Upholstery fabrics are designed to be tough and hard-wearing. They’re made to withstand daily use, and to resist wear for a long time. If you've ever seen an antique chair that still has the original fabric, and it’s still in good shape, then you’ll know exactly what we mean. However, while upholstery can last a long time, that doesn't happen by accident, and there are definitely things you will need to do to help your furniture stay looking good for longer.
Here are our top tips to properly care for your new fabric upholstery:
- If at all possible, and particularly if you have kids, pets or your living room gets lots of use, invest in slip covers for all of your furniture. This is one of the best ways to ensure that your sofa always looks great, and the covers can be washed or replaced as needed when damaged or to change the look.
- If your fabric upholstered furniture is going to be in a high traffic area, with kids and pets, and you don’t have slip covers, it may be worth hiring someone to make them for you, in a hard wearing fabric like denim. It’s much cheaper to replace covers if they get destroyed by hard use than it is to purchase a new sofa!
- Keep upholstered furniture out of direct sunlight too. Prolonged exposure to bright sunlight can wear your furniture out faster, and it
- White vinegar can be used to remove stains on fabric upholstery, and it’s a natural product, which would appeal to people concerned about the environment. Once the stain has been removed, use a mild soap and water solution to clean the area, and then air out the sofa – the vinegar smell does tend to linger!
- Baby wipes are another mild product that is perfect for fabric upholstery spot cleaning, and cheap and easy to acquire.
- Mild laundry detergent and water, particularly in a spray bottle, is a good choice for cleaning upholstery, and since it’s made for use on fabric, is a safe one too. Alternatively, there are homemade stain removers on a budget.
- If there is a spill on your upholstered fabric furniture, the first thing you need to do is remove any solid particles that may be present. Use vinegar or baby wipes to clean the area of the stain, and then clean with detergent and water. Use as little water as possible, to avoid soaking the padding of the sofa. If water becomes trapped there, it can cause problems associated with damp.
- When you do clean upholstery, make sure that you blot rather than rubbing or scrubbing. Vigorous scrubbing can do more damage than good.
- It helps to vacuum upholstered pieces once a week, to prevent dirt build-up, and to freshen up the fabric and padding.
- Don’t forget to flip loose cushions around regularly too. This helps to prevent uneven wear on one side of the cushion.
- In some cases, steam cleaning your upholstered pieces may be the only way to remove tough stains. If you’re worried about damaging the piece, consider asking a professional to do the cleaning, or if cleaning is not an option, look for a company that will reupholster your furniture for you.
- For new furniture, ask your retailer if they offer any stain protection, this is typically a little bit extra but is well worth it should you spill anything on the couch!
- Finally, when it comes to drying your furniture, air drying is the best choice. Avoid using hot air, for the same reason you wouldn't toss delicate items in the dryer – the hot air can cause damage or shrinkage.
Upholstered furniture can last a long, long time, if you take proper care of it. Use these tips to clean up spills and stains, and remember that even if the upholstery of the piece doesn't look great, you still have options as long as the structure and springs are in good shape. That’s why it’s so important to buy quality furniture from the start, so that you can get years of trouble free service.