Home Decorating Fabric
Taking Care to Come Clean

Using proper care on your home decorating fabric can increase the life of your upholstery.

Get in the practice of always turning over the seat and back cushions. This allows even distribution of wear over a period of time.

Normal use of upholstered furniture will leave dust and dirt on the textile surface which increases wear and abrasion. If left unattended it will become difficult to clean or nearly impossible.

Regular maintenance of vacuuming or light brushing prevents dust from getting embedded into the fibers, prolonging the life of your furniture and the appearance of the fabric.

Vacuum your upholstery at least twice a month (more frequently) in high traffic areas like the family room.

Sun and Heat

Avoid placing your upholstery directly in the sun or a heat source like the radiator or heat vent.

The effects of sun and heat will fade the colors and could deteriorate the fibers, with darker colors being more susceptible.

If the upholstered pieces must sit in front of a window, select heavyweight cottons and address the window with a treatment that can close when the sun is at its peak.

Fabric protectors help to protect your upholstery from stains and soil.

Most fabrics are lightly treated already from the mills and others can be protected farther with an application done after the piece has been made at the store level or at home.

A protective finish does not let you off the hook for proper care of your home decorating fabric though!

Fabric protectors just modify the absorbency. Loose dirt should still be vacuumed before it becomes embedded and impossible to remove. Spills and stains should be removed as quickly as possible following the manufacturer's code instructions.

Once you spot clean or have your upholstery professionally cleaned the fabric protection needs to be reapplied.

Slipcovers are a great option if you have children and pets. When they need to be cleaned, you simply remove them and put them in the wash.

Make sure the home decorating fabric your slipcover has been made with has been pre washed, or else washing will change the appearance and definitely will change the fit.

If you want your slipcover to have fabric protection you may, but keep in mind every time you wash it the protection washes off too and you will need to reapply.

Fabric Cleaning Codes

Home decorating fabric will carry a clean ability code that gives information about the proper method of cleaning that specific fabric.

The code consists of four letters followed by the instructions.

The code letters are W, S, W-S and X

If you already have your upholstery, the code may be found under the seat cushions. If you are in the selection process check the label on the fabric you are considering before you make your final choice.

Spot clean by first testing a small area in an inconspicuous place for discoloration and shrinkage.

I know you may be tempted, but don't clean the cushion covers separate from the rest. This will cause color changes and shrinkage over time.

When overall cleaning is required, it is best to bring in the professionals for the best results.

Fabric Code

W

This one is the best, but you don't see it that often. What you want to do when your fabric has a cleaning code of W is to use a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild detergent or non solvent upholstery shampoo product and apply with brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry.

S

This is the most common, because a lot of the home decorating fabric used today is made from blends of fibers. For this code, use a mild water free solvent or dry-cleaning product. Clean in a well-ventilated room.

W-S

This of course you can do either, but again it doesn't come up much. Spot clean with mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo or the foam from a mild detergent.

X

This one is scary. Try to avoid this one because the code on this is a vacuum only. Cleaning agents may cause shrinkage, staining or distortion of the surface pile and should not be used.

Be sure to use a clean white cloth for spills and to spot clean. The dye in a colored cloth can bleed into the fabric. Immediately blot the spill, but don’t rub. Rubbing will only cause the spill to spread and weaken the textile. Don’t allow time to go by that will set the stain, and it may not come out. Have stains professionally cleaned.

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