Have Your Upholstery Live a Long and Happy Life

Upholstered furniture can turn a house into a home, giving it style and comfort. But upholstery suffers in the wear and tear process just like all your other furnishings. How do you keep this from happening too quickly and maintain the inviting look of your furniture?

The trick is frequent steps in maintenance, all the more so if you have young kids and pets
at home.

Choose wisely

Begin by choosing the right fabric for your home and lifestyle. There are different types of fabrics that upholstery comes in and you should understand what type would be suitable for each part of your house. For example, in high traffic areas of your house, synthetic fibres would be an appropriate choice. Avoid fabric with heavy texturing if your pets are going to make themselves at home in it.

Protect your upholstery

Turn over loose cushions frequently and change their placement on the furniture. This will delay the formation of unsightly dents in your cushions. Fluff them after they’ve been cleaned to maintain their shape.

Keep your upholstery fabric out of the sun. Frequent exposure to harsh sunlight can cause fabrics to fade. Be especially careful with delicate material like silk. Keep your upholstered furniture away from pollutants such as smoke and kitchen fumes as much as possible. Proper ventilation can go a long way in odour control, too.

Clean with care

Follow instructions for cleaning that you should find on the label of the upholstery or in the
user manual.

Spills:
Spills, spots, and stains are inevitable. Gently blot spills with a clean towel. Placing paper towels underneath the fabric that has been soiled can help keep the spill from spreading and make your cleaning process quicker.

The next step is to deal with staining if any. If you’re using a liquid-based cleaner, run a patch test in an inconspicuous part of the fabric, first. Apply it in a circular motion and remove all soap residue to prevent the fabric from attracting dust after it has been cleaned. Dry the area out and finish by vacuuming.

Vacuum:
Vacuum your upholstered furniture at least once a week to prevent dust, soil, and dirt from getting embedded in the fibres. You can even start by using a soft brush to remove dirt that’s more visible. In case of pet hair, you may find a brush sold at a pet store, especially for this purpose.

Professional cleaning

The above steps are essential for regular maintenance of upholstery. However, there’s no substitute to having it cleaned professionally every year or two.

For deep-cleaning of upholstered furniture or for restoring upholstery that’s suffered from spills and staining, call Classique ChemDry on 1800 213 006. We operate in Bungendore, Crookwell, Goulburn, Yass, Gunning, Marulan, Collector and surrounding areas of NSW. We will help your home look welcoming again.

Upholstery Cleaning - Doing it the right way!

Having your upholstery cleaned regularly is a must for all homeowners. With all the bacteria, dust and other allergens that enter your home, your upholstery can be a source of allergies if not cleaned from time to time. However, it's not just about cleaning it timely but also doing it correctly. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure your upholstery cleaning is a success.

Use the right cleaning solutions
Using the wrong cleaning products won't give you the desired results. Hence it is important to buy appropriate cleaning products for your upholstery after doing considerable research. If you miss this step you could end up staining and damaging your furniture.

Test the cleaning product
Always do a test patch before you use the product on your entire upholstery. With this, you will know if the cleaning product is safe to use or not. If you see no signs of damage then you can go ahead and clean the remaining parts of your upholstery with the same cleaning product.

Never soak in water
One thing you must avoid is soaking your upholstery in water as this could worsen the stain and do substantial damage.

Do not ignore the upholstery material
When it comes to upholstery cleaning there's no one technique fits all. What works for a plush sofa need not work for a leather sofa. So keep in mind the type of material used in your upholstery before you begin the cleaning process.

Clean regularly
Clean every 12 to 18 months to extend the life of your upholstery. Also, vacuum your furniture every 2 weeks especially if you have children and pets at home. And remember to act right away when you spot any stains on your upholstery.

If you're looking for experts to handle the cleaning for you, look no further. Call Classique Chem-Dry on 1800 213 006. We offer professional upholstery cleaning services to revive the beauty of your upholstery/furniture.

Household Tips on Tackling Dust

Pic credit: flickr

When you’re dealing with a serious dust problem, merely sweeping the dust away won’t help. The dust particles will only move around and won’t be picked up. You can capture the dust with a soft cloth. When you are cleaning from ceiling to floor, a vacuum cleaner is the most efficient tool. Here are a few tips to keep your home free of dust. 

Electronic items: 
Electronic items like television sets, computers, etc., act like dust magnets. Wiping the item with a microfiber cloth will generally do the job. A soft handled brush helps collect dust from other areas. Make sure to vacuum dust from cables/cords. Clean them regularly, as pet hair along with the dust might clog machines or outlets. 

Floor:
Mop at least once a week and clean the place thoroughly. This will help to reduce allergens. Wood flooring needs dusting at least once a month. 

Soft toys:
Put all the soft toys in a plastic bag, and sprinkle a cup’s worth of baking soda. Seal the top and then go outside and shake well. This will remove any dust particles. Take out the items one at a time and shake off all the baking soda. Lastly, vacuum the soft toys using a brush attachment. 

Stove and refrigerator:
With time debris get accumulated. This serves as a source of food for insects and other pests. To avoid this, if possible, try and take apart the appliance. Make use of a slightly damp sponge to clean. Finally, wipe the floor and walls of the area with hot soapy water.

