Caring for your furnishings

Caring for Upholstery

The manufacturing process of making upholstery involves a great deal of hand finishing therefore you could reasonably expect slight differences in the tailoring of each finished item. Upholstery is not an engineered product and should not be considered as such.

 

General

Avoid leaving furniture in sunlight as sunlight can cause fabrics to fade in a very short period of time. Prolonged exposure to the sun can also cause the fibres that make up the fabric to break down and become weak. This can be pronounced in areas such as conservatories and care must be taken to protect upholstery to avoid damage. Feather interiors can be re-filled in the future by a qualified upholster, if the customer wishes, although this can lead to a change in the feel of the interior. We recommend that you vacuum your upholstery occasionally using the soft brush attachment. If you have feather seat interiors brush the cushion cases with a soft brush instead of vacuuming. Whilst you will not be able to see them, minute dirt particles will get into the fibres of your suite with everyday use. These particles, whilst tiny, are sharp and can cause premature wearing of the fabric.

 

Seat Cushion Interiors

It is vital when purchasing your new suite that you choose the best seat cushion interiors to suit your needs. Many of our suppliers will offer a choice of seat cushion fillings (where the design allows). As fillings can only be exchanged on a chargeable basis it is important that you make the right decision the first time.

 

Feather Interiors

Give a soft luxurious feel and a beautifully casual look. Once sat on, feather cushions will immediately flatten and will require shaking to regain their shape. (We would not recommend feather interiors to people with allergies or asthma).

Fibre Interiors

Fibre Interiors give a casual look and soft feel but still require regular attention. They give much the same feel as feathers however; the fibres work as millions of tiny springs making the cushion revive more easily than feathers. Fibre cushions still need to be shaken (to get the air back into the cushion) and turned on a daily basis. Fibre interiors will lose their shape in time and Interiors may require re-packing or filling by an upholster at a small cost. Failure to turn and plump your interiors properly will result in you having to replace them earlier than you anticipate.

Foam Interiors

Modern day foams are very flexible and available in many densities. Different densities of foam interiors can give a firm or soft sit whilst retaining their shape better than feather or fibre. Foam is usually cut to shape from a larger block and then wrapped in a thin sheet of Dacron fibre to fill the cushion out. Foam Interiors tend to give a crisp clean line to the cushion and upholstery. Generally, this particularly suits classical and formal upholstery shapes and suites with modern straight lines.

Avoid sitting on the front edge of the cushion as this causes a rounding effect on it. Cushion interiors will lose some of their initial shape and soften through use- this is particularly normal.

If you would like any further information or advice regarding your cushion interiors please contact the Sales Advisor who you spoke to in the store (their name will be on the top of your sales agreement).

We will be happy to discuss any further detail.

Sharp Objects

Take care to avoid snagging upholstery or plucking of woven or pile threads. If the pile weave has broken don't see if it will pull-IT WILL It is better to cut it off rather than have an unsightly pulled thread running through the fabric.

 

Pilling or Bobbling

Tiny loose fibres woven in at the time of manufacture are apparent in many new fabrics and can cause fabrics to pill. This results in small balls of fabric appearing on the top surface of the fabric. These can easily be removed by using a device to depill the fabric such as a Remington Defuzzer. This is a characteristic of many fabrics and is not detrimental to the wearability of your suite.

Loose Covers

Loose covered upholstery is designed to have a casual lived in look. Designs are usually soft and squashy and tailoring is designed to be baggy and less formal.

Dralons and Pile Fabrics

Dralons give the same hardwearing durability as ever before. However, many dralons are now coated on the reverse of the cloth with a fire-retardant backing to meet with the UK Fire Retarding Regulations. This backing can cause the dralon to crease. You may notice this from the day your dralon furniture is delivered. Creasing is a characteristic of modern day dralons and cannot be viewed as a fault as it would not be detrimental to the wearability of the cover. If you feel that the creasing would annoy you we would be pleased to suggest some other fabrics as an alternative. Pile fabrics can become flattened or crushed over time, which can give an Impression of wear. Crushed pile can usually be restored by brushing and cleaning by skilled upholstery cleaner. It is not a fault but a characteristic of this type of cloth. Flattening pile can make the cover look shaded as the light reflects off the cover. This is more noticeable in strong light but is quite normal for this type of cover.

Shading/Pile Reversal

Fabrics that have a pile such as dralons or chenilles can flatten through use. When the pile flattens the light will react differently on the surface and give the appearance of shading. This is known as shading/pile reversal. This is quite normal with pile fabrics and is not detrimental to its wearability. A plain fabric is more likely to show the effects of shading/pile reversal as there is no pattern In the fabric to draw the attention of your eye. This is a feature of the fabric and cannot be considered a fault.

Dye Transfer

Whether your upholstery is new or old, we would ask that you ensure that any new fabrics that come into contact with your upholstery are colour-fast, as sometimes the colour (from say a complimentary sofa throw, scatter cushions or a new pair of jeans) can transfer on to your upholstery. Dye transfer is more obvious on lighter shades of upholstery, but can occur on any piece, be that fabric or leather. As a precaution, we would advise you to pre wash and check for colour fastness of any such new items before bringing them into contact with your upholstery.

