| Tracking down the perfect fabric for the job can be a | | | | cloth.o To avoid leaving marks when wiping up spills, |
| daunting task. Luckily, Juliette Barrell, marketing director | | | | moisten the entire surface evenly and lightly to clean. |
| at Wesley-Barrell, has passed on some solid advice: | | | | Allow to dry naturally. Don't use a hairdryer or apply |
| "When choosing upholstery fabrics we are thoroughly | | | | direct heat. |
| spoilt for choice so it helps to adopt your own | | | | Antique pieceso Lift curtain hems when floors are |
| selection criteria. Consider how much wear and tear | | | | polished.o For surface-dirt removal, use a low-suction |
| your sofa or armchair will receive, along with the colour | | | | vacuum cleaner and cover the nozzle with a small |
| and textures of existing fabrics in your decorative | | | | square of muslin. |
| scheme. It is often difficult to gauge wearability from | | | | Trimmingso Trimmings on soft furnishings and |
| the feel of a fabric, so ask about rub tests; ideally | | | | upholstery should be gently steam-cleaned. The |
| fabrics for general domestic use require a rub test of | | | | Penguin Steam Cleaner, £49·99 by |
| in excess of 20,000 rubs." | | | | Home-Tek, is a small, hand-held appliance for |
| Finding the right fabric | | | | accessing the smaller surfaces.o Tassles and fringed |
| Upholstery fabrics | | | | trimmings can be perked up as part of the |
| The cost of a fabric, or how heavy or substantial it | | | | steam-cleaning process. Smaller items, like tie-backs, |
| feels, does not indicate whether it will be suitable for | | | | can be cleaned by holding them over the steam from |
| upholstery. As a guide, some manufacturers use the | | | | a kettle.o Use soft artist's brushes to dust rosettes or |
| symbol of an armchair to suggest that a fabric is | | | | ruched braids |
| suitable for upholstery, whereas others use a new A, | | | | Professional re-upholstery services |
| B, C system to grade the durability of fabric.o Those | | | | Sometimes, well-used upholstered furniture becomes |
| rated "A" have a rub test number between 21,000 and | | | | so worn that even specialist cleaning won't bring it |
| 40,000 and are considered suitable for "severe | | | | back to life. If this is the case, it may be worth having |
| domestic" use; a fabric in this category would suit a | | | | your favourite sofa or armchair re-upholstered. |
| sofa, for example.o Fabrics in category "B" (rub test | | | | "Re-upholstering furniture is a great way to update |
| 11,000 to 20,000) are suitable for "general domestic" | | | | cherished pieces," says Fiona Oommen, general |
| use, for example, for curtains.o Category "C" (rub test | | | | manger of furnishing services at John Lewis. "And if |
| 4,000 to 10,000) suggests that fabrics are suitable for | | | | you choose a new design, maybe something very |
| "light domestic" use - this covers items such as | | | | different to the original fabric, you can give a new look |
| cushions. | | | | to a whole room." |
| These ratings may be shown on pattern books but, if | | | | The upholstery service at John Lewis gives customers |
| they're not, you'll need to check their suitability for your | | | | the choice of having furniture upholstered in fabric from |
| project with the manufacturer. | | | | selected John Lewis own-brand ranges, as well as |
| Also, be aware that upholstery labels must give the | | | | those from Designers Guild, Osborne & Little, |
| fibre content of the fabric, and should indicate that the | | | | Parkertex and others. The service can include repair |
| item has met fire safety standards BS 5852 | | | | and maintenance to traditional upholstery, (individual |
| Cleaning guidelines | | | | springs, webbing and so on), re-padding or re-stuffing |
| Curtains and blinds | | | | the seat/back/arms, and polishing. |
| Blinds and curtains, including linings, should be vacuumed | | | | Fabric care |
| occasionally to prevent a build-up of dust. To do this, | | | | Reading the labels |
| use an upholstery attachment and, when cleaning | | | | So that it can be recognised internationally, a simple |
| delicate fabrics, stretch muslin over the nozzle. Curtains | | | | code of symbols gives information on textile care. |
| and blinds should be professionally cleaned every three | | | | There are five basic symbols indicating whether a |
| to five years but, if you live on a busy road, the | | | | fabric can be washed, bleached, ironed, dry-cleaned or |
| Cadogan Company recommends that this is done | | | | tumble-dried. If a treatment is not permitted then the |