Vents:
Get rid of the heavy dust from ceiling, walls or appliance vents as it can breed allergens. Rinse removable, washable air-conditioning filters well in hot soapy water and air-dry before reassembling. Cleaning your air vents regularly may save you the cost of replacement of heating and air-conditioning vents.

We at Classique Chem-Dry make cleaning easier for you. We tackle homes that have carpets and remove 80% of the dust and dirt that end up in your upholstered fabrics and furniture. We provide you with the best cleaning services with our Chem-Dry’s HCE process which removes an average of 99.1% of common household allergens from upholstery. 

Why is it important to clean office upholstery?

Regardless of the size of your office and the hustle and bustle that happens in it, there are a few things that should not be ignored - one of them is the office upholstery. Having your office furniture cleaned regularly is particularly important as it affects your employees, customers/clients, and overall company reputation.

Below are a few reasons why office upholstery should be cleaned on a regular basis:

To ensure comfort: Quite often, we notice the padding and foam on office seats/ chairs are damaged. These kinds of damages need to be checked timely and fixed promptly before your employees start experiencing back and other muscle problems. Also, damaged upholstery does not create a good impression on visitors.

For health safety: A lot of people suffer from dust allergies which could lead to breathing or skin problems. Upholstery that has been eating dust for a long time could give rise to such allergies resulting in employees falling sick. While some cases may not be as severe, there are a few that could lead to a runny nose, constant sneezing, cough, watery eyes, and congestion. Hence, regular dusting and cleaning of upholstery are crucial to ensure the environment is healthy.

Increases productivity: You'll be surprised to know how office upholstery can enhance productivity. When office upholstery is clean and maintained, employees actually feel comfortable, sit at ease and work more efficiently. This helps in getting more work done in a shorter duration, thus raising overall work productivity.

It adds to the overall look of the office: When your office upholstery is cleaned regularly, it adds to the overall appeal of your office. It not only creates a positive impact on the employees but also makes a good impression on visitors. An office that ensures it's furniture and upholstery is clean and well maintained portrays the level of professionalism in the office.

Saving on replacement expenses: Ensuring that your upholstery is cleaned periodically, will eliminate the need for high-cost upholstery replacement in the long run. It is wiser to spend on regular cleaning and maintenance than to spend huge sums in buying new office upholstery.

Long-term usage: With the help of efficient cleaning methods or the services of a professional cleaning company, your office upholstery will be in good condition and can be used for a long time. Cleaning on a regular basis will extend the lifespan of your upholstery furniture.

If upholstery cleaning doesn't fit into your office schedule, give us a call on 1800213006. Using professional upholstery cleaning systems, our technicians at Classique ChemDry will clean and revive your office upholstery.

Leather Care Tips

Leather is a popular choice in furniture that adds style and character to any room in a home. It is one of the more durable and low-maintenance surfaces for home furnishings. Keeping your leather upholstery clean and in top condition is relatively simple if you follow the proper care. However, different types of leather upholstery have different cleaning requirements.

How leather is processed determines which of the three main categories it falls under:

Aniline Leather

This is the most natural-looking leather but is highly priced. As it is not coated with any additional polymers or pigments it retains all the unique markings and characteristics.

Semi-Aniline Leather

It is just a little bit tougher than aniline leather as its surface has been treated with a light coat that contains some pigment, which makes it more soil and stain-resistant.

Protected or Pigmented Leather

This is the most durable type of leather and has a polymer surface coating containing pigments which adds more resistance to scuffing or fading.

What to protect your leather from?

Unlike most fabrics, leather is extremely difficult to restore once it is damaged and it is sensitive to many things. Leather furniture is commonly vulnerable to:

Marks, Scuffs, and Scratches,

Broken Stitching, Cracks, Tears and Rips,

Fading and Discoloration

What are the major causes for Fading and Discoloration?

Oils & Grease 

Over a long time, body oils and perspiration create a chemical reaction changing the pH level and affect the protective finishes of your leather.

Atmospheric Soils 

Direct sunlight / UV rays, humidity, and dust deposits draw moisture out of your leather’s fibers and dislocate vital natural oils that cannot be replenished. Airborne pollutants like cooking oils and atmospheric pollution also cause damage.

Common Soils 

Stains caused by dirt brought into the home by people and pets may leave a permanent tint on your leather. Plants can also easily leave bright green stains due to the chlorophyll in them that acts like a dye on leather. 

Dyes, Inks, and Paints 

Stains from paint, dyes, and inks are considered inorganic stains are tougher to remove. The faster you act, the better. Wet stains are easier to remove, so it’s important to act as quickly as possible before they dry.

Regular care is the best defense against wear and tear to extend the life of your furniture

- Vacuum furniture before using cleaning products

- Blot spills quickly

- Keep pets off of furniture

- Take care to prevent contact with sharp objects

- Protect your furniture from direct sunlight

- Care for cushions by turning them around and fluffing them

- Dust weekly with a dry microfiber cloth

- Check the manufacturer's labels for care instructions

Professional cleaning

Besides your regular cleaning, it is recommended to have furniture cleaned professionally between 2 and 4 times a year, depending on its age and the amount of wear it gets.

In addition to avoiding long-term damage to the upholstery, cleanings also help to remove potential allergens which are obvious health hazards for people who suffer from allergies.

Call Classique Chem-Dry today on 1800 213 006 / 0458 213 408 or schedule an appointment for professional upholstery cleaning to maintain the health and beauty of your leather furniture.