FABRIC

Care & Cleaning of Fabric Upholstery

The recommended cleaning code for all fabric upholstery products is Code WS. general cleaning instructions • Spot clean only with water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area first. Do not saturate. • Clean spots or stains from the outside to the middle of the affected area to prevent circling. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a nonmetallic, stiff bristle brush to restore appearance. • Do not use solvents to spot clean. Hot water extraction or steam cleaning is not recommended. Cushion covers should not be removed and laundered. • Do not leave newspapers on fabric furniture. The ink in the newsprint will rub onto the fabric. This is true for all upholstery. To prevent soiling in general, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached. normal cleaning Principally, upholstery furniture cleaning and stain removal is best left to an expert. If you want to do this yourself, please note the following suggestions. In any case, it is advisable to test the compatibility and success of a measure taken on a hidden area of the upholstered furniture to avoid surprises. No warranty is implied since results may vary Basics for stain removal important: it is advisable to consult a professional for large areas or heavy soiling. We recommend the use of water-based cleaning products. acid cleaners will damage cotton and cellulose fabrics, alkaline cleaners are not suitable for wool fabrics. • Remove detergent residue with clean water as these residues (surfactants) will cause faster re-soiling otherwise. Pat dry with a dry cloth, drying the cover at normal room temperature. • Always treat stains immediately. Exercise caution, however, with covers made of cotton, linen, silk and viscose: Consult professional cleaning companies. • Use an absorbent cloth and dab the spot • Use a neutral soap and water solution and gently rub the soiled area from side to center to avoid a halo effect. • Rinse thoroughly with plain water to remove excess soap. • The area may then be blotted with a clean towel, rubbing in a gentle circular motion to maintain the suede surface or dried by using a hair dryer to quickly complete the drying process. • Buff or vacuum afterwards to maintain the suede look and feel. • Dried, caked or sticky stains should be softened first. • Never pluck, as the woven pile could then be damaged. • In any case, do not use upholstered furniture until it has completely dried. Water soluble stains • Blood, egg, feces, urine: Rinse with cold water, possibly with an oil free shampoo and water solution, do not use hot water as protein will then coagulate. • Vomit, coffee with milk, indelible pencil, pen, lipstick, mayonnaise, milk, perfume, soot, cream, shoe polish, sauces and gravies, soups, ink: Treat with a lukewarm oil free shampoo and water solution. If the stain cannot be removed in this manner, contact a professional furniture cleaning service. • Beer, colas, fruit juices, coffee, soft drinks, liquor, tea: Do not allow to dry, treat immediately with lukewarm oil free shampoo and water solution. • Red Wine: Remove solid residues completely with a spoon as soon as possible. Then wet a bath towel with cold water, wring out and lay it on the stain. Be patient and wait. Repeat the process with a clean, damp towel once the stain rubs off on the first towel. Follow the steps until the stain no longer rubs off. Leave the towel where it is until it is completely dry. These care instructions are for guidance only and do not represent a guarantee. False or improper cleaning invalidates any warranty claims. Non Water-Soluble Stains • Floor polish, butter, colours, grease, resin, coal, indelible pencil, paint, oil, shoe polish (oil products), tar: Treat with solvents such as benzene or ethyl alcohol, or a commercial stain remover. • Candle wax: Do not use an iron! If possible, crumble and remove carefully as there is a risk of surface damage with suede, follow up with treatment using benzene. • Chewing gum, modeling clay: Use a commercial icing spray according to instructions and pull off carefully. Surface damage may result with suede. • Old blood, rust: Dampen a white cloth with a citric acid solution (1 level tablespoon per 100 ml of cold water) and apply. Remove the spot working from the edge to the middle. Stains if unknown origin For stains of unknown origin, first follow the “water-soluble stains” procedure; should this prove unsuccessful, follow the “non water-soluble stains” procedure. Should this also prove unsuccessful, please contact a professional furniture cleaning service. Helpful Tip: Caring for Your Upholstery Product All fabrics are easily snagged or damaged by sharp edged toys, buckles, studs on jeans, jewelry and domestic pets. We would suggest preventing children from playing on the furniture or animals climbing on the furniture to avoid unintentional damage. Snags, when they do occur, should be trimmed off with scissors. Under no circumstances pull them. Animal coats contain abrasive oils, which can accelerate fabric wear Hair products i.e. gel /oil may cause staining when they come in contact with certain fabrics. Sitting on the arms of settees or on the edges of cushions will cause premature wear and distortion of the padding and fabric. Exposure to prolonged sunlight or excessive heat (eg. against a radiator) will result in the fading of colours and the eventual disintegration of the fabric. Protect your furniture by careful positioning and by drawing your curtains or blinds. Certain fabrics will, after prolonged use, loose some colour density where the pattern wears away. The surface of any fabric will slowly wear, however this in itself should not be taken as an indication that material is worn out. Some upholstery fabrics such as chenille & velvets are subject to crush marks and random shading. This is where shading can occur due to change of light reflection when the pile is naturally flattened during use. This is generally considered a desirable expression of the fabric’s comfort and elegance. It is not a fabric flaw.