Your sofa is a vital part to your family dynamic. A sofa gives you that sigh of relief after a long day of work, a safe space to have that intimate conversation with a loved one and even shelter during that ridiculous horror film that triggers your fear of clowns all over again. With great responsibility, comes great wear and tear… (hmm, is that not how the quote goes? Well you get where we're coming from) We love our sofas for all that they can do for us and so inevitably when our dog Lola jumps on the sofa after a stroll in muddy puddles, or Janice accidentally spills that vintage cabernet sauvignon (again) we can’t help but cringe a little. We know the feeling is universal so to help aid the anxiety that comes in those small “Oops!” moments we have put together some advice on how to care for your beloved sofa.
ALWAYS CHECK THE LABEL. There are different types of recommendations for fabric care. After completely removing all pet hairs and dirt particles from the nooks and crannies of your sofa (using a vacuum) the next step would be to check for the recommended cleaning method on the label. These instructions appear on the manufacturer’s tag, which uses a label of either a “W,” “S,” “WS,” or an “X.”
If the label is an “X” label, then you’ve already done all you can. The X label means your sofa needs to be professionally cared for. The “W” label means a water-based cleaner is required, while an “S” label means that the use of a solvent-based cleaner or a dry cleaning agent is a must. And finally the “WS” tag means you can use either of these two solutions to clean upholstery.
Here’s a further breakdown of each:
Water-Based Cleaner- Spot clean, using the foam only from a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply foam with a soft brush in a circular motion. Use sparingly. Avoid over wetting. Vacuum when dry.
Solvent Cleaner- Spot clean, using mild water-free or dry cleaning product. Clean only in a well-ventilated room and avoid any product containing carbon tetrachloride or other toxic materials.
Water / Solvent Cleaner- Spot clean with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or the foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or a dry cleaning product, follow the instructions carefully and clean only in a well-ventilated room. Avoid any product that contains carbon tetrachloride or other toxic materials. With either method, pretest a small area before proceeding.
Vacuum Only- Clean this fabric by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust and grime. Water-based foam cleaners or solvent-based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, staining or distortion of the surface pile and therefore, should not be used.
Edgewood Furniture stands in the belief that innovation is key to the future. We are happy to say we carry the LANZII performance collection which makes upkeep super easy! With the latest LANZII technology, a protective coat is engineered into each individual yarn fibre during the yarn spinning process- as such, even stains that are deeply burrowed into the fibre can be easily removed by water. Here’s a video about LANZII latest technology and how it stands against tough messes.
You can be at total ease that Edgewood Furniture has your back with a great fabric line that makes a fast clean up! We can vouch for it, we're even still friends with Janice after her slip up and we're ready for whatever else comes our way!