Caring for Upholstered Furniture During Summer
If you skipped the spring cleaning, then summer is another great time to refresh your home décor, especially if you have upholstered furniture.
The sun and warmth may give way to some extra motivation, and it’s exactly these elements that give a reason as to why you should consider updating certain aspects of your home.
The change in season, temperature, and even sunlight itself can affect your furnishings if you’re not careful and changing things up may even improve your living conditions and comfort, keeping you cool and breezy during muggy heat waves.
In this article we’ll be listing some tips to create a fresh, comfortable home for yourself. You’ll be glad you did when the heat rolls in….
Choosing Seasonal Appropriate Materials
To make chilled-out days indoors truly, and literally “chill”, consider switching up your fabrics. This is especially crucial if you still have heavier, thicker, materials from winter.
Switch to lighter fabrics for your curtains, bedsheets, and any other blankets or sheets. Got a leather sofa? You don’t have to completely rip up and replace the material (unless you really want to).
Instead, look into thin covers you can drape over the leather. It’ll be much more comfortable than sitting on bare leather on a hot, sticky day. Materials such as linen or cotton are more breathable and easier to keep clean and maintained.
And if you do need an update to your sofa or furniture, why not get creative and make an upholstery project a goal to set for summer?
If you’re finding your seating area a little too sunken, don’t risk potential back problems, get yourself some new and unsquashed upholstery foam.
Thinner curtains will let more natural light in, but there’s always still the option of blackout blinds if you want to enjoy a movie or a gaming session without light reflecting on your TV or monitor.
Add Some Colourful, Seasonal Accessories
Throw pillows are an easy, cost-effective way to quickly refresh your living room for the new season.
Whatever accessories you go for, pick cheerful, bright and bold colours. Tropical, floral, and general vibrant colours can give your space the summer vibe you want to create.
Lightweight and summery blankets are also a great accessory and versatile too. Whether draped over your sofa, used for picnics, beach visits (though towels may be the better option here), or ready for guests when a garden party gets a bit chilly, having a few blankets available is always a good idea.
How to Care for Your Upholstery During Summer
Extreme temperatures, hot and cold, can have effects on many things around your house, and your upholstery is no exception.
Make sure to control your indoor humidity and keep rooms well ventilated. High humidity can lead to the growth of mould on many types of upholstery.
To reduce the risk of mould growth, open your windows from time to time, just a slight gap to allow some air circulation can make all the difference.
Fans can also help, especially in combination with open windows and doors. You may even want to invest in a dehumidifier.
Protecting Furniture from Sunlight
The heat and light from the sun can cause upholstery fabric to lose its colour, fading and even weakening the material.
Try to keep your items out of direct sunlight, that includes light from windows. Make sure blinds or curtains are down during peak sunlight hours, especially if you’re leaving the house unattended during the day.
Rotation, Rotation, Rotation
Make it a habit to regularly rotate any cushions you rest or sit on. This extends their life, as otherwise they’ll quickly become squished and uneven. It’ll also reduce risk of the fading from sunlight exposure as mentioned above.
In extreme cases you won’t be able to fix a squashed cushion no matter how much fluffing up you try to do. You’ll then need to resort to replacement upholstery foam.
Cleaning Tips
Having guests round? Time to do some cleaning. Always make sure to read any labels on any furniture, pillows and fabrics, if available. Or do some online research to make sure whatever specific material you are working with is cleaned properly.
Here’s some general tips:
Vacuum regularly: it may be unsafe to vacuum certain fabrics directly, but keeping the surrounding area clean will prevent dust from accumulating.
Spot Clean Stains Quickly: if you’ve spilt something, the quicker you clean, the less time the stain has to set in and become harder to remove. Blot with a cloth and use a mild fabric cleaner. Test an inconspicuous area first.
If In Doubt, Call a Pro: if you’re not sure, and you don’t want to risk mucking up your precious upholstery, call a professional who can deep clean and use all the right equipment.
Once clean and organised, you and any guests can then enjoy a comfortable, clean, and summery space to socialise in!
