Proper care of the upholstery on furniture and other items can mean extending the life of that fabric and also ensuring that it looks its best for years to come. Many people often make some common mistakes when it comes to furniture and upholstery, thinking they should care for it the same way they do clothing, but the fabric on a sofa is very different than the fabric that makes clothing. Note a few tips for caring for upholstery of any sort.
Damp vacuum
It's good to vacuum upholstery often, even if you don't think the location it resides in is very dusty or if you don't see dust. This is because dust can easily settle into the fibres of the upholstery where you can't actually see it, and then it just accumulates and damages the fabric. Be sure you also take time to give a thorough vacuuming to seams and ridges where dust can get trapped.
After the vacuuming, go back over the upholstery with a damp vacuuming, meaning you should hold and press a damp cloth on troublesome spots that may hold oil and dirt, such as armrests and headrests. This will remove any residue that is missed by the vacuum.
Be careful of dye transfer
Upholstery dye can transfer to other fabrics after even a short time of contact. Avoid putting dark fabrics on top of light upholstery, such as using dark-coloured toss pillows on a light-coloured couch, or allowing a dark drapery to brush up against a light-coloured sofa. You also need to ensure that you thoroughly wash jeans and other clothing items when you first purchase them so that their dyes also don't transfer as you sit on the furniture.
Have the fabric laundered and repaired by a professional only
Zippers on cushions are usually added for the convenience of the manufacturer and commercial upholstery cleaners; this doesn't mean that it's automatically safe to remove the fabric from a cushion and toss it in the washing machine. You also want to be cautious about holding the fabric under running water, as this can cause certain fibres to flatten and your upholstery will then look worn and uneven. Drying this fabric improperly also poses problems. If you have furniture, drapery or any other upholstery that is stained or torn, always take it to a professional cleaner or tailor who specialises in upholstery fabric for proper cleaning and repair.
