Care for your new lounge suite or sofa
These days buying a lounge suite or sofa is a major spend, especially if you are looking for one that will last a long time and will stand up to everyday living. Once you've moved your new lounge suite or sofa into the room there are a few tips you can follow to extend the look and life of your new furniture.
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Placing your new lounge suite or sofa
One of the most important things to bear in mind when placing your new furniture is sunlight. If it's not possible to situate the piece out of direct sunlight, then be sure to add a window treatment of drapes to prevent UV rays from fading the fabric and eventually causing fabric to perish.
You will find window film at your local Builders Warehouse, while window tinting is best left to the professionals. And there are plenty of window treatment options to consider for your home.
Treat your new sofa with R.E.S.P.E.C.T ... as the song goes!
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It's a fact of life that children love to climb over furniture, jump on cushions and generally treat a sofa like a jungle gym, but this will only reduce the life of your furniture.
All upholstered furniture is built on a timber support frame - and this frame can only take so much.
Don't let children sit on the arms or climb on the back, as this will put strain on these sections and could cause stretching or distortion of the padding and fabric.
A regular 'puffing up' of the upholstered sections, and particularly cushions, will help retain fluffiness and shape.
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Make it a habit for young children take off their shoes before sitting on a lounge suite or sofa, and don't allow pets on your upholstered furniture. Buckles, belts, collars and claws can easily snag on upholstered fabric - or tear leather or suede - which could end up in expensive repairs.
Pets and upholstered furniture don't go together, even though kitty loves to relax and spend the day on it.
Stop stains before they happen
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If there are young children in the home, make sure to have your new lounge suite or sofa treated with ScotchGard. While this treatment doesn't prevent stains, it does allow you time to quickly mop up any spills before they have time to soak into the fabric and cause permanent damage. Simply use a damp cloth to mop up and absorb spills when they occur.
If not treated with ScotchGard, consult our handy guide or call in a cleaning professional.
Regular cleaning is esential
Vacuum upholstered furniture at least once a week, or more often if you live in an area where dust is a problem. Use the upholstery brush that normally comes as a standard attachment with most vacuum cleaners, as this gently brushes the surface to lift out any dust.
Don't use spray polish on decorative wood sections, as these only attract dust, which eventually builds up and forms a layer on top of the wood. Simply wipe clean with a microfibre cloth.