1- What steps do I take, to care for my recently purchased upholstered item?

• a. All cushions and pillows should be flipped and rotated on a regular basis. This keeps the filling evenly distributed for maximum comfort. It also allows the fabric to fade uniformly and for the foam cores to wear evenly.
• b. Vacuum upholstered furniture regularly. Just as dust accumulates on your wooden furniture it does the same on your upholstered items, you just notice it less.
• c. If there are zippers on the backs or arms, unzip and “fluff “the stuffing to keep the furniture looking newer longer. If there are no zippers “fluff” the pillows, backs and arms wherever possible.
• d. Try not to eat or drink on your upholstered furniture. Food and drink stains can permanently stain or damage your new furniture.
• e. Be vigilante of pens or any type of sharp objects in your pockets when sitting down on your upholstered furniture.

• a. Dust regularly with a clean dust cloth; do not use furniture polish, oils, varnishes, ammonia, water, soaps and or dusting agents.
• b. All cushions and pillows should be flipped and rotated (if possible) on a regular basis. This keeps the filling evenly distributed for maximum comfort. It also allows the leather to fade uniformly and for the foam cores to wear evenly.
• c. If there are zippers on the backs or arms, unzip and “fluff “the stuffing to keep the furniture looking newer longer. If there are no zippers “fluff” the pillows, backs and arms wherever possible.
• d. Try not to eat or drink on your leather upholstered furniture. Food and drink stains can permanently stain or damage your new furniture.
• e. Be vigilante of pens or any type of sharp objects in your pockets when sitting down on your leather upholstered furniture.

3- How do I clean my upholstered furniture?

• a- For overall cleaning, we recommend that you have a reputable and insured upholstery cleaning technician do the work. But if you find that you still need to spot clean, follow the guidelines set forth in the upholstery cleaning codes. You will find that code on a tag located either under the cushions or on the bottom of your upholstered item.

4- What are the upholstery cleaning codes and what do the mean?

• a- Cleaning codes are a standardized set of guidelines that lets you know what type of materials can be used to clean specific types of upholstery. Below you will find the list of codes.
• b-
  • W - Spot clean with water based upholstery shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. Avoid the tendency to over-wet the fabric. Again, use a professional cleaner for overall cleaning.
  • S - Use only a water-free, upholstery-cleaning agent for occasional spot cleaning. Do not use water. Water may cause shrinkage, bleeding, or water-spots.
  • WS - Either Water Based or Solvent based upholstery cleaners are acceptable for use to spot clean on these types of fabrics.
  • X - Do not use any cleaning chemicals. Use a non- metallic brush to loosen soil from the fabrics. Usually found on Silks and Satins.

5- How do I clean my leather upholstery?

• a- For overall cleaning, we recommend that you have a reputable and insured leather upholstery cleaning technician do the work.
• b- To help remove soil or stains, use lukewarm water and thoroughly clean an area of the leather that includes the stain. Avoid dabbing the stained area only. Do not rub. Do not over saturate with water.
• c- Let dry naturally and repeat if necessary.
• d- After it has been cleaned, leather furniture should have an application of leather upholstery specific conditioner applied to keep it supple.

6- What do I do if my upholstery fabric starts pilling?

• a- Pilling is not a fabric defect. It is simply the fabric’s tendency to release excess fibers that become trapped in the weave. Pilling can be maintained very easily at home by using a fabric shaver available at most discount stores. Using the fabric shaver on a regular basis will control the pilling until the fabric stops shedding.

Return to Frequently Asked Questions