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Fabric Types
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Like clothing, upholstery can be made from many different kinds of fibres. Knowing a little about these fibres will help you make the best possible choices when selecting and caring for your furniture.
Synthetic Fibres
Synthetic fibres include: nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin, microfiber.
Each fibre has unique features, but most synthetic fibres are:
- Stretch proof
- Crease proof
- Durable
- Mould resistant
- More colour fast than natural fibres
- More resistance to wear and soil abrasion than natural fibres
- Hydrophobic – greater resistance to water based stains
- Oleophilic – susceptible to greasy stains and build up of body oils
- Easy to clean
Note on microfiber: microfiber upholstery is long lasting and easy to clean, but it is made from materials nearly identical to those used to in microfiber cleaning cloths, so it will grab onto oil, dust and dirt just like the cleaning cloths so. We recommend regularly cleaning microfiber upholstery with a microfiber cleaning cloth to prevent soiling from building up.
Plant Fibres
Plant fibres, also called cellulosic fibres, include: cotton, linen, jute and rayon. Cotton and rayon are commonly used in upholstery fabrics, both alone and in blends.
Cotton
- Strong and absorbent
- Comfortable
- Looses strength when exposed to sunlight
- Has a tendency to yellow
- Can be affected by mould/mildew
- Wrinkles
- Hydrophilic – easily absorbs water and water based stains
- Soils easily if not treated with fabric protection
- Easy to clean
Rayon
- An artificial fibre made from wood pulp
- Most widely used man-made fibre in upholstery
- Often blended with cotton
- Can resemble cotton, wool or silk
- Soft and comfortable
- Highly absorbent
- Fairly resistant to wear
- Fair resistance to sunlight (but not prolonged exposure)
- Can be susceptible to mould/mildew
- Hydrophilic – easily absorbs water and water based stains
- Soils easily if not treated with fabric protection
- Easy to clean
Animal Fibres
Animal fibres, also called protein-based fibres include: wool and silk.
Silk
- Luxurious look and feel
- Resilient
- Strongest natural fibre
- Expensive
- Only has fair resistance to abrasions
- Tends to water spot
- Hydrophilic – easily absorbs water and water based stains
- Soils easily if not treated with fabric protection
- Difficult to clean
Wool
- Luxurious
- Soft, warm feel
- Durable
- Resilient
- Expensive
- Can attract moths/moth damage
- Tends to attract dust, bacteria & dirt particles
- Soils easily if not treated with fabric protection
- Difficult to clean
Blended Fibres
Manufactures frequently blend several different fibres together in a single fabric to combine the best qualities of each. When caring for blended fabrics you must always provide care according to the needs of the most delicate fibre. If in doubt, consult the fabric care label.
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Fabric Care Labels
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By law all fabrics, including upholstery fabrics, must have a Fabric Care Label. This label is similar to the care labels you find on clothing. The Fabric Care Label may be attached to the furniture (a hang-tag or a label sewn onto the furniture) or it may be given to you separately by the furniture retailer.
Different fabrics need different kind of care. The Fabric Care Label will give you the correct instructions for caring for the specific type of fabric used to upholster your furniture. ALWAYS consult the care label BEFORE attempting to clean your furniture. If your furniture doesn’t have a care label, contact the retailer or manufacturer for information.
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Does Fabric Need Protection?
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Natural Fibres
Natural fibres offer excellent comfort because they breathe naturally and absorb perspiration easily. However, these features also mean that they stain easily.
Natural fibres are hydrophilic – they have a natural affinity for water and all water based products. They are also very susceptible to oil and grease stains, including stains caused by the fatty acids in perspiration. Unprotected, these fabrics have a short life span and are difficult to maintain.
Fabric protection is vital for natural fibres.
Fabrics made from natural fibres should be protected before use. Some fabrics have protection applied as part of the manufacturing process, but not all. It is always a good idea to speak to your furniture retailer to find out if protection has been applied to your furniture. If you are unsure, apply fabric protection.
Fabric will need to be re-protected occasionally. Prolonged use or intense cleaning, such as steam cleaning, will cause the protective lay to wear away.
