An often overlooked feature of upholstery cleaning is Fabric Protection. Fabric Protection may be just as important as the cleaning itself. When carpet is cleaned, many consumers see the value in protecting the carpet, but don’t seem to think it’s “necessary” when it comes to protecting upholstery fabric after it is cleaned.

There is a great deal of difference between upholstery fabric and carpet. Carpet is usually made from a synthetic fabric such as Nylon or Olefin. Natural fibers such as wool are used but do not represent the majority. Upholstery fabric on the other hand is most often made from natural fabric. Cotton is widely used for example.

Natural fibers are much more absorbent than synthetic fibers. This is an advantage to you when selecting a fabric because the more absorbent the fiber, the better it accepts dye and the more dying techniques can be used. This gives you a wide range of choices in color and style.

The disadvantage of an absorbent fiber is that it stains easily. Foreign dye that is used in beverages for example can more easily stain a natural fiber. Even synthetic upholstered fabrics are more vulnerable than carpet. The reason is how the fabric is made. With carpet, you have a pile, a backing (usually synthetic also), and a thick pad underneath. This gives a spill a lot of room to spread. With upholstered fabric, you have a thin layer of fabric to penetrate. Once the stain is in the stuffing, it is more difficult to remove. With carpet, you could even “pull the carpet up” and deal with problem spots from underneath if you had to. But not upholstered fabrics.

A good quality fabric protector will assist in resisting spillage, and keep normal soiling such as airborne soils, dust, pet dander, and perspiration on the surface for easier removal. Keeping your upholstery protected will help you keep your upholstery looking better longer. Our company is well qualified to apply a quality fabric protector to your upholstery.

“What if my upholstery is new – do I still need fabric protection?”

Some fabrics come pre-treated with fabric protection. You may have been offered a post treatment of carpet protector. Some companies use protector that is really best suited for carpet and not fabric, so just because your fabric has been treated does not mean that it is treated the best way possible. To determine whether your new upholstery could benefit from a professional quality fabric protector, give our office a call and we will help evaluate it for you. 781-585-4678.

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