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Caring for Your Upholstered Furniture Big-ticket items demand special attention The upholstered furniture in your house, from sofas and chairs to the mattresses on your beds, are usually big-ticket household investments. For this reason, it pays to understand the basics of
furniture fabrics and construction before you buy and to take good care of your furniture once you take it home. Choosing Upholstered Furniture Upholstered furniture is composed of three elements: frame, support system and fabric cover. Furniture prices generally vary depending on the quality of these elements. Here are the options. Frame Furniture frames (also called the "carcass" or "bones") for top-of-the-line
pieces are made of hardwoods, slowly dried in a kiln to prevent warping. Cheaper frames are made of softer wood and may be assembled in a less-than-durable construction. Support System Springs, webbing and padding are the invisible but critical elements of upholstered furniture. Furniture index
Traditionally, expensive furniture has been constructed with hourglass-shaped, individually-tied coil springs. Many manufacturers now use "zigzag" or sinuous-wire springs or rubberized webbing strips—less expensive but strong alternatives. The soft innards of upholstered furniture come form stuffing placed over the springs and padding under the outside fabric. Separate cushions on high end pieces use either down feathers or a
feathers "plus" combination, though foam, covered with a layer of fiberfill, is the most common cushion stuffing. Fabric Upholstery fabrics are tough as well as good-looking. Blends of natural and manufactured fibers, treated to block stains, make upholstery long-wearing and easy to clean. Here are some fibers and their common characteristics. * Cotton is a versatile fiber, used
for prints and wovens, and is comfortable to use in all climates. Is, as well as any untreated natural fiber, is less stain-resistant than synthetic Furniture index
fibers. * Linen, a high-end fiber, is prized for its crispness, strength and durability. * Wool is strong, durable, soft to the touch and naturally resists water.
* Rayon is a smooth, soft, lustrous and comfortable manufacturered fiber. It wrinkles easily when used alone. Blended with other fibers, it adds silk-like luster to the finished fabric. * Nylon is strong and abrasion-, rot-, and midew-resistant. It has a low absorption for water and other liquids. * Acrylic, a manufactured fiber, can offer many of the qualities of wool, a natural fiber. It Furniture index
is often used in plush or fleecy fabrics. Acrylic resists fading but is
prone to pilling, the creation of small balls of fiber on the fabric's surface. * Olefin is a strong, soil-resistant manufactured fiber that is used alone or blended with other fibers. * Polyester is a strong, resilient and abrasion-resistant fiber that adds luster when blended with other fibers. * Furniture index
Silk is a strong, resilient, luxury fiber with a natural luster. Fiber
size varies from fine to heavy, as in raw silk. Protecting Fabrics Most fabrics designed for upholstery come from the manufacturer with a stain- and soil-repellent finish. When it is missing, the store should be able to add the treatment with a warranty when you buy a piece of upholstered furniture,
or you can buy a spray-on form at a hardware store and apply it yourself. Fabric protection gives you time to pick up or blot away spills before they soak in. It cannot totally prevent damage to the fabric. If you are considering buying a warrantied fabric-protection treatment, read your fiber and fabric information carefully. If a fabric was treated at the mill, a second
treatment is unnecessary.
Caring for Your Upholstered Furniture Big-ticket items demand special attention The upholstered furniture in your house, from sofas and chairs to the mattresses on your beds, are usually big-ticket household investments. For this reason, it pays to understand the basics of
furniture fabrics and construction before you buy and to take good care of your furniture once you take it home. Choosing Upholstered Furniture Upholstered furniture is composed of three elements: frame, support system and fabric cover. Furniture prices generally vary depending on the quality of these elements. Here are the options. Frame Furniture frames (also called the "carcass" or "bones") for top-of-the-line
pieces are made of hardwoods, slowly dried in a kiln to prevent warping. Cheaper frames are made of softer wood and may be assembled in a less-than-durable construction. Support System Springs, webbing and padding are the invisible but critical elements of upholstered furniture. Furniture index
Traditionally, expensive furniture has been constructed with hourglass-shaped, individually-tied coil springs. Many manufacturers now use "zigzag" or sinuous-wire springs or rubberized webbing strips—less expensive but strong alternatives. The soft innards of upholstered furniture come form stuffing placed over the springs and padding under the outside fabric. Separate cushions on high end pieces use either down feathers or a
feathers "plus" combination, though foam, covered with a layer of fiberfill, is the most common cushion stuffing. Fabric Upholstery fabrics are tough as well as good-looking. Blends of natural and manufactured fibers, treated to block stains, make upholstery long-wearing and easy to clean. Here are some fibers and their common characteristics. * Cotton is a versatile fiber, used
for prints and wovens, and is comfortable to use in all climates. Is, as well as any untreated natural fiber, is less stain-resistant than synthetic Furniture index
fibers. * Linen, a high-end fiber, is prized for its crispness, strength and durability. * Wool is strong, durable, soft to the touch and naturally resists water.
* Rayon is a smooth, soft, lustrous and comfortable manufacturered fiber. It wrinkles easily when used alone. Blended with other fibers, it adds silk-like luster to the finished fabric. * Nylon is strong and abrasion-, rot-, and midew-resistant. It has a low absorption for water and other liquids. * Acrylic, a manufactured fiber, can offer many of the qualities of wool, a natural fiber. It Furniture index
is often used in plush or fleecy fabrics. Acrylic resists fading but is
prone to pilling, the creation of small balls of fiber on the fabric's surface. * Olefin is a strong, soil-resistant manufactured fiber that is used alone or blended with other fibers. * Polyester is a strong, resilient and abrasion-resistant fiber that adds luster when blended with other fibers. * Furniture index
Silk is a strong, resilient, luxury fiber with a natural luster. Fiber
size varies from fine to heavy, as in raw silk. Protecting Fabrics Most fabrics designed for upholstery come from the manufacturer with a stain- and soil-repellent finish. When it is missing, the store should be able to add the treatment with a warranty when you buy a piece of upholstered furniture,
or you can buy a spray-on form at a hardware store and apply it yourself. Fabric protection gives you time to pick up or blot away spills before they soak in. It cannot totally prevent damage to the fabric. If you are considering buying a warrantied fabric-protection treatment, read your fiber and fabric information carefully. If a fabric was treated at the mill, a second
treatment is unnecessary.
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