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This Home Theater Seating Fabrics & Leathers article
will explain what Wearability & Cleanability codes
are and how to keep your furniture looking good.
Getting to Know your Fabric Wearability Codes.
Fabric
Wearability Code is the standard developed by the
government to provide a guideline to tell if a
fabric is strong enough for your needs. Fabric
strength is determined by how it rates on the double
rub test, which is a back and forth motion
approximating the wear and tear it can get from
someone sitting down or getting up from an
upholstered seat with 3,000 double rubs equals one
year's worth of use.
HD or
Heavy Duty - If a fabric holds up to more than15,000
double rubs it is classified as heavy duty. It will
be stiffer and thicker than most fabrics, but there
are some incredible new blends in this rating that
seem to belie it because they are supple and soft
enough. This would be a good choice for family room
furniture.
MD or
Medium Duty - Medium duty fabric can withstand 9,000
to15,000 double rubs. The closer the fabrics get to
15,000 the stiffer they are. Medium duty fabrics are
versatile and can be used for many purposes, and in
family rooms as well as living rooms.
LD or
Light Duty - A fabric that can take anywhere between
3,000 to 9,000 double rubs, is classified as light
duty fabric. These fabrics can withstand one to
three years of regular use and are generally very
delicate. They are suitable for pieces that get only
occasional use, such as sofas that only get used
when guests arrive, or an occasional chair that is
used more for its looks than any function.
DD or
Delicate Duty - Delicate duty fabrics with 3,000
double should only be used on furniture that is
purely decorative, or in pillows.
Getting to Know your Fabric Cleanability Codes.
Knowing the
cleanability code for your fabric helps you take
good care of your upholstered furniture. The
easiest way to determine the correct method for
cleaning your upholstery fabric is to refer to
its fabric cleanability code.
Cleaning with the wrong products can damage your
beautiful sofa. Fortunately, most furniture
fabrics now carry cleanability codes to help you
determine the best and safest way to clean a
particular fabric.
When you need to
use a cleaning product, check for the
cleanability code for your fabric. Here is what
each letter stands for:
Code “W” - Code “W” is used on fabrics that
should be cleaned with water based cleaning
agents. Spot clean using foam from only water
based cleaners, or non-solvent cleaning
products. Apply foam with a soft brush in a
circular motion, and vacuum when dry.
Code “S” - On fabrics with an “S” code, use a
mild water-free cleaning solvent or dry cleaning
product. Make sure the room is well ventilated
and there are no open flames, such as from a
candle or cigarette lighter.
Code “W-S” - Code “W-S” fabrics can be cleaned
with either water or solvent based products. Use
a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or the
foam from a mild detergent.
Code “X” - Clean this fabric by vacuuming or
gently brushing only. NEVER use any cleaning
agents at all. Any cleaning product whether
water or solvent based may cause staining,
shrinkage or distortion of the fabric surface
pile.
Keeping
Your Leather-based Home Theater Seating Clean.
You need to use a good quality water based foam
leather cleaner. (LTT Leather Shampoo) With light
colored leather dye transfer from clothing can be a
problem although using a good quality leather
protector (LTT Leather Protect) will help inhibit
this. Black obviously does not show this problem.
DO NOT use anything containing oils, waxes or
silicones. (Most 'conditioners' contain waxes or
oils) and furniture polish (pledge) contains
silicones which will eventually destroy the finish
on the leather. Most car cleaners also contain oils
or waxes so should not be used as they leave
residues on the surface of the leather which attract
more dirt which eventually leads to cracking.
BABY WIPES are the worst thing you can use as they
will destroy the finish on your leather. They are
very strong alkaline cleaners to neutralize urine
(acid) on babies skin so they are not the right
thing to use on leather.
Saddle soap is too harsh to use on today's leathers.
A lot of leather wipes contain chemicals which will
also destroy the finish or leave residues on the
leather which will damage it. They are not cheap in
the long run as you would need a lot to clean. A
bottle of foam cleaner should do your car about 3-4
times.
Fairy liquid contains more salt these days to get
dishes clean and this will break the finish down on
your leather. This has been verified by the
manufacturers (as with the baby wipes).
You should also follow cleaning with a good water
based leather protector which will act like a 'scotchgard'
and inhibit dirt and stains from being absorbed and
make cleaning easier the next time.
Dry leather needs rehydrating with water and oils
and waxes should not be used as the natural oils do
not dry out of leather. Wiping over with a damp
cloth regularly will help to do this.
It is important to maintain a regular cleaning
regime cleaning dirt off the surface regularly and
inhibiting the absorption of body oils into the
leather with a protector is the best way of doing
this. The only 'moisturizer' a leather needs is from
water.
The alternative is a brand new product on the market
called Lazy Leather. This is the latest technology
in cleaning and combines an effective cleaner with a
protector. It is quick and easy to use and should be
used as a maintenance product once your suite has
been cleaned or from new if you have just bought it.
Using incorrect care products is usually the cause
of deterioration in the leather as unfortunately
most car care products contain waxes and oils or
silicones which do not do the leather any good.
Keeping
Your Fabric-based Home Theater Seating Clean.
When you know how to clean and care for your
upholstered furniture it will retain the look
that made you fall in love with it in the first
place. With proper cleaning, care, and
maintenance, it is possible to have all your
upholstery looking its best for a long time. It
pays to be consistent, and it’s not hard to do.
Choose the Right Fabric - When you choose the
right fabric for the right place you make your
upholstery maintenance task easier. Always make
sure that you choose fabric that is appropriate
for your lifestyle and the upholstered furniture
piece. For example, synthetic fibers are a
better choice for upholstered furniture that
sits in areas of heavy usage.
Protect Fabric - The best form of fabric
protection is prompt attention to spills. A lot
of work is done for you when the upholstery
fabric undergoes the finishing process at the
factory. It is usually treated with soil and/or
water repellents and some form of mildew
inhibitors may also be used. Additional fabric
protectors may be applied to your upholstered
furniture in the store or at home. While this
helps with maintenance and care by keeping
spills from being absorbed into the upholstery
fibers right away, it is not a substitute for
prompt cleaning of a soiled piece. Don't let it
give you a false sense of security. Always clean
up any spills or stains in a timely manner, and
follow manufacturers’ instructions for proper
care methods.
Vacuum - Vacuum your upholstered furniture
weekly for general cleaning and to remove
surface soil. This also prevents dirt from
becoming embedded into the fibers. You can also
use a brush to gently whisk the dirt away. Make
sure to always use a soft bristled brush so that
you don't snag the fabric.
Spot Clean -
While regular
care does a lot for your upholstered furniture's
maintenance, accidents will happen. Blot any
spills immediately with a clean folded towel:
never rub, but blot gently. Sometimes this is
enough to get rid of the stain completely,
especially if the fabric has been pre-treated
with a fabric protector.
Always test in an inconspicuous area before you
use any product for spot cleaning, and check the
manufacturer's instructions to see if you need a
water based or solvent based cleaner. It is best
to use a mild cleaning product. Apply with a
soft brush in a circular motion to work into the
fibers, then vacuum when dry.
Avoid Sunlight and Pollutants - Too much sun can
damage your upholstery fabric, causing it to
fade and even fray. Try to position it so that
it doesn’t sit in the sun for extended periods
of time. This is especially true for silks.
Airborne pollutants such as fumes from cooking
or smoke can also harm your fabric. It isn’t
always easy to avoid that from happening,
however, proper ventilation can help. It can
also help with odor control, as upholstered
furniture can easily absorb odors.
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