Cleaning Your Furntiure
When it comes to buying furniture, choosing high quality upholstery is key. Investing in a durable, cleanable fabric will save you a lot of stress when stains and spills inevitably occur. Before selecting a fabric for your piece of furniture always check the supplier’s cleaning code, which tells you the best way to clean that specific fabric, and can help you determine which fabrics are best suited to your lifestyle and the intended use of the product.
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Below are the most commonly used cleaning codes and how they should be followed in order to maintain the appearance and cleanliness of your Statum Designs furniture.
W
S
WS
X
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If a fabric is labeled “W” you are in luck as this is the easiest type of fabric to clean. It is safe to use liquid on this fabric and it can be cleaned with water and a mild soap or upholstery cleaner. This is the most durable fabric you can buy and is ideal for high-traffic areas such as dining rooms and living rooms, which see frequent use and a high volume of spills.
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An “S” label indicates that the fabric must be treated with cleaning solvents (dry clean highly suggested) and will not react well to water. Never apply water to this fabric! Spot cleaning is only advised if the fabric is meant for home dry cleaning use. Always blow dry the spot after cleaning to prevent a ring being left behind. It is important to prevent this fabric from getting dirty, even if you plan on having it professionally cleaned. Stains, spills and dirt in general should be cleaned as soon as possible to retain the longevity of the colours and quality of the fabric.
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This means a combination of water and dry cleaning solvents can be used. This code is seen less often and it may be a good idea to hire a professional to clean it just to be safe. If you would prefer to clean it yourself be sure to treat spills as soon as possible before they have time to set and use a very mild cleaner with a small amount of liquid; never saturate with water. It is best to use this kind of fabric in low-traffic areas or on pieces that are used less frequently.
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This code means that a fabric is not cleanable and should be vacuumed only. Vacuuming and light brushing can be done to remove dirt and dust, however no water or solvent-based cleaners of any kind may be used as they can cause shrinking, staining or distortion of the fabric. Contact a furniture restorer to determine the best method for caring for this kind of fabric.
Be careful to clean with caution and always test a small area of the piece that is not visible before applying to a larger area (i.e. the back or under the cushion on the seat deck). If you are not confident that you are capable of cleaning your piece we recommend you leave it to the professionals. Research and hire a reputable company that specializes in upholstery cleaning and can take the pressure off you.