pinocausini.com

Caring for Upholstered Furniture

by

Sharon Samraj

The upholstered furniture in your house consisting of sofas, chairs and the mattresses on your beds, are fairly large household investments. For this reason, it is necessary to understand the basics of furniture fabrics to take good care of your upholstered furniture. How you care for your upholstered furniture determines how long it will retain the original look and finish. With proper care, it is possible to have all your upholstery looking new for a long, long time.

The upholstered furniture usually has three elements – frame, support system and fabric cover. Furniture frames are made of hardwood slowly dried in a kiln to prevent warping. Cheaper frames are made of softer wood and may be assembled in a less-than-durable construction. Support system are the springs, webbing and padding are the invisible but critical elements of upholstered furniture. Many manufacturers now use “zigzag” or sinuous-wire springs or rubberized webbing strips”less expensive but strong alternatives. Most fabrics designed for upholstery come from the manufacturer with a stain- and soil-repellent finish. When it is missing, the store should be able to provide the treatment when you buy a piece of upholstered furniture. If a fabric had been treated at the mill, a second treatment is unnecessary.

First of all, if you have the right fabric for your upholstered furniture, it will make your maintenance task easier. For example, synthetic fibers are a better choice for furniture that sits in areas of heavy usage. A lot of finishing process towards fabric protection takes place at the factory. It is usually treated with soil and/or water repellents. Additional fabric protectors can be applied in the store or by you at home. They help in keeping spills from being absorbed into the fibers right away. Always clean up any spills or stains in a timely manner, and, it is best to follow manufacturers instructions when doing so.

You can extend your furnitures life by periodically rotating and turning over the loose cushions. This allows for an even distribution of wear and tear and your cushions will take longer time to develop indentations. Fluffing the cushions after you have rinsed also helps keep them in shape. Some seats get more usage than others, so changing cushions around will ensure even usage. Make it a point to vacuum weekly to remove surface soil. This also prevents dirt from getting permanently stuck into the fibers. You can also use a soft bristled brush to gently whisk the dirt away. Aggressive brushing can damage the fabrics. Use a soft-bristled vacuum cleaner dusting brush, or the small upholstery/curtain tool supplied with most vacuum cleaners.

Sharon Samraj is an expert author, who is presently working on the site Living Room Furniture, Office Furniture . He has written many articles in various topics like Bedroom Furniture . For more information contact Home Furniture , Discount Furniture.Article Source: eArticlesOnline.com

}