Some manufacturers have adopted the voluntary uniform standards for furniture cleanability developed by an industry committee. If used, each fabric will be marked with a code which indicates the appropriate cleaning method. The code may be printed on fabric samples, on a label under seat cushions and/or on hand tags. Use as a guide for spot removal, and for overall cleaning.
W--Use Water-Based Cleaner. Spot clean this fabric with the foam only of a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild detergent or commercial upholstery shampoo. Use sparingly. Avoid overwetting. S--Use Solvent Cleaner. Spot clean this fabric with a mild water-free dry-cleaning solvent available in local stores. Use sparingly in a well-ventilated room with no sparks or flame in the room. CAUTION: Use of water-based solvent cleaners may cause spotting and/or excessive shrinking. Solvent cleaning agents will not remove water stains. S-W--Use Water-Based or Solvent Cleaner. Spot clean this fabric with a dry-cleaning solvent, mild detergent foam or upholstery shampoo, depending on the stain. X--Vacuum Only. Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust and grime. Water-based foam or solvent-based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, fading or spotting. Upholstery--Soil-Resistant Finishes Anti-soil and anti-stain finishes are available for upholstery fabrics. The best results are obtained when these finishes are applied at the factory. They are not permanent and will be removed by several cleanings. These finishes do not take the place of routine care. The following are the most common anti-stain and anti- soil finishes used on fabrics. Zepel is a fluorochemical finish that is applied at the mill, when the fabric is processed, to prevent soiling and staining. Therefore, the finish is only applied to the upholstery before the sale. Scotchgard is another fluorochemical finish applied to fabric to prevent staining and soiling. If an upholstery fabric does not already have this finish on the fabric, then Scotchgard can either be purchased in hardware stores or be applied by professional upholstery cleaners. Scotchgard can be applied to new, unsoiled upholstery with no problems. However, for older upholstery, the fabric should be thoroughly cleaned and all the residue from the cleaner removed from the upholstery before the Scotchgard is applied. Otherwise, the Scotchgard will bond the residue in the upholstery fabric. Teflon is the newest fluorochemical finish for upholstery, either put on the fabric, or applied to the furniture by professional upholstery cleaners. A fabric spray treatment to prevent soiling and staining should be reapplied after each cleaning due to the cleaning agent breaking down the stain resistant chemical. Water will not dissolve the stain resistant chemical but upholstery cleaning agents will.
