.
• Protect your leather furniture from direct and even indirect sunlight. Some leathers, such as full and semi-aniline, will fade over time.
• Avoid air pollution such as cigar or cigarette smoke and cooking fumes, which cause leather to fade or change color.
• Keep leather free from dust by dusting with a cloth, preferably once a week.
• Clean leather once a month if the furniture is used daily and at least 4 times a year. Don’t rub! Sponge gently until all grime and stains are absorbed.
• Blot spills immediately.
Please note: Many common household cleaning products can cause severe damage and costly repairs, and improper cleaning may void your furniture protection plan.
Leather Types
• Nubuck (buffed) – process of raising fibers on grain-side of hide to give a nap effect by buffing.
• Naked/Full-Aniline – Leather that has been dyed with aniline, a transparent dye which permeates the entire hide. However, there is no pigment (paint) or finish put on pure aniline-dyed leather to correct hide imperfections. Best suited for light use.
• Semi-Aniline – Leather that has been dyed with aniline, a transparent dye which permeates the entire hide. However, there is either a clear lacquer or slightly pigmented finish applied to improve resistance to wear and light. Slightly more durable than full-aniline.
• Pigmented – Hides that are aniline-dyed, then treated with a heavy pigment (paint) and top coating. Ideal for heavy use or active families.
• Corrected, Pigmented & Embossed – Pigmented leather that has been totally buffed of any imperfections, and then embossed with an artificial grain to improve the appearance.
• Split – The bottom layer of the hide, which has been separated from the top grain. Split hides are generally weaker than top grain leather and may be used in less expensive upholstered furniture applications. Split hides are not recommended for heavy use.
• Suede – Process of raising fibers of the flesh-side of hide to give a nap effect of buffing.
• Tanning – A technical process that converts raw hides into a non-perishable material called leather.
Cleaning Instructions
1. Pretest all of the care products in a hidden area to make sure they are compatible with the leather.
2. Water-based spills and stains such as coffee, ketchup, milk, etc. may require leather cleaner. Refer to leather cleaning instructions provided with product.
3. For oil-based spills and stains such as popcorn grease, salad dressing or other non-water-soluble spills, wipe the leather clean with a clean, dry cloth. Allow for the remainder of the stain to dissipate into the leather over a 24-hour period. Do not use leather cleaner, leather conditioner, water or soap on oil-based stains.
4. Never use saddle soaps, oils, all purpose cleaners or solvents. Use of these products could damage the finish. Modern tanning techniques do not require such products. Most spills will blot up easily with a dry cloth or paper towel.
Wood Care
July 30th, 2010
Wood furniture represents a significant investment in many homes. To maintain its beauty and help it last, wood furniture needs regular and proper care. Most wood furniture is finished with a fine lacquer or varnish. It has a sheen or gloss—ranging from high to low, depending on the finishing materials the manufacturer has selected. The finish adds to the beauty of the wood and protects it. No finish is totally indestructible, but with regular care it will last much longer, providing years of satisfaction and enjoyment.
General Care Tips
• Dust frequently.
• Use a quality polish. It will lessen your chance of expensive refinishing jobs. Polish approximately once a month.
• Clean up spills immediately. Use a blotting action rather than a wiping action.
• Use a soft, lint-free, absorbent cloth for cleaning and polishing.
• Avoid placing furniture in direct sunlight, as sunlight causes fading.
• Avoid extremes in room humidity. Too high or too low humidity can cause wood to warp or the glue lines to fail.
• Avoid extreme changes in temperature. Arrange furniture away from radiators, registers and air-conditioning units.
• Rotate accessories on furniture so they don’t sit in the same spot all of the time.
• Avoid placing plastic or rubber objects on a wood finish, as their ingredients react with those of the finish.
• Use pads, cloth or felt to protect the furniture surface from the plastic, rubber, hot dishes, beverages, bookends, flower pots and vases.
• Use a protective pad when writing with a ballpoint pen.
• Lift and place objects, do not drag them across the furniture surface.
• Make minor repairs when they are still small.
• Use the proper materials or professional help to repair badly damaged surfaces.
• Avoid wax polishes. Regular use of wax polishes may result in the build-up of wax film on the surface of the furniture. This build-up may then pick up dirt, smoke and other pollutants in the air, which may result in smudges and streaks. Used long enough, this may cause the finish to soften, requiring expensive refinishing work. Wax build-up over time hardens, making it difficult to remove from the furniture’s finish.
• Avoid silicone polishes. Silicone oil is an ingredient used by many furniture polish makers to create a high degree of shine. Silicone seeps into even the most lacquered finishes, making it difficult to remove. Should it become necessary to refinish a piece of furniture, silicone makes it a very difficult process—even for a professional refinisher. Most furniture manufacturers recommend using polishes that do not contain silicone.
Cleaning Instructions
1. Wood furniture should be dusted as often as needed.
2. Polishing is recommended about once a month. If your furniture is used often, you may want to increase the frequency. However, be aware that over-polishing is the main cause of damaged finishes. Use a soft, lint-free, absorbent cloth and work with the grain of the wood.
3. When using furniture polish for the first time on previously polished furniture, it is necessary to remove old wax and polish. Not taking this step could lead to disappointing results because the natural and organic oils could soften and loosen layers of wax built up over years, leaving a cloudy surface.
