Types of Upholstery Fabrics and How To Protect Them

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Here are some fibers and their common characteristics:

• Cotton is a versatile fiber used for prints and wovens and is comfortable to use in all climates. It, as well as any untreated natural fiber is less stain-resistant than synthetic fibers.
• Linen, a high-end fiber , is prized for its crispness, strength and durability.
• Wool is strong, durable, soft to the touch and naturally resists water.
• Rayon is a smooth, soft, lustrous and comfortable manufactured fiber. It wrinkles easily when used alone. Blended with other fibers it adds silk-like luster to the finished fabric.
• Nylon is strong and abrasion-, rot- and mildew-resistant. It has a low absorption for water and other liquids.
• Acrylic, a manufactured fiber can offer many of the qualities of wool, a natural fiber. It is often used in plush or fleecy fabrics. Acrylic resists fading but is prone to pilling, the creation of small balls of fibers on the fabric’s surface.
• Olefin is a strong, soil and abrasion resistant manufactured fiber that is used alone or blended with other fibers.
• Polyester is a strong, resilient and abrasion-resistant fiber that adds luster when blended with other fibers.
• Silk is a strong, resilient, luxury fiber with a natural luster. Fiber size varies from fine to heavy as in raw silk.

Protecting Fabrics

Most fabrics designed for upholstery come from the manufacturer with a stain and soil-repellent finish. When it is missing then the store should be able to add the treatment with a warranty when you buy a piece of upholstered furniture or you can buy a spray-on form at a hardware store and apply it yourself. Fabric protection gives you time to pick up or blot away spills before they soak in. It cannot totally prevent damage to the fabric. If yo are considering buying a warrantied fabric-protection treatment, read your fiber and fabric information carefully. If a fabric was treated at the mill, a second treatment is unnecessary.

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