The tenets of caring for soft furnishings

The right sofa will last a long time, and with quality fabric and the right care it will continue to look as if it’s brand new for years to come. Regular cleaning will help to maintain the appearance of materials and also make them more durable.

It’s recommended to vacuum fabrics once a week on a low setting using the special nozzle provided. This will stop the fabric from bunching up, as it removes stray fibres.

Here are some handy hints to bear in mind when caring for your soft furnishings:

Fabrics with synthetic components

Fabrics with synthetic components can be cleaned with a dry or damp cloth. Anything that needs removing, whether liquid or solid, should be dealt with as quickly as possible. First, remove any physical dirt, food, etc. using a spoon, vacuum cleaner or absorbent cloth. Next, continue cleaning with a damp cloth using a gentle circular motion, moving from the outer edge of the stain inwards so as not to spread the stain further. In the case of fatty stains, you’ll also need to use a suitable stain-remover, but make sure you test it first on a section of the furniture that otherwise won’t be seen. With more difficult stains, we recommend consulting a professional.

Cotton fabrics with natural components

Fabrics with natural components don’t retain their colours as effectively as fabrics with synthetic components. As such, light patches may develop when removing stains. In such cases we recommend cleaning the entire part (e.g. seat cushion) and scrubbing the stained section as little as possible.

Velvet fabrics

To remove dust from velvet fabrics, use a velvet cleaning brush or a vacuum cleaner that has a nozzle with a velvet strip. You can also use a slightly damp cloth on velvet, but make sure that every movement is in the direction of the weave.

It’s characteristic of velvet that the pressure exerted on it through use will flatten the fibres over time, which can then cause the velvet to take on a dappled appearance as positions and directions of movement are changed. This isn’t a defect, but simply what velvet does. To remove blotches, place a slightly damp (but not wet) cloth on the affected area overnight and brush it in the direction of the weave while the fabric is still damp. Water sprays can also be used: spray the water from a distance of around 20 cm and then brush the velvet in the direction of the weave while it’s still damp. Don’t allow large drops of water to come into contact with the fabric, as they may stain it. After cleaning, avoid using the furniture until it’s completely dried. To speed up this process, you can use a hairdryer on a low heat.

Leather

With the right care, natural leather is a hard-wearing and hygienic cover material. Depending on the type of leather chosen (aniline, nubuck or pigmented), leather furniture should be fully cleaned two to four times a year using an appropriate cleaning product. After cleaning, rub a special protecting cream into the leather to restore its moisture balance and to protect it against dirt and stains. Remove dust from leather furniture weekly using a slightly damp cloth.

Imitation leather:

• Imitation leather with PVC components

Imitation leather with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) components should be regularly cleaned using a microfibre cloth dampened with cold water, then dried with a moisture-absorbing cloth. Dry all liquids that are spilled on the material as quickly as possible using an absorbent cloth to avoid stains forming. In particularly severe cases, use a gentle cleaning product designed for imitation leather. Note that blue jeans and both ball-point and felt-tip pens can permanently stain PVC material. This type of leather should never be steam-cleaned, drenched in water or dry-cleaned.

• Imitation leather with PU components

In the case of imitation leather with polyurethane (PU) components, it’s very important that you remove stains as quickly as possible to avoid them being absorbed into the material. With stains that are difficult to remove, such as those caused by pens and markers, use a damp cloth and denatured alcohol or white vinegar, or cotton pads and make-up remover. For simpler stains – from tomato sauce, chocolate, coffee, soft drinks and the like – we recommend using soap with a neutral pH. Don’t scrub the stain too vigorously, as this may damage the leather.

When cleaning imitation leather, avoid chlorine- and alcohol-based solutions, aerosols, window-cleaning products, shoe polish, waxes, wet wipes, make-up removal wipes and other chemical products.

Looking for the most convenient solution?

Keeping fabric clean is never easier than when the cover material of a bed or sofa can be completely removed. That way you can take it off if you need to and, depending on the fabric, either wash it in a washing machine or have it dry-cleaned. If a machine-wash is allowed for the type of fabric in question, always opt for a gentle wash in a half-empty machine. If the washing machine is too full, the wash won’t necessarily have the desired effect, and it could also adversely impact the machine itself. For this reason, we recommend having sofa covers washed in an industrial washing machine at a laundromat. Covers should always be allowed to drip dry – never use a dryer. Return the covers to the furniture whilst slightly damp so that they dry in the right shape. Avoid sitting on the furniture until the fabric is completely dry.

Choose fabrics that are easy to clean, such as those that make use of AquaClean stain-proof technology. That way you’ll only need a cloth and some water to remove everyday stains, even if the stain formed some time before.

Note: Before undertaking any major cleaning, read the care instructions for the fabric again.