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Furniture Care and
General Information
Click the links below to jump to information and care recommendations for: Mattresses Rotating Your Mattress The first thing to know about mattresses is that you should rotate them on a regular basis - much like rotating your tires on your car. During the first month of usage, it’s recommended to do this on a weekly basis to provide even wear to all sides of the mattress. After that, monthly is recommended. Rotating means to make a 1/2 turn of the mattress while it lies flat on the bed. Foundations Foundations are made to work with your mattress to provide a comfortable sleep environment. When you need a new mattress (at least every 10 years) you need a new foundation. If you don't do that it would be like buying a new car body and putting it on the old car chassis.... you'd be in for a pretty bumpy ride. Mattress Pads Mattress Protection Plans Comfort Levels Mattress Sizes Fabric Upholstery Quick Facts... • Before you purchase a piece of upholstered furniture, consider: 1. How much and what kind of use will it receive? 2. How much care does it need and how much are you willing to give for its upkeep? 3. How long do you want it to last? • Begin your evaluation of upholstered furniture by considering the fiber content. • Also consider quality, comfort, price, style and color. Choosing upholstered furniture for your home can raise many questions and cause confusion. Upholstery fabrics have a wide range of quality and price. Be sure you know what you want from your upholstery before you buy. Consider the amount and kind of use the piece of furniture will receive, the
amount and kind of care you are willing to give for its upkeep, and the length
of time you expect it to last. Performance Requirements Choose upholstered furniture by evaluating the quality of furniture available in your price range. Be aware of the performance requirements for your needs and identify the criteria most important to you. Health and Safety – Fire Flame retardant finishes can be applied to cotton and rayon. Fiber Properties Cotton Natural plant fiber used for centuries Excellent absorbency, resistant to moths, dyes well, wrinkles easily, moderate abrasion resistance, moderate sunlight resistance, extremely flammable unless treated, easy to care for. Rayon Manufactured fiber made from wood chips Inexpensive, good hand, may shrink or stretch when wet, poor abrasion resistance, moderate sunlight resistance, resistant to moths and mildew, extremely flammable unless treated with a flame retardant finish, requires dry cleaning. Nylon First synthetic fiber, produced in 1928 Resilient, excellent abrasion resistance, poor sunlight resistance, burns slowly with melting, easy care and maintenance. Polyester Synthetic fiber favored in blends to add dimensional stability Excellent resilience, resistant to insects and mildew, good abrasion resistance, good sunlight resistance, burns slowly with melting, resists waterborne stains. Acrylic Synthetic fiber famous for wool-like feel Moderate resiliency, attractive hand, moderate abrasion resistance, excellent sunlight resistance, burns with melting, easy care. Olefin One of the more recently developed synthetic fibers Inexpensive, extremely heat sensitive, resistant to chemicals and insects, excellent abrasion resistance, poor sunlight resistance, burns with melting, resists waterborne stains. Leather Processed hides and skins from animals Excellent hand, durable, varies in quality, requires special care in cleaning,self-extinguishes in flames.
- Fiber - Fabric A balanced weave, where all yarns are about the same size and strength, wears better than one with heavy yarns in one direction and thin yarns in the other. A twill weave resists wear and shows soil less than a plain weave of similar quality. Flat-surfaced fabrics like damask, brocade and satin show the effects of abrasion because the long yarns on the surface are subject to wear. Pile fabrics, like frieze, plush and velvet, withstand abrasion quite well if they are made of firm yarns with deep and close pile and firmly held to the ground cloth. A pile fabric with cut loops mats more easily than one with uncut loops. A latex backing often is applied to upholstery fabrics to help stabilize them. The latex forms a coating that helps keep soil from sifting through. It prevents seam slippage and makes precise cutting possible. Loosely woven fabrics should have an applied backing to ensure stability and longer wear. - Color Application - Finish Some finishes of this type, however, may retain oily soil. Ask for information about the type of finish that the manufacturer has applied. Is the finish durable? Is it covered in the warranty? - Colorfastness Test fabrics for color loss by applying any chemicals or cleaning agents in an unobtrusive area before using them. Use a clean, white cloth so that you can see if color is transferred. - Dimensional Stability Maintenance Cleanability Code W - Fabric Care: Spot clean, using the foam only from a water-based cleaning agent, such as a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply foam with a soft brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry. Pretest a small area before proceeding. Call in a professional furniture cleaner to treat an overall soiled condition. Cleanability Code X - Fabric Care: Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust or grime. Water-based foam or solvent-based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, fading or possible pile distortion. Cleanability Code S - Fabric Care: Spot clean, using a mild, water-free solvent or dry-cleaning product. Carefully follow instructions on such products. Avoid any product that contains carbon tetrachloride, which is highly toxic. Pretest a small area before proceeding. Call in a professional furniture cleaner to treat an overall soiled condition. Cleanability Code W-S - Fabric Care: Spot clean this fabric either with a mild solvent or dry-cleaning product. Follow instructions carefully and clean only in a well-ventilated room. Avoid any product that contains highly toxic carbon tetrachloride. You may also use an upholstery shampoo product or the foam from a mild detergent. With either method, pretest a small area before proceeding. Call in a professional furniture cleaner to treat an overall soiled condition. Caution: For any cleanability code, never remove cushion covers for separate dry cleaning or washing. Any cleaning method that requires the removal of the covers from the cushions can destroy the backing, shrink, or otherwise damage upholstery fabric. Stain Removal Quality The label may have a number or letter that indicates fabric classification. The less expensive fabrics usually are labeled with low numbers or the first letters of the alphabet. For example, "11" would indicate a more expensive fabric than "4" and "K" a more expensive fabric than "D." Indicators of quality for upholstered furniture also include: Leather Upholstery Make sure to find out if your leather is a fully protected, semi- protected or "naked" hide. DOES HAVE PROTECTION: If it does have protection, just wipe up spills with a dry cloth. You can also use our Leather Cleaner on a tougher spot that is included when you purchase the Leather Care Warranty. DOES NOT HAVE PROTECTION: If it doesn't have protection spills WILL become a part of your furniture. Hair and body oils WILL work their way into the leather. All of this really adds to the well-worn beauty of an old baseball glove or a favorite bomber jacket. All of this adds to the beauty, charm and uniqueness of unprotected, naked leathers. Please remember that leather is a natural product and, thus, breathes and can dry out or fade in the heat or sun. It is important with protected leathers to restore the moisture at least twice a year with a leather conditioner. We also recommend that you not leave leather pieces in direct sunlight, as this may cause them to fade. If your leather piece is in a high sun or heat area, it is recommended to use a leather conditioner more often. Bernie & Phyl’s Leather Care Warranty Kit Wood Furniture Liquids Spilled liquids should be wiped from the surface immediately with a soft, slightly damp cloth, in the direction of the wood grain. The best general rule to follow is that wood and liquids don’t mix. Heat, Sunlight, and Moisture Placing Objects On Wood Furniture Dusting Polishing Cleaning Scratches Bernie & Phyl’s Wood Care Warranty Kit Brass Make sure to find out if your brass product has a protective coating on it. IF IT DOES: If it does, just use a dry cloth to wipe it down. Do NOT use any abrasives or harsh cleaning products, as it will remove the protective coating. IF IT DOES NOT: If it does NOT have a coating, you will have to get a good brass polish. There are many products out in today's marketplace that are easier to use than what our Grandmothers had to deal with. With a little polish and a little elbow grease will get your piece shining like new! |
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