Veneer furniture should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from air conditioning units. Coasters should be used to look after the surface, protecting from cold or hot liquids. To clean the furniture you must first use a damp cloth with a mild detergent or mild soap and then you must dry the surface with a cotton cloth. Strong detergents and soaps are not recommended as they may leave marks on the surface of the furniture, which could affect the overall appearance. When moving any type of furniture you must lift it and not drag it across the floor. This will then avoid any damage to the furniture and its fixing.

 

Real wood furniture should be cleaned with a dry cloth. Any detergents or soaps are not recommended as they could damage the surface and affect the overall appearance of the furniture. Real wood furniture must be protected from the heat of liquids, therefore mats and coasters should be used. It is recommended that you do not place hot liquids or items directly on the surface as this could cause permanent damage. Any spillage of liquid should be wiped quickly so the surface is dry to avoid any marks. It is recommended that real wood furniture be kept away form direct sunlight, radiators and fires to avoid damage of the surface such as warping.

 

Foil finish furniture should be kept away form direct sunlight, radiators and fires to avoid damage to the furniture and its surface. Coasters and mats should be used to place hot or cold liquids to avoid permanent damage to the surface. To clean foil finished furniture you must use a damp cloth with a mild detergent or a mild soap and then the surface should immediately be dried with a dry cotton cloth. Strong detergents and soaps are not recommended as they may leave marks on the surface of the furniture, therefore affecting the overall appearance.

 

Substances such as nail polish, nail polish removers, alcohol and any other strong substances should be kept away from this type of surface to avoid spillage therefore possible permanent damage to the furniture. When cleaning the furniture, lamps and any other items should be lifted and not dragged as this could also damage the surface.

 

Upholstered furniture should be kept away from direct sunlight as fabric colour may fade therefore there will be an affect on the overall appearance of the furniture. Upholstered furniture should be vacuumed regularly to keep it clean and cushions and pillows should be frequently flipped to ensure that both sides ware evenly. Any spillage should be wiped up immediately to avoid it sinking and damage internally. Wipe any spots on the fabric with a damp cloth and mild detergent or soap. Strong detergents and soaps are not recommended as they may fade the colour of the fabric, which will affect the overall appearance of the furniture. It is recommended that a professional is appointed when you need to wash the furniture as there are many precautions that need to be considered. For example, colours may not be permanent and therefore fade when washed or cushions may shrink when washed because of the soap or detergent used.

 

These need minimal maintenance, as they are completed with a very resilient lacquer. Items with decorative facing should frequently be dusted and cleaned with a damp cloth when and if required. Strong detergents or solvents should not be used.

 

Upholstery is designed to be sat on in comfort and therefore needs to be used correctly. Permanent damage can be caused to the padding and leather of upholstery when you sit on the edges of the cushions or the arms. Children should not be allowed to use upholstery to show their gymnastic abilities and sharp edges should be kept away as this can cause the leather to snag.

 

As leather matures creases will increase and it will soften which makes it look better and feel more comfortable. Leather has a tendency to stretch over time and various grains, texture and natural markings represent the uniqueness of the product and are not faults. Leather is able to breathe as it is made up of millions of fibres and no two items of real leather can be identical as it is real animal hide. Semi-aniline leather is a type of leather that is soft and has a natural look and feel. While retaining the suppleness and classic feel it has a light-sealing coat to give some protection against staining. Corrected-grain leather is the best for domestic use and is the most durable. Before it is sealed it is fully pigmented so most imperfections are removed. Care should be taken to make sure it maintains its appearance just like any other type of leather.

 

Leather / leather match is man made leather look fibre which is a new development giving great value without compromising on quality. All seating and facing areas are made from corrected grain hide and the side and rear panels are made with this leather. Leather furniture must be kept away from direct sunlight, fires and radiators. It should be dusted regularly and vacuumed to keep the pores free from dust particles. Overall cleaning should be carried out at least once a month. However, heavy wear areas such as cushions and seats must be cleaned regularly to avoid soiling being ingrained.

 

Spilt liquid should be blotted immediately with a clean sponge or cloth. The entire area where the spillage occurred should then be gently wiped using clear, luke-warm water. Hairdryers and direct heating should not be used to dry up spillages as this can cause permanent damage to the furniture.

 

Specialist leather protection cleaners and creams are recommended to ensure your suite retains its suppleness and looks.

 

Normal wear conditions will reduce the effectiveness of the dense protective coating on corrected grain. Special leather creams and cleaner kits are recommended to be used 2-3 times a month on wear areas and annually on the rest of the furniture to ensure the protective coating is not at risk of damage.

 

Corrected grain treatment works the same as leather cleaners and creams. However, this retains the extra suppleness and feel of the Semi-aniline hide.

 

Hide / Hide match should be cared for the same way as corrected grain hide.  

 

The dying process used to dye modern fabric results in the colour not being dye fast. Dyes such as denim and many dark colours migrate into the sealant of leather. This is more likely to occur to leather that is a light colour; therefore prolonged contact should be avoided. Colour dye can be difficult to remove by normal cleaning methods hence extra care should be taken.

 

Seat cushions are the areas of the furniture more likely to wear. They are made up of either high resilient foam or a combination of high resilient foam and polyester fibre. Cushions containing high resilient foam need no special maintenance except for the normal weekly changing of seat cushions, which are reversible or interchangeable. Reversing cushions evens out the wear on both sides and ensures a uniform density. Cushions are made of a mixture of high resilient foam and polyester fibre and therefore need to be plumped up to help them keep their natural fullness.

 

Back cushions and arm pads use interiors of all polyester fibres which require less maintenance. They are easy to clean and are non- allergenic. However interiors will gradually flatten if daily dressing of the cushions is not carried out. It becomes more difficult to dress back flattened interiors, if they have been allowed to flatten considerably. Polyester fibres and high resilient foams are slightly firm at first but then they gradually become more soft as they are used.

 

Once the bed has been delivered the mattress should be aired for at least four hours to remove any aroma and to freshen it. Plastic sheets prevent air circulation and cause condensation so they should be removed when the mattress is used. Sprung mattresses should regularly be turned as this maximises its product life. Visco-elastic and Latex Mattresses do not need turning however they should regularly be rotated lengthways to maximise their product life. You need to regularly clean the mattress by vacuuming it thoroughly.

 

It is recommended that you cover a mattress with a cotton mattress pad as all perspiration can be absorbed and the cotton pad can be washed too. A mattress cover can also be recommended as this will protect it and extend the cleaning time. You should not sit at the edge of your mattress in the same position every day as a mattress is intended to spread your weight over a large area. You should also remove all the bed covers and let the bed get some air once a month as this will prevent bed bugs and other insects.