The Womb Chair is famous for being one of the most comfortable chairs ever designed and guests and family are likely to spend more time in this piece of furniture than most others. While providing comfort is important to any owner, the extended period of use of the chair will mean that more cleaning issues are likely to be encountered than normal.
To keep your furniture looking fresh and new, check the following tips:
• Fabric Protection. A number of applications are available which provide a protective barrier on most chair coverings. Some are applied on the fabric of your furniture directly during the manufacturing process and do not need additional treatments initially. Check the tags on the underside of the chair or the back of the cushions if you are not sure. If no trademarks or special mention is made, the fabric is probably not treated. It is always a good investment to have your furniture treated from the outset as this will decrease the soiling through day-to-day usage.
• Regular cleaning. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that new furniture doesn’t require cleaning because it looks new. Keep your new furniture on a regular cleaning cycle to ensure that it maintains its new appearance. Avoid using strong cleaning agents or doing very wet cleaning unless spot cleaning is require, as this will remove fabric protection barriers if applied. Regular vacuuming will keep your furniture looking new.
• Never scrub. Irrespective of what material your furniture is covered in, NEVER scrub the fabric as this will change the texture and appearance of the material and leave a noticeable mark.
• Spot treatment. First rule for successful cleaning is to clean the stain as soon as possible. Treat different fabric as follows:
o Leather. Lint-free soft cloth such as a micro fiber cloth is the only fabric that should be used on leather for treatment. Keep a high quality leather cleaner or leather soap on hand and never over wet. Before you rub in the cleaner, look at the leather carefully and see if you can find the lie of the leather. Rub any cleaner, if you’re able to find the lie. Rub the cleaner from the outside towards the center if you’re unable to find this. Never rub the cleaner in a circular fashion.
o Polyester. Test the underside of a cushion with a mild fabric cleaner. If no discoloration occurs after a while, clean the stain with a damp sponge and allow to air dry in a ventilated area before replacing the cushion.
o Other fabrics. Check your furniture tag for a letter code which will tell you what cleaner will work best on your fabric:
o S - spot clean with a solvent. Clean outdoors if you can as solvents have a strong smell and can be dangerous in confined spaces. Cleaning with solvents must be done carefully as permanent stains can be left if used incorrectly.
o W - spot clean with a mild detergent or water-based solution. Use the foam to clean rather than the soapy liquid.
o SW - spot clean with either solvent or water-based foam in the methods described above.
o X – vacuum only. Even clean water will probably leave a mark – only light brushing or vacuuming will help. Better left to the professionals to clean.
The best solution is to avoid stains and spills as far as possible. As difficult as it may be to get your family to move out of these chairs, try to discourage eating and drinking while seated. Excessive cleaning will change the appearance of all fabrics over an extended period of time.