| every two to three years, as the sulphur from car | | | | symbol will be crossed out. A bar below a symbol |
| emissions can be particularly damaging if left to | | | | means a milder wash cycle or treatment should be |
| accumulate. A professional cleaning company will | | | | used. A broken line indicates treatment should be mild |
| either clean the curtains on site, or take them away to | | | | and at 40ºC. |
| be cleaned. Some companies will also re-hang your | | | | The suggested washing temperature is given in the |
| curtains once they have been cleaned. | | | | centre of the washing symbol, and will range from 40 |
| Upholstered furniture | | | | to 95ºC. A hand in the wash symbol means |
| Nikki Dunstan at Wesley-Barrell recommends cleaning | | | | fabrics must be hand-washed. A triangle with the |
| furniture at least once a week with a soft brush or on | | | | letters 'CI' shows that chlorine-based bleaching is |
| a low vacuum setting. However, when cleaning feather | | | | allowed, but only a cold and diluted solution. Dots on the |
| or down cushions, you should never use a vacuum | | | | side of an iron give the maximum temperature to be |
| cleaner as it will damage the fillings. Do not use soap | | | | used: three dots for 200ºC; two dots for |
| or detergents on fixed covers as they can cause | | | | 150ºC; and one dot for 110ºC. Similarly, dots |
| colours to bleed, and if the padding beneath the fabric | | | | in the centre of a tumble-dry symbol tell you whether |
| becomes damp, staining and interior damage can | | | | to use a regular cycle (two dots), or a lower |
| occur. For an extra-thorough clean, you'll need the | | | | temperature (one dot). |
| services of a specialist upholstery-cleaning company. | | | | General fabric careo Vacuum carpets, upholstery, |
| Loose covers | | | | curtains and blinds regularly.o Turn cushions to ensure |
| With the exception of covers that are labelled as | | | | even wear.o Strong natural sunlight will cause fabrics |
| washable, Wesley-Barrell suggests loose covers | | | | to fade and, in some cases, to deteriorate. Re-arrange |
| should be dry-cleaned. One-hundred per cent cotton or | | | | furniture to prevent fading of one particular area, or |
| linen union covers can be hand-washed using soap | | | | screen out sunlight when the room is not in use.o Add |
| flakes and lukewarm water. The trick is not to rub the | | | | lining to silk curtains as they are particularly vulnerable |
| fabric, but to squeeze gently, and make sure the cover | | | | to light damage.o Ensure that the dye from clothes |
| is rinsed extremely well. Do not tumble dry; dry flat and | | | | does not rub off on to light-coloured upholstery - it can |
| avoid drying in direct sunshine. Iron covers lengthways, | | | | be impossible to remove.o It's best not to let pets sit on |
| on a very low heat, while they are still damp. | | | | the furniture as their body oil can stain fabrics |
| Fabric wall coverings | | | | irreversibly.o Take care when cleaning chintz furniture, |
| Look after fabric wall coverings by carefully | | | | as the polished surface can be damaged. It may be |
| vacuuming at least twice a year using an upholstery | | | | advisable to use a professional cleaning company |
| attachment covered with muslin. Particular care should | | | | instead. |
| be taken with areas where dust tends to build up, such | | | | Upholstery fabric careo If dry cleaning a set with loose |
| as the corners. Fabric wall coverings should be | | | | covers, always clean the whole set as otherwise any |
| professionally dry-cleaned on site about every five | | | | colour changes will be uneven.o Ideally, cushions should |
| years. | | | | be plumped every day. If this is done, along with regular |
| Care of specialist furniture | | | | turning of fabric-covered cushions, wear will be |
| Some items of furniture need more attention than | | | | reduced and they will remain in good shape.o Avoid |
| others. The following tips will help to keep them in good | | | | sitting on the arms of sofas or chairs.o Don't place |
| condition. | | | | furniture too near a heat source, or in direct sunlight, as |
| Leather upholsteryo Sunlight and heat will dry out | | | | this fades colours and accelerates wear of both fabric |
| leather and make it less pliable, so, try to place it away | | | | and leather.o Do not pull or cut any loose threads. Use |
| from possible sources of damage.o Scratches can be | | | | a needle or pin to gently push the thread back through |
| made less visible by rubbing over them with a wet | | | | to the underside of the fabric. |