Three Ways to Protect Your Living Room Furniture – A Look at Slipcovers, Cleaning and More

Furniture is one of the greatest investments made when redecorating a home. So it stands to reason that protecting that investment is sometimes stressful. Whether it’s keeping pets off the furniture, the messy fingers of toddlers or just daily wear and tear from a well-used family room, dirt can take a toll on furniture.

Proper Cleaning Techniques Vary From Piece To Piece

Knowing how to properly care for furniture before you buy it is the key to choosing the right fabric or upholstery for each space. Look for labels on furniture fabrics to see if the manufacturer has recommended cleaning techniques. Some furniture requires professional furniture steam cleaning.

Leather furniture can be easier to keep free from soil, but it does require special leather cleaner to keep it supple. Leather furniture has usually been dyed to create a consistent hue, so it’s essential to keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent it from fading prematurely or unevenly. Leather should also be kept away from heat sources and fireplaces to prevent it from drying out and cracking. If leather hasn’t been sealed, consult a professional leather cleaner to seal the leather.

Fabric upholstery should be vacuumed on a regular basis to prevent dust and dust mites from accumulating. If spills do occur, always test cleaners on an inconspicuous spot before applying to the fabric. It’s always best to use only the recommended cleaning agents that are suitable for each type of fabric.

Furniture that has wood accents should be cared for with polishes made especially to protect wood from moisture. On upholstered furniture with wooden arms or legs, diligent care should be taken to avoid getting furniture polish on neighboring upholstery fabrics. Always drape fabric with plastic before using polish on wood, and never spray wood directly. It’s best when cleaning wood arms and legs to spray a small amount of furniture polish on the cleaning rag and then carefully apply to the wood portions of the furniture.

Proper care and cleansers can not only clean soiled furniture but with regular maintenance can prevent damage, soil and residue.

Custom Slipcovers Are An Easy Way To Protect Furniture

Slipcovered furniture is perhaps the best way to protect furniture from everyday wear and tear. Because custom slipcovers fit over furniture, they can be removed to launder or dry clean when needed.

From ottoman covers to full size couch slipcovers, they provide an extra layer of defense against stains, crumbs, kids and more. Cushion covers can be quickly removed to prevent spills from soaking through to cushions.

Before ordering custom slipcovers, consider the wear and tear that each piece will receive on a daily basis and choose fabric accordingly. Furniture that gets heavy daily use should be covered with durable, tightly woven fabrics such as twill, canvas, cotton or denim. The type of care of each fabric is also essential to choosing the right fabric for each piece. For example if toddlers or pets are in the picture, it’s best to choose a fabric that can be machine washed for frequent care. Dry-clean only fabrics can be used on accent chairs that receive less traffic.

Choosing the right colors and patterns are also the key to keeping living room furniture clean. Dark colors should be avoided if you have light colored pets that shed and vice versa. An accent chair in a formal living room won’t get as much use as a favorite chair in the family room so a light colored fabric would probably be suitable, whereas a darker fabric is a better option for high traffic sofas.

Microfiber, canvas, denim and twill are hearty fabrics that won’t show wear and tear after frequent cleaning whereas silk and linen are more delicate and should be chosen for cushion covers or slipcovers that won’t require frequent cleaning.

Slipcovers are also ideal for dining chairs as they can not only be removed and cleaned regularly, but the full-length skirt chair slipcovers can protect wooden chair legs.

Prevention Is The Best Bet

No matter what type of fabric, upholstery or slipcovers your furniture has, it’s best to prevent soil and wear. Training pets to stay off of furniture can protect leather from scratches and fabric from soil and shedding fur.

The same principle is true for the entire family. Setting a no-eating or drinking rule on delicate furniture will extend its wearability.