Fabric Flair
Upholstered furniture offers many different looks
and textures not only due to the design of the product
but through the wide choice of fabric and coverings
that are now available. Fabrics are sourced
from across the globe offering practical choice
to the more daring sumptuous styles.
Choosing fabric gives the opportunity to mix
and match colours either from piece
to piece or with accent scatters and throws.
Like many materials, each fabric has different
characteristics offering individuality which
can be chosen to suit your needs.
Fabric Flair
Upholstered furniture offers many different looks
and textures not only due to the design of the product
but through the wide choice of fabric and coverings
that are now available. Fabrics are sourced
from across the globe offering practical choice
to the more daring sumptuous styles.
Choosing fabric gives the opportunity to mix
and match colours either from piece
to piece or with accent scatters and throws.
Like many materials, each fabric has different
characteristics offering individuality which
can be chosen to suit your needs.
Terms assocaied with upholstery fabrics
Acrylic
A manufactured fibre, it’s major
properties include a soft, wool-like
touch with good resistance to
sunlight.
Calico
A tightly woven cotton type fabric,
either plain or with an all over print.
Chenille
A thick soft tufty yarn susceptible
to pile crushing and shading.
Cotton
A natural fibre that grows in the
seed pod of the cotton plant, used
to make cotton fabrics, although
cotton is a strong fibre, prints can
be susceptible to signs of wear.
Damask
A glossy jacquard fabric, usually
made from linen,cotton, rayon,
silk or blends. The patterns are flat
and reversible and the fabric tends
to be heavy.
Microfibre
Ultra-fine manufactured fibers using
microfibre technology producing a
gentle fabric with superior softness.
Nap
A fuzzy, fur like feel created
when fibre ends extend from
the basic fabric structure to
the fabric surface.
Nylon
Produced in 1938, the first
completely synthetic fibre
developed. Known for its high
strength and excellent resilience,
nylon has superior abrasion
resistance and high flexibility.
Pill
A tangled ball of fibres that
appear on the surface of a fabric
as a result of wear or friction on the
surface of the fabric, some fabrics
are more prone to ‘pilling’ and is a
natural feature.
Polyester
A manufactured fibre introduced in
the early 1950’s and is second only
to cotton in worldwide use. Polyester
has a high strength although lower
than Nylon.
Silk
A natural filament fibre produced
by silkworm creating a soft
fine fibre.
Velour
A medium weight closely woven
fabric with a thick pile, it resembles
velvet but has a lower cut pile,
being a pile fabric this can be
subject to crushing and creasing.
Velvet
A medium weight cut-pile
constructed fabric in which
the pile stands up very straight.
Velvet is a luxurious fabric but is
prone to shading and creasing
with pile pressure.
Weft
In woven fabric, the filling yarns
that run perpendicular to the
warp yarns.
Wool
Usually associated with fibre or
fabric made from the fleece
of sheep or lamb but can also
apply to all animal hair fibres.
Interiors
Most interiors are produced to offer maximum comfort
for the style of your chosen furniture.
It is common that interiors will lose at least 10%
of their density in the first 3 months, increasing
to 20-30% over time.
To prolong the life span of interiors where possible
cushions should be rotated or seating positions
changed regularly.
Where fixed seat models are chosen, particular care
is needed to avoid ‘side sitting’ (lying or sitting on their
edge of interiors) as this can cause excessive dipping
of the interior in excess of the tolerances already
detailed.
Daily maintaining is required by vigorously plumping
cushions to offer maximum performance, particularly
fibre and feather interiors.
Protecting your investment
Caring for your fabric sofa: tips, information and advice
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, i.e 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
Cleaning
Vacuum or brush clean your upholstery weekly to
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.
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
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. |
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