Fabric furniture, also called upholstered furniture, is a common thing you can find in almost any living room or keeping room you visit. In fact, the ubiquitousness of upholstered furniture is such that it is one of the markets that has surpassed its pre-pandemic levels within two years after Covid-19. According to World Furniture Online, the global upholstered furniture market reached the $80 billion mark in 2021.
If you have fabric furniture, you know that keeping it clean and stain-free can be a challenge. But with the right tools and good habits, it’s easy to keep your sofa or loveseat looking great. We’ll show you how to protect your fabric furniture from stains, dirt, and other messes so that your couches are always ready for guests and looking their best.
Buy Stain Resistant Furniture
If your furniture is made of fabric, look for stain-resistant fabrics. This custom sofa fabric will resist the spread of stains and dries more quickly than regular fabrics. It also tends to hold up better under harsh conditions such as direct sunlight.
To check if your fabric has been treated as stain-resistant, check the label on the back or underside of your piece of furniture. You should see a combination of three-letter codes in parentheses after “spill resistance.” For example, “(W)” means it’s water repellent, “(FP)” means it’s froth proof, “(RF)” means it resists rubbing friction, and so forth.
The most common treatments are:
- WFP (water and oil repellent)
- FQ (froth-proof)
- FR (flammability resistance)
- SR (stain resistance)
- SCS (self-cleaning system)
If you don’t see any codes listed on your label, your piece was either not treated with any protective coating or simply isn’t designed to resist stains well enough.
You must stay careful when choosing stain-resistant furniture. The thing is that stain-resistant furniture pieces can sometimes be hazardous to your health. According to a new study published on the Toxic Free Future website, 72% of products labeled as stain- or water-resistant are toxic. Although the rates are not as high for furniture, it is best to research before buying a furniture piece.
Also Read: Reasons Why a Wall Hugging Reclining Sofa is Worth the Wait
Try Furniture Fabric Protector
The best way to protect your furniture is with a fabric protector. This special coating helps keep stains and dirt away from the fabric, which can make a big difference in the lifespan of your furniture. The fabric protector also protects against fading caused by UV rays from sunlight and other natural light sources.
You will find many businesses selling fabric protectors and offering fabric protection services. However, you must select someone who has years of experience. This will ensure that you get the right services. You can choose someone like Ultra-Guard Fabric Protection. The company has several years of experience. Moreover, the company has conducted thorough research to develop stain-free solutions that will keep your upholstery clean and in shape for many years.
You can apply the protector to new or used furniture. Just follow the instructions on the bottle. If you’re looking for something specific, here are some general guidelines:
- For upholstered fabrics, use a spray-on type of protector instead of liquid-based options that require brushing or kneading into the material. It may take several coats to cover all areas on your piece of furniture completely. Be sure not to miss any spots.
- Choose a product that protects against water-based stains and oil-based stains. If needed, you can also get one that offers stain-repellent properties and water resistance. This will help keep all kinds of messes off your beautiful sofa, chair, couch, etc., no matter what they are made of.
Vacuum Regularly
You can prevent stains if you keep up with regular vacuuming. Dust and hair are the biggest culprits of fabric furniture stains, so be sure to use a soft brush attachment on your vacuum to pick up any dirt and fluff that may have landed on your couch.
If an area is getting especially dirty, like a section of the armrest or seat cushion, run over it with a crevice tool to get in between the cracks and remove whatever gunk may be growing there. If your couch has small crevices where crumbs collect, use a dusting brush attachment to sweep away all that dirt.
There are many vacuum cleaner types you can choose from. Allied Market Research shows that upright and canister vacuum cleaners are the most commonly used. However, a new demand for the recently arrived robotic vacuum cleaners is seen. The robotic vacuum cleaner market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27.2% from 2021 to hit $50.65 billion in 2028.
Clean Up Spills Immediately
If you spill something on your furniture, the best thing to do is clean it up immediately. The longer it sits, the harder it will be to remove. Even if the item isn’t dry, you can still blot up any liquid with a sponge or cloth dipped in cold water.
If any food particles are left behind, use a small amount of detergent, water, and a toothbrush to scrub them away. You should also avoid using harsh cleaners when cleaning spills. They can damage fabric faster than regular soap and water.
Cover the Furniture
The first step to protecting your fabric furniture is determining if it’s a high-traffic area. If it is, consider buying covers for the furniture. Covers will protect the fabric from stains and dirt and prolong the life of your upholstery. You can buy covers at most department stores or online stores like Amazon.
Plenty of other options are available if you’d rather not spend money on new covers and are willing to put in some extra work yourself. For example:
- You can use sheets as temporary protection from stains or dirt when guests come over. Remember that this method isn’t very effective for long-term protection due to its flimsy nature, especially when compared with the heavy-duty materials found in store-bought covers such as vinyl or microfiber suede cloths capable of repelling liquids like raindrops.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed our tips for keeping your fabric furniture looking great. With these simple techniques, you can keep your furniture clean and stain-free. The most important thing is to prevent stains from happening in the first place by buying stain-resistant furniture or covering it with protective covers.
If you get a stain on the fabric, try cleaning it immediately so it doesn’t leave an imprint or discoloration. Don’t forget about regular vacuuming, too. It will keep dust from collecting on surfaces and help keep pets off sofas/chairs. Lastly, don’t forget about regular maintenance, like using leather conditioners monthly to keep leather supple and cleaning up spills immediately before they happen again.
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