Synthetic Fibres
Many fabrics used in furniture manufacturing today are synthetic. Synthetic fibres are hydrophobic (they repel water) and inherently non absorbent, so they don’t absorb stains in the same way that natural fibres do.
Fabric protection is not necessary for synthetic fabrics.
It is important, however, to regularly clean synthetic fabrics. The majority of these fabrics are oleophilic - they have an affinity for oils and greasy dirt. Synthetic fabrics need to be cleaned regularly to prevent the build up of oily substances, such as perspiration, which may stain or damage the fabric. This is critical even if an application of fabric protection had been applied.
Blended Fibres
Many upholstery fabrics are blends, commonly cotton blended with a synthetic fibre. Blended fibres display the properties of all the fibres in the blend, and respond to stains accordingly. So if the fabric is a blend containing a natural fibre it is a good idea to protect it.
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The Seven Golden Rules of Fabric Care
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1. Check the Fabric Care Label
Always follow the instructions on the Fabric Care Label. More information about Fabric Care Labels
2. Protect your furniture from sunlight
Some fibres are more susceptible to UV damage then others, but it is always a good idea to keep your furniture out of direct sunlight. UV radiation can damage the fabric and cause fading.
3. Keep your furniture away from sources of direct heat
Constant exposure to high temperatures can damage the fabric, the frame and the foam. Furniture should be kept at least 20-30cm from any heat source. Care should also be taken when positioning furniture near external walls as these walls can get extremely hot.
4. Vacuum your furniture every week
All furniture needs to be dusted at least once a week. Dust is abrasive; if you don’t dust your furniture regularly the upholstery will wear rapidly.
Microscopic particles of dirt and dust land on your furniture everyday. If they aren’t removed these particles will eventually work their way deep into the fibres of the fabric. Every time you use your furniture the fabric moves. Movement causes particles of dust and dirt in the fabric to rub against the fibres, resulting in tiny frays and breaks. This damage accumulates over time leaving the fabric faded, weak and susceptible to tears.
The best way to remove dust is to vacuum the furniture using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner. To avoid stretching the material, use a low suction setting.
5. Maintain the fabric and fillings
Plump and rotate loose cushions regularly and remove pilling as it occurs. Pilling occurs as result of normal daily wear: when the surface of the fabric is rubbed, loose fibres on the surface can twist upon themselves, forming tiny balls or `pills`. Pilling can be removed using a pilling tool. These are available from most haberdashery stores. Removing pill removes the unsightly pill balls; it does not affect strength or performance of the fabric.
6. Attend to spills immediately
The quicker you attend to a spill, the less likely it is to cause a permanent stain. As many substances dry they “cure” this means they undergo chemical changes that permanently bond them to the fabric fibres making them insoluble and impossible to remove.
For help removing a stain see the Stain Removal Tips
7. Clean your furniture regularly.
Dusting removes loose surface debris, but not the dirt and perspiration embedded in the deeper fibres. Dusting must be backed up by cleaning. All furniture must be cleaned regularly. If it is not, dirt and perspiration penetrate the fibres of the upholstery weakening the fabric and causing fading. The fatty acids contained in perspiration are particularly damaging.
At least every 6 months you should thoroughly clean any area of your furniture that regularly comes into contact with the human body (seats, arm rests, head rests etc). Everybody perspires! The absence of stains on textiles does not mean that perspiration is not already causing damage.
Every 6-18 months you should have your furniture professionally cleaned. The only way to completely remove dirt and product residue is to have your furniture professionally cleaned: professional cleaners have hardware not available to you at home.
For advice on cleaning furniture see Cleaning Upholstery: The Easy to Clean Method
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The Easy to Clean Method
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At least every 6 months you should thoroughly clean any area of your furniture that regularly comes into contact with the human body (seats, arm rests, head rests etc). Everybody perspires! The absence of stains on textiles does not mean that perspiration is not already causing damage. The Easy to Clean method allows you to clean a seat with Textile Cleaner in just minutes.
