Posted by Ed Duke on Fri, Jan 15, 2010 @ 08:29 AM
New upholstered furniture can be very expensive. Considering people, and sometimes pets, sit on furniture it's no wonder furniture gets dirty. Even simple aged furniture can benefit from a good cleaning. Most often, once people have their furniture professionally cleaned, they are amazed at how incredible it looks!
Having your furniture professionally cleaned saves you time and money. Here are some tips to use in between cleanings:
KNOW YOUR FABRICS
Synthetic fibers (polyester, etc) are fairly easy to clean without ruining the color or fabric. If however, your cushions use more than 50% cotton or if they use Haitian Cotton, you should have them professionally cleaned. Certain fabrics require special attention to clean and are easily ruined using the wrong product.
USE FABRIC PROTECTION
This helps with maintenance and care. Always clean spills or stains in a timely manner. Follow manufacturers' instructions for proper care.
TURN THE CUSHIONS
Change the cushions around from one part to the other in addition to turning them over. Some cushions get more usage than others.
VACUUM
Do this weekly for general cleaning. This will aid in removing surface dust and dirt.
AVOID SUNLIGHT & POLLUTANTS
Too much sun causes fabric to fade. Also, proper ventilation can help your fabrics from absorbing airborne pollutants.
CALL A PROFESSIONAL
It is best to have a professional clean your upholstered furniture once every couple of years. Experts recommend having this done rather than wait for your furniture to get visibly dirty. The dirtier your fabric becomes, the harder it is to restore it to its original glory!
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Thu, Aug 06, 2009 @ 08:49 AM
When properly cared for, leather furniture can last up to five years longer than most fabric upholstered furniture. Two of the most important things to know: the grade of leather, and the finish applied to the hide.
The two most popular grades of leather used for furniture are top-grain leather and split leather. Made from the top layer of the hide, top grain leather is the premium grade. Leather, which is not buffed or sanded to correct markings with a smooth appearance, is corrected leather. Split leather, from the lower layer of the hide, is stiffer and less durable than the top grain, with suede and coated split-level leather used on areas of furniture not seen.
Four different finishes of leather are aniline, semi-aniline, Nubuck, and pigment-dyed. Aniline is a dye used to give the hide color without covering over the natural markings, while semi-aniline has the same amount of dye, and has a small amount of surface coating. Nubuck has a slight nap, creating a suede look (but more durable), but is treated with chemicals to resist stains and water. Pigment-dyed refers to leather with a coated surface, much like painting. Scratches are more likely to show on this type of finish.
Check the tag(s) on your furniture for the leather's grade and finish, as they will note the different cleaning agents and conditioners required. Before the use of cleaning or conditioning products, test a small inconspicuous area, and if in doubt about a spill, stain, or mark, contact a professional cleaning company.
To further help maintain your leather furniture follow these tips:
- Keep the furniture at least two feet away from heating vents, and radiators.
- Protect the furniture from the sun, keeping it from windows and direct sunlight.
- Dust or vacuum the furniture weekly.
- Turn and fluff the cushions weekly to prevent wrinkling.
- Blot spills immediately with a dry, white cloth.
- Do not place newspapers, or magazines on the furniture due to ink bleed through.
- Clean and condition the leather twice a year.