Furniture Care & Maintenance Guide

At The Sofa & Chair Company we sell the highest quality furnishings using only the finest fabrics and materials.  By following these basic care and maintenance guidelines you will be able to enjoy your new purchase for many years to come.

Everything from the location of your furniture to the way you use it can affect its preservation and longevity.  Avoid placing furniture where it can touch an external wall as this can create moisture build-up.  Likewise, placing it too close to radiators can increase the risk of scorching damage or discolouration.

Also avoid sitting on the edges of the cushions or on the arms as this can add excess pressure to the seams and cause distortion to the padding and fabric.  Be aware that sharp objects such as buckles, rings and even the claws of your pets can tear and scratch the furniture.

Protect your furniture from direct sunlight and rotate reversible cushions at regular intervals.  Vacuum all cushions weekly on a low suction setting to remove any dust particles that may damage the structure of the fabric.

CUSHION CARE

All cushions require regular and ongoing maintenance.  The easiest methods are to regularly ‘plump’ and change cushions from one side of the piece to the other, or simply flip them over to distribute wear.  Some fabrics may naturally ‘creep’ or ‘slide’ over time and with use.  Flipping will minimise this, however sometimes it is necessary to unzip the cushion and pull or rub the fabric back into place.

Feather & Down

Feather-filled cushions, especially when used as base cushions, require regular ‘plumping’ and flipping.  If this is not done their appearance and comfort level may deteriorate.

Foam-Wrapped Feather

Feather-filled ‘wraps’ or ‘feathered layers’ have inserts filled with feather wrapped around a foam core.  This is one of the best quality cushion fillings in the industry and requires minimal maintenance.

Foam-Wrapped Fibre

These cushions are manufactured using only the best reflex foams with a light fibre wrap applied to further improve comfort and appearance.  This cushion provides a more tailored look and requires the least amount of maintenance, although cushions still require plumping and turning to even out wear and prolong their durability.

Poly Fibre

Regular flipping and rearrangement of fibre cushions is essential.  Poly Fibre inserts in particular should be plumped up daily and their position interchanged to maintain their appearance and allow the fillings a chance to recover.

Stain Protection

We recommend that you take advantage of our Guardsman Plus Protection Plan to protect your new furniture.  This gives peace of mind against any stains or accidental damage resulting in rips, tears, burns or scratches.  Wherever possible, their network of expert repair technicians will repair the damage or look to source new parts.  In the event that parts are not available, the item will be replaced.

FABRIC

We recommend that you use a professional furniture dry cleaning service for both fixed and loose cushion covers where appropriate.  Before applying any cleaning detergents or water, please consult our sales team for information about your specific fabric.

Colour Fastness

No fabric is 100 percent colourfast, but fading can be prevented if the correct precautions are followed.

Fading & Sun Damage

Dyed fabrics, particularly those dyed in bright colours, are most susceptible to fading.

Upholstery should not be exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as this may result in the fabric degrading or fading.  South facing rooms are exposed to the most sunlight.  Constant exposure to the direct rays of the sun can break down the fabric fibres, causing them to become brittle, increasing the risk of a rip or tear during cleaning.

Moisture

Protect your furniture from moist environments like a bathroom, damp basement or near water.  Exposure to humidity can cause deterioration of your item.

Pilling

Pilling is usually a result of wear and tear, but climatic conditions and air quality are also contributing factors.  Fibres in some clothing can transfer pills to the furniture.  Pilling is not a defect and can easily be removed using battery operated pilling devices available from most haberdashery stores.

Velvet

Most velvets we carry are natural products.  Velvets can be prone to marking caused by pressure in transit or in use.  Most marks can be removed by smoothing the velvet with a soft brush and/or gentle steaming.  In some natural velvets, crushing is an inherent characteristic and cannot be removed.

Silk & Sateens

Silk is made from very delicate fibres and must be treated with the utmost care.  Be sure to keep far from radiators and away from direct sunlight.

MATERIALS

Leather

Every leather hide is unique and may therefore have some natural markings or slight variations in colour.  Our craftsmen utilise the natural grain of the leather when upholstering our furniture and use their skill to reveal the full character and beauty of the material.  In day-to-day use, leather does not require much maintenance; periodic dusting with a soft, dry cloth should suffice.  It is important to avoid placing leather sofas near heat sources or direct light.

Marbles/Natural Stone/ Petrified Wood

Marbles, Natural Stones & Petrified Wood come in many natural colours and each presents natural veining.  The colouration and veining are all determined by the minerals present during formation.  Veining can often provide a certain inconsistency in the surface texture of your table top and might even require some fill to be used.  These variations and natural markings are to be expected.

