Upholstery Fabric Guide

If you are looking for an upholstery fabric, you need to know what type of fabric it is. The basic upholstery fabric categories are the following: cottons, nylon, rayon, cotton, Merino wool and viscose. You also have leather, acrylic, silk, and synthetic types and each one offers a different look to each room they are installed in. Some wear better than the others and some are easier to maintain than the others. With so many fabrics available, it is important to know the characteristics of each fabric before making a purchase. Below are some of the best attributes of each type of upholstery fabric and the advantages they offer to consumers.

Most upholstery fabrics are easy to maintain and will hold up for many years. They can be cleaned with basic fabric cleaners or hand washing with hand detergent. If staining occurs, use a pH neutral cleaner on delicate areas like upholstery arms and legs, then follow up with the stain remover that came with the fabric. All fabrics can be vacuumed with a normal vacuum and then steamed or dry cleaned with a professional service. Drape area rugs on the floor with a undercarpet attachment for added comfort and to prevent the formation of molds and mildew.

Woven upholstery fabrics are strong and durable and are usually more expensive than their cheaper counterparts. There are however, several cons associated with woven fabrics. Although they are known for being incredibly long lasting, they can cost more to manufacture as each piece is slightly heavier. This extra weight means that it takes more materials to create each piece of fabric, meaning that each woven upholstery item is slightly higher in price. The cons of woven fabric include a higher price tag due to the amount of material used, but durability is also dependent upon the quality of the fabric.

One of the strongest, most durable, and most widely used upholstery fabrics around the world are denim. It can take two to three years for one inch of denim fabric to start to wear. This strength and durability make it a popular choice for upholstery items such as chairs, but because of the density of the fibers, it can be much heavier. Because the density is so great, the weight of a single denim fiber is more than twice as much as a comparable cotton fiber.

Another very popular upholstery fabric is olefin. This fiber is made from the down feathers of geese and ducks and is very soft. It is very easy to manipulate. The threads of this fiber are actually very fine so they won't pull or fray. Olefin is a very durable upholstery fabric made from natural fibers. Like denim, there is a tendency for the threads to pull if not properly manipulated but the quality of olefin makes it very easy to manipulate.

Another upholstery fabric is made from synthetic materials. Although this may seem to be less durable than natural fibers, synthetics do have the advantage of being more resistant to abrasion. If a set of curtains or upholstery fabric becomes worn, for example, it does not have to be replaced as it can simply be washed. Also, synthetics are generally lighter than natural fibers so they do not add bulk. They are also resistant to many chemicals found in upholstery cleaning supplies and as a result they do not stain easily.

For high-end furniture, sometimes synthetic fabrics are a better choice. They are usually made from virgin wool and they do not wrinkle as easily as denim. They resist chemicals found in upholstery cleaners and stain repellents, which means that this type of furniture can last longer than those made from other materials. Although some consumers feel that the price of these fabrics is justified, others believe that they should be banned from high-end furniture as they contribute to the destruction of the environment. The European Union is reviewing the way that furniture manufacturers are regulated and is considering banning upholstery fabrics from high-end furniture.

Whether you choose natural or synthetic upholstery fabrics you will need to take into account the fact that most of them are stain-resistant. But if you do choose one that stains easily then you should consider purchasing a stain repellant that is specifically designed for use on upholstery fabrics. A stain repellant like Armor-All is a good investment for any avid gardener because it is an easy maintenance product that will also repel stains once it has been applied. Synthetic or virgin upholstery fabrics are less expensive but if you do buy one that stains easily then you may find that they are not as durable as one made from natural fibers.