Furniture
Upholstery
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 the same way to clothing and cleaned regularly, 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 watchstraps snagging the fabric. If snags do occur, 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 weekly and plumped up to maintain their shape.
- Upholstery can be lightly vacuumed or gently brushed to remove dust, but take care if vacuuming delicate fringe or braid details.
- Sitting on the front edges of cushions or on the arms of the furniture may cause distortion or damage.
- Wood or decorative facing require minimal maintenance, and should occasionally be 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 with vacuuming.
Stop spills becoming Stains
- No 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
- Always follow your manufacturer's cleaning and care label instructions.
- Clean you upholstery at least once a year, before soiling becomes ingrained.
- Clean all upholstery parts together, as slight colour changes can sometimes occur.
Motion Upholstery
- Motion furniture has many different designs and functions, and it is important that the manufacturer's operating and care instructions are correctly followed.
Loose Cover Upholstery
- Loose covers should be cleaned regularly in accordance 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 carcass and cushion cover zips. Your covers are tailored to snugly fit the carcass, therefore identify the shapes prior to fitting. If washed, replace the covers when just slightly damp to ensure a better fir 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 the arm nearest the zip.
- Fir the arm front.
- Repeat the opposite arm fixing.
- Tuck the 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.
Cabinet furniture
When buying cabinet furniture you are doing so with a view to keeping it for a long time. It makes sense to look after it from day one. With consistent care and maintenance your investment will stay beautiful for many years. Simply follow the appropriate guidelines below for prolonged life:
Tips to lengthen the life of your cabinet furniture:
- Do not place furniture near heat sources or air conditioning units.
- Avoid changes in humidity, and especially steam.
- Always leave a gap behind wardrobes and wall units to allow air to circulate.
- Protect furniture from strong and prolonged sunlight.
- Avoid marking furniture with sharp objects, for example when using a ballpoint pen.
- Carefully lift your furniture, never drag or push it.
- Do not lean back on dining room chairs.
- Always follow fitting instructions for wall fixing and shelves.
- Uneven floors could give the impression that doors of wall units and wardrobes are out of alignment, so beware of this and compensate if necessary by adjusting the door hinges or packing a corner to level the item.
- Do not place hot crockery onto any cabinet or bare surface without using insulated mats for protection.
- Don't overstrain drop flap stays and hinges.
Take care not to drag crockery across wooden surfaces or putting heavy items on to an unprotected surface.
Scratches
- With wooden products the best way to deal with scratches is to employ the services of a professional polisher. We can provide you with a list of companies who can provide this skill.
Wood Products
- Wood is a naturally occurring product; part of its beauty is that no two pieces can be the same. The depth and shade of the colours and grain pattern vary from item to item.
Regular Easy-Care Maintenance
- Gently dust your furniture and polish with a soft, lint-free buffing cloth.
- The colour of real wood matures with exposure to light, so it is important to rotate items regularly and expose all area of the furniture to avoid noticeable colour and differences occurring.
- Never use silicon or wax polishes that leave a residue on surfaces.
- Only use good quality wax-free furniture polishes, where recommended by the manufacturer.
- Dining chair upholstery can be lightly vacuumed or gently brushed to remove dust.
Stop spills becoming Stains
- Blot up any spills immediately.
- Do not try to wash or rub spills and do not use detergents.
- Finger marks can be removed with a clean, slightly damp cloth.
- Protect wood surfaces with heat resistant under cloths or place mats.
Cleaning
- Always follow your manufacturer's cleaning instructions.
- Most lacquer or synthetic finishes on real wood give a semi-permanent barrier to make cleaning as easy as possible.
- Assume that all wooden furniture will resist water, chemicals or heat.
- Natural wax finishes are porous and stain easily.
- Man-made foil and melamine may be dusted or wiped with a damp cloth.
- Clean upholstery at least once a year or before soiling becomes ingrained.
Due to the variety of materials used in furniture today we advise that you should first contact the manufacturer for advice as there are a number of different treatments, some more effective than others. However, we may be able to assist you in identifying contact numbers if you experience any problems in doing so.