The Easy to Clean Method
1. Shake the bottle well before use.
2. Pre-test Textile Cleaner on a hidden area to check for colour-fastness.
3. At a distance of 30cm, spray just enough cleaner to make the fabric slightly damp. Leave to act for a few minutes.
4. Dampen a soft cloth or bath mitt with warm water.
5. Rinse the fabric using gentle circular motions to remove all traces of the cleaner. Rinse the cloth in warm water, and repeat as necessary.
6. Use a clean cloth to pat the fabric dry.
7. Allow the furniture to dry completely before use.
Make sure that you:
Don’t let the fabric get too wet
The fabric should be dampened, never soaked. Try not to wet the furniture’s filling at all.
Do not rub or scrub
Rubbing drives dirt in deeper, and can damage the fabric. The chemical action of Textile Cleaner will dissolve the dirt; you just need to gently lift it off.
Rinse thoroughly
Cleaners work because they attract dirt, any residues left on your upholstery will also attract dirt.
The Easy to Clean Method is designed to remove generally soiling from furniture that is regularly maintained. If your furniture is stained, you should treat the stained areas with the appropriate stain removal product before cleaning the entire piece (using The Easy to Clean Method). For help removing a stain see the Stain Removal Tips If your furniture is heavily stained or has a build up of soiling, it is best to have it professionally cleaned.
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Machine Washing
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Many manufactures don’t recommend machine washing upholstery fabric. If you decide to machine wash your removable furniture covers you should take the following precautions:
- ALWAYS follow the care instructions given on the Fabric Care Label.
- Use a gentle wash cycle.
- Don’t wash the fabric at temperatures exceeding 40ºC.
- Don’t use detergents that contain optical brighteners (they can cause colour variations).
- To avoid uneven fading, wash all covers (and clean fixed upholstery) at the same time.
- Dry the covers flat and out of direct sunlight.
- Re-fitting the covers when they are still slightly damp will help them to stretch back into shape.
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Stain Removal Tips
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Act Immediately
The quicker you attend to a spill the less likely it is to cause a permanent stain. As many substances dry they “cure” this means that they undergo chemical changes that permanently bond them to the fabric.
STEP 1: Soak up any liquids using a paper towel or clean, white cloth.
STEP 2: Carefully remove any solids using a blunt knife or spoon. If the solids have dried, they can be gently brushed or vacuumed off.
STEP 3: Identifying the stain and remove it using the appropriate products.
Identifying the stain and select the appropriate product and method.
Each stain has its own properties. To give yourself the best chance of removing a stain you will need to identify the cause of the stain and select stain removal products designed to treat that particular kind of stain. To find out which product best suites your needs, please refer to the Fabric Problem Solver
Before You Start
- Always test the product on a hidden area of your furniture before you use it.
- If possible, remove the cover and clean from the reverse. This helps to prevent damage to the surface of the fabric, and makes it easier to rinse the area.
- To avoid rings, use a sponge dampened with water to create a ring around the stain at a distance of 2-3cm before you start cleaning.
Removing the Stain
STEP 1: Apply the product
Working from the outside edge in, using a sponge to dab a small amount of product onto the stain. For small areas, apply the product using a cotton bud.
Do not rub or scrub You don’t need to scrub – this works on pots and pans, but on fabrics it just drives the stain in deeper, and damages the fabric. The secret to effective but gentle cleaning is to select the right stain removal product and let it do all the work. The product dissolves the stain then you just need to use water and absorption to lift the solution out of the fabric.
Do not over saturate the area with product This will make it difficult to rinse. It is best to apply a light application of product and then rinse and re-apply if necessary.
STEP 2. Leave the product to act
Stain removal products need time to dissolve the stain. This will take about 5 minutes. Don’t leave it so long that the area dries out.
STEP 3. Rinse thoroughly
Working from the outside edge of the stain into the centre, use a sponge dampened with a little water to rinse the stained area. Take care not to soak the area, this will allow the product to soak into the furniture’s filling, making it more difficult to remove.
Use absorbent paper to soak up as much moisture as possible.
Repeat several times to ensure that all traces of product is removed.
STEP 4. Allow to dry completely before use |
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