You can re-polish your surfaces with a coat of natural paste wax as desired.  This will restore the shine and protect the surface.  As you would with a fine piece of wood furniture, always use placemats, coasters, and trivets and clean any spills immediately with clear water and wipe with a dry cloth.  Regular rubbing alcohol is a perfect product to use for day-to-day cleaning.

Natural Woods / Veneers / Lacquered Surfaces

By dusting regularly, the beauty of Natural woods, veneers & lacquered finishes will be preserved. In this way, individual spots on the furniture will in all probability not stick persistently.

To remove stubborn soiling, a small amount of furniture polish should be used in conjunction with a soft humid cloth. Drops of water or alcohol must be quickly wiped away as they can attack the finishes and cause stains. Aggressive cleaning agents should never be used since they generally contain solvents or chemical substances which attack the lacquered finishes or can even damage them irreparably.

Glass & Mirror

Wipe the surface with glass cleaner and a soft cloth.

Metal

Dust regularly using a soft dry cloth. For a more thorough cleaning, use mild soap and warm water. Rinse with clean water and wipe dry. Do NOT use steel wool, sandpaper, mineral acid, bleach, or chlorine cleaners on metal surfaces.

LIGHTING

Lamps/bulbs are not provided. Please check with your Sales Advisor on which lamps are appropriate. When connecting chandeliers or lamps to lighting control systems please check with an electrician in regards to their compatibility.

RUGS

It is always best to rotate your rug every 4 months in high traffic areas to maintain the quality and prevent crushing of the pile.  This will also help to prevent discolouration or fading from areas in direct sunlight.

Please be advised that once the rug is delivered and unwrapped, indentures/folds will take up to 3-4 weeks to disappear.  In some cases, the rugs may need to be rolled the opposite way, to lay flat once placed.

An underlay or anti-slip is recommended for all rugs.  Underlays can aid in the prevention of damage and accidents as they prevent the slipping and sliding of the rug.  An anti-slip also acts as a shock absorber during use and this can reduce wear, extending the longevity of your rug.

We can arrange specialist treatments to protect your rug from staining, moth damage and general wear, for this service please contact your sales consultant.

Wool Rugs

Vacuum regularly without a beater-bar roller and remove spills immediately by blotting a dry absorbent white cloth or white paper towel – do not rub!  We also advise that wool rugs be treated for prevention of moth infestations.  Moths and their larvae can cause unwanted damage to the pile, but treatment can eradicate this.

Viscose & Silk Rugs

We recommend professional cleaning as the fibres are very delicate.

Please contact the Sofa and Chair Company for specialist advice and to arrange a professional cleaning appointment.

CURTAINS

Direct Sun

Avoid exposure to intense sunlight. The rays from the sun can cause fabrics to fade and disintegrate. The Sofa and Chair Company recommend that you line and interline your curtains to help prevent this, but this will not eliminate the damage from sunlight totally.

If you have strong and constant exposure, consider some form of protection that will block or reflect the sun. This might be a separate lining behind the treatment, or a blind or shade to protect the fabrics. Failure to protect the fabric may result in claims for fading being rejected.

Creasing

Our curtains are carefully packed and despatched.  However, any folding of material will cause certain creases; our installer will steam where appropriate. Allow time for any wrinkles to smooth out, the fabrics will continue to relax and naturally drop as they hang. In regards to linen and velvet fabrics, please be aware that creases may be permanent and this is the nature of the fabric.

Yarns/Fibres

Our fabrics are constructed with various natural yarns and synthetic fibres.  Often there are slubs and natural weave irregularities which enhance the final appearance of the fabric. It should be noted that this is not a defect and is an inherent characteristic of the fabric. 

Silk

Silk does not have a high colour fastness and therefore must be protected from sunlight.  We recommend interlining and the added protection of blinds.  Also the slubs, knots and irregular horizontal banding which occur are all natural characteristics of the silk yarn.

Shrinkage

Please be aware that up to 5% shrinkage may occur due to variations in atmospheric conditions whilst in situ at the window.  There is sufficient fabric available within the hems to enable any necessary adjustment in length.

Regular Care

Give your curtains a gentle shaking as they are drawn. This will prevent dust and dirt from lodging in the fibres. Every month, vacuum any accumulated dust from the surface of your treatments. Use a clean soft brush attachment for this, with the suction power slightly reduced. Watch for any large accumulations that might be spread by the brush or loose trims and embellishments.

Cleaning

Never wash or launder custom treatments. Do not iron or press your curtains and blinds. Please contact your Sales Consultant to advise on professional cleaning companies.