Choosing upholstery fabrics for upholstered furniture

Usually, the salon offers several types of fabrics in several price categories. The more expensive the material, the higher its quality and durability, respectively. The same model, dressed in different fabrics, will cost differently.

• Leather is one of the most expensive materials. However, there are also so-called “super-fabrics” which, not only in their properties, but also in price, are close to natural leather.
• Not every fabric can be suitable for a particular model of your choice. There are technological limitations. Therefore, it is important to contact specialized salons with qualified sellers in order not to make the wrong choice.
• It is necessary to learn about the properties of the materials offered, how to care for them and how long their service life is. After all, furniture fabrics differ from ordinary fabrics not only in thickness, but also in manufacturing technology, properties. Unlike curtains, upholstery can not always be easily removed from the sofa and sent to clean and wash.
• All fabrics used in the furniture industry can be roughly divided into two main types: woven and non-woven. Both are popular and are present in the assortment of all furniture salons.

Jacquard

The name itself breathes with the past. Indeed, this material is still produced on a loom from cotton, synthetic or blended yarns. The thicker the thread, the denser the fabric. The quality of the fabric directly depends on the properties of the threads. This applies to strength, dye retention and other properties.

The right and wrong sides of the fabric are usually of different colors. Lovers of old tapestries will see noble classics in jacquard, while fans of modernism will note the unusual texture.

One of the varieties of jacquard is scotchguard, a simple jacquard, in the production of which a special oil-, dust- and water-repellent impregnation is used. The use of impregnation makes the fabric more durable and resistant to various stains. Scotchguard is a sheath that forms a transparent layer around each fiber, protecting it from mechanical and other influences.

Tapestry is essentially the same jacquard, only in its production more threads are used, up to 100, in jacquard – up to 10. In addition, tapestry is a double-sided fabric, so both sides of the tapestry can be used for upholstery.

Velor or velvet

Velor refers to pile fabrics. Classic woven velor has nothing to do with clothing velveteen. And sometimes in the catalogs of domestic factories, it is denoted by the word velvet.

The density of corduroy depends on how it is made. If a fluffy thread is intertwined with one thread of the warp, the fabric is loose. For high density, two warp threads are required.

Shenill

A fabric with a complex weave pattern. Today chenille is the main competitor of velor. After all, the process of making velor is more complicated and expensive, therefore its price is much higher. A significant advantage of chenille is that it can be produced in a wider range of colors. Chenille thread can also be used in combination with jacquard and tapestry, giving the fabric a noble and original look.

Good chenille is abrasion resistant. Modern chenille thanks to new technologies have become hypoallergenic, “breathe”, do not become electrified, and the combination of artificial fibers with natural ones gives them strength, durability and a feeling of comfort.

Microfiber (faux suede)

This furniture fabric is practically indistinguishable from natural suede, although it is made from polyamide fiber. Compared to suede, microfiber has a number of advantages: a high abrasion threshold, color fastness, unpretentious care, a large selection of shades. Plastic and soft fabric makes it possible to make beautiful and practical furniture covers. The velvety surface and rich texture of the fabric give the interior a luxurious and cozy look.

Flock

This fabric is a kind of non-woven textile. The art of gluing finely chopped pile onto a dense textile base using a thin layer of resin was born in China in the XNUMXst century BC.

Today, when creating a flock, fine nylon pile is used, which is fixed on the base with an adhesive. The density and uniformity of the pile determines the quality of the flock.

Modern flock fabrics are durable, environmentally friendly, withstand not only animal claws, but also thermal tests. Thanks to a special coating, the fabric is not susceptible to wetting and dirt.

Teflon flock

New generation microfiber fabric made using Du Pont technology. A special Teflon coating gives it a unique waterproof and dirt-repellent properties (even ballpoint pen marks can be easily wiped off with alcohol). This fabric has antiseptic and anti-allergenic qualities, which is very important in the hostile environment of large cities. In addition, Teflon flock can be either smooth or fleecy, made in rich colors.

Care Tips

None of us is immune from accidental contamination of furniture: spilled hot coffee and other troubles. Don’t be discouraged, you don’t have to throw out the drenched sofa and run for a new one. You just have to clean it properly and it will be as good as new. To extend the life and preserve the novelty of upholstered furniture, you need to follow a few basic rules of regular maintenance.

• First of all, you need to regularly vacuum the furniture to remove dust.
• Periodically, as it gets dirty (but at least once a month), it is necessary to wet clean the upholstered furniture from dust. And if it is enough to simply wipe leather furniture with a damp cloth, then in the case of fabric upholstery, everything is a little more complicated. Furniture upholstered with fabric should not be wetted too much and at the same time be knocked out just like that (a cloud of dust will rise, which will settle anyway). Cover the furniture with a damp sheet before knocking out, and if you moisten the sheet with a light vinegar solution, the colors on the upholstery will become brighter.
• When cleaning (including leather upholstered furniture), special attention should be paid to the seams, it is in these places that the most dust usually collects.
• Spilled liquids should be cleaned up immediately from the surface of the material to prevent them from spreading and penetrating the backing of the fabric or lint.
• To remove stains from furniture upholstered in chenille and velor, make a mild solution of soapy water and prepare a soft brush. Gently moisten the contaminated area with the prepared solution using a brush. Do not pour soapy water over the stain, just wet the brush and gently clean the desired area. After that, the wet spot should be dried and combed with a soft brush in order to restore the crumpled pile and give the furniture its original appearance.
• Tea and coffee stains are best removed with a solution of vinegar and detergent. However, this method is not suitable for stubborn stains. Do not try to scrape them off a soft surface, as this can damage the original shine and hairiness of the material. Such stains should first be soaked and then removed with a soft sponge or brush.
• It is best to “remove” beer stains with the same soapy solution, however, for subsequent treatment and odor removal, the surface of the stain should be treated with a weak vinegar solution – approximately 2-3 tablespoons of white vinegar per liter of water.
• Stains on the leather surface should be removed with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use alcohol, acetone or soap – these substances are not suitable for the leather upholstery of an armchair or sofa.