Choosing the right upholstery for furniture is vital in any design project.
The material you buy will affect how much time you’ll spend cleaning. Additionally, you can save hundreds of pounds on maintenance and repair fees if you pick the best fabric.
Don’t worry. There’s no need to sacrifice aesthetics for durability. Today, we`ll help you choose upholstery fabric to care for your furniture easily!
Factors to Consider When Choosing Upholstery
Before you pick an upholstery, you should think about where and how you’ll use the furniture. Doing so can help you figure out which fabric to go for.
Here are some factors to consider for easier upholstery cleaning.
Lifestyle and Usage
First, you should determine which household members will have access to the furniture.
Will pets be entering the room? If so, you may choose a sturdy fabric that won’t tear from their claws.
For those with kids at home, a stain-resistant fabric would be easier to clean.
Location of the Furniture
Next, think about where you’ll place the furniture.
Some areas of the home get more foot traffic than others. You should prepare for the additional wear and tear in these places.
Upholstered kitchen or dining room furniture has a higher chance of getting spilt on. You should consider fabrics with better stain resistance in these areas.
Colour
The fabric colour is a deciding factor not only because of aesthetics. It can also affect the upholstery cleaning!
Some people prefer lighter colours because they can easily spot dirt for cleaning. Light-coloured upholstery can be advantageous since you can bleach it without causing discolouration.
Meanwhile, darker upholstery may mask scratches, stains, and debris. You don’t have to clean dark upholstery as much.
It’s up to you to decide which colour best suits your preferences.
Water Resistance
Finally, consider how easy the fabric is to wipe. Can you easily dab liquids off, or will you have to deep clean the fabric every time there’s an accident?
Absorbent fabrics are okay if you have a child-free home. However, for those with children, it’s best to buy water-proof upholstery.
Best Types of Upholstery for Easy Furniture Care
Here are four types of fabric for easy upholstery cleaning!
Microfiber
Microfiber is a thin polyester fabric that’s affordable and easy to clean. You can find microfibers with tight weaving, giving your furniture a luxurious appearance.
This type of upholstery contains nylon and rayon. In case you spill water-based liquids on microfiber, the material won’t soak it in immediately.
Microfiber is a great choice because most liquids will bead on the cloth, and you can blot spills away without issue.
Still, be aware that microfiber can absorb oil-based liquids like paint and grease from food. If you’ll reupholster dining chairs with microfiber, consider treating them with anti-stain.
Leather
Leather upholstery is another easy-to-clean choice.
People like leather because it’s more resistant to dust mites versus other fibrous materials. It’s durable, elegant, and resistant to stains.
To clean leather upholstery, all you have to do is wipe it down with a cloth. You may also use cleaning solutions for tougher spills.
That said, one downside to leather upholstery is its higher price.
Vinyl
Manufacturers make vinyl upholstery by combining synthetic resins and polyester. It’s the waterproof fabric you may find in outdoor furniture.
Vinyl is an excellent choice because it’s anti-bacterial, resistant to most stains, durable, and affordable.
You can disinfect vinyl upholstery with a bleach solution without fear of damaging the surface.
However, vinyl may be stiffer than other upholstery. This material is better for lining chairs and ottomans.
Polyester
Polyester is one of the easiest upholstery to maintain. Like vinyl, polyester is moisture and stain-resistant. It’s also durable and less prone to tears.
In most cases, you can wipe liquids off polyester upholstery with a cloth. If the liquid stains, you can do spot treatment without damaging the material.
To clean polyester furniture, simply wipe the affected area with a damp cloth, baking soda, or detergent!
Upholstery Materials to Avoid
It’s best to avoid these materials if you want easy-to-clean upholstery.
-
Silk
Silk is a delicate fabric that’s susceptible to water and chemical damage. Acidic and alkaline cleaning solutions can weaken silk fibres and cause tearing.
-
Linen
Linen traps dust and fur, making it impossible to clean without washing.
In addition, linen can easily be pilled and wrinkled. This makes the cleaning process more difficult compared to other types of cloth.
-
Cotton
Cotton is a popular upholstery material because it’s cheap and comfortable. Unfortunately, the downside is that it easily wrinkles, stains, and soils.
This material isn’t durable, so you should avoid it if you have kids and pets.
Tips for Choosing Upholstery
Keep these tips in mind when you’re selecting easy-to-clean upholstery materials.
- Weaving: In general, the tighter the weave of the material, the easier it is to clean. Cloths with tight weavings are more resistant to collecting dust.
- Abrasion Tests: Always check for information on abrasion tests on the material. Fabrics with a test score of 5 are more durable and able to withstand heavy cleaning.
- Test the Fabric: Did you know you can ask for an upholstery sample? You may test various cleaning methods on the swatches before you buy it.
- Ask The Sales People: Don’t be shy to ask questions. Doing so helps you determine which materials are the fastest to clean.
- Join a Community: You can join an online community and ask your fellow members how easy it is to clean a material.
- Consider Furniture Covers: If your upholstery is hard to clean, consider buying a protective cover. Furniture covers are removable, making the cleaning process easy.
Conclusion
Choosing upholstery fabric for easy furniture care saves you time, effort, and money.
Some of the best materials for furniture upholstery are microfiber, leather, vinyl, and polyester. You should avoid silk, linen, or cotton to avoid cleaning difficulties.
Finally, remember to ask the store for details on each material, and don’t be afraid to run tests yourself. Consider joining a community to get up-to-date information on upholstery cleaning!
