How Upholstery Can Transform Your Home
Adding upholstery items to your home can be a great option if you're looking to add some freshness to your home decor. By changing the soft components of your furniture, such as the cushions, seats, and covers, you can give your space a new look and feel.
What is Upholstery?
Upholstery refers to the softer, padded parts of your furniture, such as cushions and seats, as well as the components needed to support them, like springs and webbing. It's an important element of many pieces of furniture, including sofas, chairs, and mattresses. While you can use a carpet cleaner on your upholstery, it's important to be careful and follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid damaging the fabric.
Choosing the Right Upholstery Fabric
When selecting upholstery fabric, you'll have a range of materials, designs, and colors to choose from. Consider the overall color scheme of your room and your existing furniture when making your choice. You can opt for a bold, statement-making fabric or a more subtle, neutral option.
The Affordable Way to Update Your Home Decor
One of the benefits of upholstery is that it's an affordable way to update your home decor. In addition, upholstery fabrics and furniture are often more budget-friendly than other home decor items, making them accessible to everyone. So if you're looking for an easy and cost-effective way to give your space a fresh look, upholstery may be the way to go.
The Importance of Durable Upholstery Fabric
When it comes to upholstery, durability is a top priority. After all, you want your furniture to last as long as possible, especially considering the cost of reupholstering.
Fortunately, many fabric producers make their textiles as durable as possible by using new milling techniques and synthetic fibers. But how can you determine just how durable a particular upholstery fabric is? The answer lies in something called rubs.
Abrasion resistance is key in upholstery, as people constantly rub against the fabric. To measure this, a rub durability rating is assigned based on a "double rub count," simulating someone sliding onto and off a couch. This action equals two rubs, one as the person sits down and another as they stand up.
When shopping for upholstery fabric, you'll find a rub rating on the tag and other important information, such as the material, country of origin, cleaning instructions, and more. If you're concerned about disinfecting your upholstery, consider hiring a professional service like PureGreen Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning in Mount Pleasant. And if you're wondering whether you can use a carpet cleaner on your upholstery, follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid damaging the fabric.
Understanding Rub Ratings for Upholstery Fabric
When shopping for upholstery fabric, you may come across "rub ratings" that indicate the material's durability. But what do these ratings mean, and how can you use them to make informed decisions about your furniture?
Essentially, rub ratings are based on lab testing that simulates everyday use. They are expressed as a "double rub" rating, which refers to two rubs – one as someone sits down on the furniture and another as they stand up.
To understand the significance of different rub ratings, it's helpful to have a guide that connects lab durability testing to real-world use. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:
- 15,000 double rubs or less: This rating is considered low-use and is suitable for accent chairs or other furniture that won't see much wear and tear.
- 15,000 to 30,000 double rubs: This rating is considered moderate-use and is suitable for furniture that will be used regularly, such as a couch in a living room.
- 30,000 to 50,000 double rubs: This rating is considered high-use and is suitable for furniture that will be subjected to heavy wear and tear, such as dining room chairs or a couch in a high-traffic area.
- 50,000 double rubs or more: This rating is considered very high-use and is suitable for commercial or institutional settings, such as a hotel lobby or hospital waiting room.
When shopping for upholstery fabric, be sure to check the rub rating to ensure you're getting a material that is suitable for your needs. This will help you make an informed decision about the durability of your furniture and ensure it lasts for years to come.
Upholstery Fabric Durability: What You Need to Know
When choosing upholstery fabric for your furniture, durability is an important factor to consider. After all, you want your furniture to last for years, and the fabric plays a significant role in its longevity.
Strong and Durable Upholstery Fabric Options
When choosing a durable upholstery fabric, a few options exist. A blend of cotton and polyester is a good choice for everyday wear, as it can withstand up to 15,000 rubs. You might consider a commercial blend of polyester and synthetic fibers for even more durability. Chenille is also a good choice, as it is similar to velvet and offers both comfort and abrasion resistance.
Avoiding Overly Durable Fabric
While choosing a durable fabric is important, you don't want to go too heavy-duty. Fabrics that are too heavy and have high abrasion ratings are generally not as comfortable, and they can be quite expensive. These fabrics are best reserved for commercial settings, rather than home use. Stick with normal fabrics with ratings of around 15,000 rubs for your living room furniture.
Professional Upholstery Cleaning Services
If you want to keep your upholstered furniture looking its best, consider hiring a professional upholstery cleaning service. Companies like PureGreen Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning and Upholstery Cleaning Mount Pleasant offer services to help remove stains and refresh your furniture. Just be sure to check if your upholstery fabric can handle a carpet cleaner before proceeding with this type of treatment. Disinfecting your upholstery is also a good idea, especially during cold and flu season or in homes with young children or pets.
Upholstery Cleaning: Protecting Your Investment
Upholstery is a significant investment in your home and it's essential to take care of it to keep it looking its best. One way to ensure the longevity of your upholstery is through regular cleaning. Hiring a professional upholstery cleaning company like PristineGreen Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning can help you get the job done right. However, suppose you prefer to tackle the cleaning yourself. In that case, it's important to remember that not all cleaning methods suit every type of upholstery.
For example, using a carpet cleaner on upholstery may cause damage, so it's essential to use the right cleaner and method for your specific upholstery. Additionally, with the current focus on disinfecting, it's crucial to use a cleaner that effectively kills germs and bacteria on your upholstery. To learn more about how you clean your upholstery, see our article on the difference between Hot Water Extraction, Steam Cleaning, and Rug Shampoo.
