Home > Caring for Upholstery

Soft upholstered furniture gets just as dusty and dirty as cabinet furniture - the difference is you can't always see it. Upholstery should be viewed in a similar way to clothing, ie it needs regular cleaning, ideally by a reputable cleaning company.

Regular, easy-care maintenance: Try to keep pets off the upholstery and be careful of sharp objects such as belt buckles, toys and watch straps snagging the fabric. If snags do occur, carefully cut off the loose ends with scissors or tuck back in. Do not pull them under any circumstances.

Discourage lively children from using your new suite as a climbing frame if you want to prolong its lifespan.

Use protective arm caps where possible as this is the area most likely to show wear.

Reversible seat and back cushions should be turned regularly and plumped up to maintain their shape. As a guide these cushions should be attended to at least on a weekly basis, but may require daily attention dependant upon type of filling and usage.

Upholstery can be lightly vacuumed or gently brushed to remove dust, but take care if vacuuming delicate fringe and braid details.

Strong sunlight can cause fabrics to fade.

Sitting on the front edges of cushions or on the arms of furniture may cause distortion or damage.

Velvet and chenille fabrics have a raised surface texture which is prone to flattening and shading. It is important that you understand this characteristic.

Wood or decorative facings require minimal maintenance, and should be occasionally wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust. Do not use spray polishes or solvent cleaners, as these can have a damaging effect on both the facings and adjoining fabric.

Fringes and ruching should be treated with care, especially when vacuuming.

Caster cups are useful to reduce indentations on carpets and wood flooring.

Stop spills becoming stains:

Do not use detergents.

Do not try to wash or rub minor spills

To avoid damaging your upholstery, if you spill something on it, simply act quickly and mop up excess liquid with a clean white cloth.

Variations and markings: Vacuum or brush clean your upholstery weeklyto remove accumulated dirt, which can cause colours to look faded or dull. Plump the cushions at the end of every day of use, particularly those filled with feather or fibre, and also smooth out the surface to prevent permanent creases being formed. Where you can, turn the cushions regularly to equalise wear.

Cleaning: Always follow your manufacturer's cleaning and care label instructions. Clean your upholstery at least once a year and before soiling becomes ingrained. Clean all parts of a suite together as slight colour changes can sometimes occur.

Motion furniture has many different designs and functions, and it is very important that the manufacturer's operating and care instructions are correctly followed.

Loose cover upholstery: Loose covers should be cleaned regularly in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Some slight shrinkage may arise on initial cleaning, but sufficient tolerance will have allowed for this. When removing and particularly when replacing loose covers, always take care with the carcase and cushion cover zips. Your covers are tailored to snugly fit the carcase, therefore identify the shapes prior to fitting. If washed, replace the covers when just slightly damp to ensure a better fit and less shrinkage or creasing. Do not replace covers if they are wet, as this could damage other materials. Allow the covers to settle on the furniture for a day or so. Ironing should not be necessary, but if this is required, iron the covers on the furniture using a damp cloth.

General tips for fitting:

Locate the zip fastener

Fit the wing or rear of arm nearest the zip

Fit the arm front

Repeat on the opposite arm fixing

Tuck covers on the inside of the arms and back of the seat

Fit the valance stiffeners where applicable

Close the zip, pulling the outside arm and back covers tightly to remove pressure from the zip itself.