How to Care for Your Upholstered Furniture

When you invest in a luxury furniture setting, you want it to last. And if there is one thing that disgraces an otherwise sophisticated dining set or living room layout, it’s damaged upholstery.

From coffee spills to smudge marks, unravelled seams to smears, a luxury lounge can lose its appeal if not cared for correctly. Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to keep your upholstered furniture looking fab, protecting it from the daily wear and tear that can ruin its overall look.

Vacuum Often

Did you know that dust, dirt, crumbs and pet hair have a sandpaper effect on upholstery? By vacuuming regularly, you will prevent such things from settling into the fibres of your fabric and damaging it over time.

Vacuuming also helps to lift old stains from your upholstery by sucking out the loose specks ingrained within the fabric.

Flip it 

Flipping or swapping seat cushions is not lazy by any means. In fact, by rearranging your cushions on a regular basis, you can ensure the wear on your furniture remains evenly spread.

With most people guilty of possessing a favourite seat in the living room or at the family dining table, rearranging your cushions means you can avoid exposing your much-loved spot with worn down fabric or sunken padding.

Cover it

Armchairs are often synonymous with scuffed armrests. To prevent this, slipcovers and arm caps are the saving grace that will protect your luxurious armchairs from long-term damage.

How to clean up spills

You’ve just sat down to your favourite TV show at the end of a long week, beer or wine in hand. Then it happens…

It is important when cleaning a liquid spill on your upholstered furniture to do so quickly. Using water only, blot down the spill with a clean cloth, and avoid scrubbing so you don’t press the stain further into the upholstered fibres.

Material Matters

Natural materials such as cotton, linen, wool, silk, and leather for example require a different approach to that of artificial materials such as polyester and acrylic. So before you grab the surface spray or bowl of soapy water, take a moment to consider the type of material you’re working with.

A handy tip for cleaning upholstered furniture for the first time is to read the universal care code on the label. Typically, the codes will show as W, S, WS or X. These abbreviations stand for:

• W: use water-based agents only; only brush or vacuum when the fabric is dry
• S: use water-free mild solvents and dry-cleaning products
• WS: use either solvent and upholstery shampoo or water-based mild detergents
• X: only brush or vacuum lightly, or have professionally cleaned.

Leather Upholstery

Leather lounges are typically characteristic of the contemporary-styled home, and a common feature in homes where children are present due to their easy-to-clean nature.

Caring for a leather lounge is as simple as:

• Ridding the lounge of dust by vacuuming regularly
• Wiping it down with a soft, clean cloth
• Using leather conditioner once or twice a year
• Wiping spills immediately with a dry cloth
• Using only cleaning products suitable for leather

Solution-Dyed Acrylic Fabrics

Furniture featuring solution-dyed acrylic fabric upholstery can be highly versatile. With a wide variety of colours, textures and patterns available, the water-resistant fabric is also easy to clean, and for that reason, is particularly popular in homes with children and pets.

To clean your solution-dyed acrylic fabric, simply:

• Vigorously sponge spots using a natural soap
• Rinse with clean water
• Air-dry.

All-purpose cleaner is also safe to use if the stains or smudges are difficult to remove; however, avoid over-spraying the offending area, and remember to fully rinse with clean water afterwards. 

It goes without saying that it is important to show caution when eating, drinking or petting your cat on your upholstered furniture. While it may not seem essential to read the care label before use, doing so will alleviate the panic when the inevitable happens and a spill does occur.

Knowing how and what to clean your upholstered lounge, dining setting or bedding with will ensure the longevity of your precious furniture piece.