There is nothing like bringing home new furniture only to have family life happen. Spills,
stains, jumping kids, or pet messes are all part of family life. Discover how to choose fabric options made to withstand the messes of everyday life without sacrificing your style.
When searching for new furniture for your living spaces, choosing a fabric or leather that works best for your family can be a daunting task. Somethings to watch for when choosing upholstery are the rub counts, cleanability, texture and stain resistance.
Rub Counts are tests done to the fabric to see how durable it is. The Wyzenbeek Abrasion Test is the standard test in the United States used to determine a fabric's "double rub" count. The fabric is stretched over a wire mesh screen and placed in a machine. A testing pad is then rubbed back and forth over the fabric by a mechanical arm. A "double rub" is measured for each back-and-forth pass. The test continues until 2 yarns break or significant color changes are noted.
Some common double rub count ratings include:
Delicate duty (under 3,000 double rubs): Ideal for pillows, drapes, and curtains
Light duty (3,000-9,000 double rubs): Best for furniture used occasionally
Medium duty (9,000-15,000 double rubs): Versatile for various daily-use furniture
Heavy duty (15,000+ double rubs): Perfect for frequently used items like the family couch.
30,000+ is considered commercial grade and made to withstand very high traffic areas like in restaurants, theaters, offices, etc.
When looking for cleanability in fabrics pay attention to the cleaning codes listed. If the cleaning codes aren’t listed, make sure to ask so you know the proper way to clean up those family messes. There are several industry standard codes to be aware of.
S – Clean with pure Petroleum Distillate-Based Solvents only. Water-based or detergent-based cleaners may cause excessive shrinkage. Water stains may become permanent.
SW – Clean with either water-based cleaning agents, foam, or pure Petroleum Distillate-Based solvents.
W – Clean with water-based cleaning agents or foam to remove overall soil. (Note: Many household cleaners are harmful to the color and life of a fabric.)
X – Do not clean. Only lightly vacuum.
Some manufacturers go beyond and have fabrics that are designed to repel liquids as well as some that are UV fade resistant. These options make great family friendly choices for both interior and exterior furniture options.
Some top family & pet durable upholstery options are leather, polyester, polypropylene, or blends of polyester and polypropylene. Polyester is a strong wrinkle resistant synthetic fabric that is easy to clean. Polypropylene (also known as Olefin) is another synthetic fabric that is durable, easily cleanable and is less likely to fade in the sunlight due to the solution dyed fibers.
Leather hides have been around for 1000’s of years and are known for their easy cleanability and stain resistance. As long as there is a protective finish on the leather keeping your leather sofas looking like new is usually as simple as: vacuuming crumbs, dog hair, and other debris away and drying with a cotton or microfiber cloth. Avoid harsh scrubbing and repeat if necessary.
Textures are another great option to help with minimizing stain visibility and comfort in general. Using touchable textures and patterns can help camouflage inevitable spills or marks to the fabric. Don’t be afraid to throw in dark or bold colors. Tight woven heathered colors with textured pillows can add to the fun style as well as functionality of your living spaces.
With the right upholstery choice, you can keep your home looking beautiful while standing up to the realities of family life. Fabric or leather, fit your furniture to your style and family!
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