Cleaning

We would always recommend that you use a professional cleaning company to clean your suite. If using spot cleaners including spot cleaners supplied by Andersons to remove any marks yourself we would always recommend that you test the cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it is compatible with the cover. IF IN ANY DOUBT ALWAYS SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE

Fading

Any cover will fade in direct sunlight very quickly. It is more noticeable with dark colours, but is unavoidable if the furniture is placed near a window that catches direct sunlight

 

Fabric Protection

We are happy to provide a fabric protection service to help look after your investment. Please contact your Sales Advisor for more details.

Wall Mounted Furniture, Mirrors and Pictures

We hold in stock a vast array of mirrors, pictures and wall-mounted furniture and some of this is very heavy. It is our assumption when a customer purchases this furniture that they have made all necessary checks to ensure that the items they have bought are able to be fitted to the wall at their home

Caring for Leather

When selecting a leather suite it is important to choose the leather that fits your lifestyle. Hides come in many qualities and it can sometimes be difficult to know which is the most suitable. Many less expensive leathers would not wear well given everyday use in a family environment as they are not treated to do so. This is also true, perversely, of some much more expensive 'luxury leathers! It is therefore important to be aware of the different types of leather available.

Imperfections such as colour and grain variations (roughness), scars and lines and natural markings that might be found on the leather surface are not to be confused with defects as they are natural characteristics confirming the genuineness and authenticity of real leather. As with any natural material we would expect to find these imperfections and would not regard them as faults as during its life the animal will have been exposed to normal daily knocks and bruises. Scars can appear to be cuts or lines and can be quite pronounced when healed, but they do not weaken the leather nor is it possible to order a leather suite without such markings. Likewise, the grain of the leather can vary across the hide. Some areas will be plain and others will be heavily grained. Again it is not possible to order a suite with a totally plain graining.

Listed below are the main categories of leather and their characteristics.

Aniline Leather

These leathers are the closest to a pure and natural hide. They're tanned and coloured with transparent aniline dyes. This dying process allows you to see rich colour hues unique to each hide as well as show off each hides one-of-a-kind grain pattern. This leather reflects the unaltered full top grain of the surface and offers a remarkable skin-life feeling. This is a very sophisticated hide for the connoisseur showing all scars that the hide has to offer. Rough patches in the hide may take more colours in the dye process than other areas and these dark patches can be a feature of this type of hide. This hide is not a high protection hide. This leather requires extra care & maintenance as it is very porous and will accept stains from liquids very easily.

Pigmented Leather

These leathers offer a higher level of protection as they undergo careful processing to make them more resistant to liquids, sunlight and wear and tear. The leather ends up with a more consistent grain pattern yet still retains as much softness as possible. This colour is more consistent throughout the hide. They're easy to clean and are ideal for families with active children and pets. They are perfectly suited to the busiest areas of your home.

Semi Aniline

These leathers contain a pigment but the surface retains the natural characteristics of the leather and therefore still shows all scars and natural markings within the hide. These leathers do have a degree of protection and are suitable for general use.

Old Saddle Leather (Pull-Up Hide)

Natural leather, beautifully aged. This leather is designed to look old, worn and lined. Everyday scuffs and scratches will show on this hide and add to the character of the piece. Panels will differ in colour and rough patches will not take the stain applied in the finishing process. Relax! It is not supposed to. This leather is soft and supple like your favourite leather jacket. If you're looking for a more consistently coloured leather look towards a different type of hide.

Caring for Furniture

No matter if your furniture is traditional or modern, rustic or regency there is not much to compare to the enduring beauty of quality cabinet furniture. No two pieces of wood are the same. Each piece may have different colours and textures within the grain which will shade and mature differently giving each piece its own identity. We explain below some of the characteristics you can expect from your cabinet furniture.

As wood is a natural product you can expect to find knots, marks and shakes (dark lines) in the grain on various surfaces. These marks show that the timber is real and reflect the nature of the product. These can be more visible in lighter timbers such as maple, oak and teak. The same piece of wood can vary in texture and colour, showing distinct lines when polished. These are not faults but part of the characteristics that you can expect from a natural material.

Crazing of Veneers (Feathering)

As with solid wood, all veneers will move slightly during their lifetime. This will result in a crazing of the surface wax or lacquer. This is a perfectly natural occurrence and should be viewed as a feature of originality, apparent in some of the finest antiques

Movement

Wood is a natural product which 'breathes' in different temperatures. As it breathes some movement will occur in your furniture. This is perfectly normal and most pieces of cabinet furniture are designed to allow for movement. In some cases, a white line may appear where two surfaces that meet have moved. This can easily be stained to match with the existing colour. On rare occasions, some movement may occur in the drawer runners making them more difficult to open and close - this can be easily rectified. Movement can occur very early into the life of your furniture. Similarly, hidden pressures in the grain of any piece of wood can cause it to twist or 'warp'. This is more noticeable in longer pieces of wood such as wardrobe doors and often becomes more apparent after changes in temperature and humidity. In areas of the house that are prone to extremes of temperature such as conservatories or sun-rooms, we would expect solid timber to move in a more marked fashion. While some people are happy with this we would ask this be taken into consideration when buying a piece of furniture for this kind of area in the home.

Medullary Rays

Medullary rays are formed in the growth of the tree and are shown as light streaks in the wood. This is a natural characteristic of the timber making each piece unique.

Antique and Distressed Finishes

Many cabinet ranges today come with an antiqued or distressed finish this is a deliberate feature adding character and Individuality to each piece

Oiled Furniture 

We have found the oiled finish to be popular recently. Please oil your furniture regularly to avoid the furniture drying out as this will be detrimental to its wearability. When furniture is new it will need to be oiled every 4-6 weeks (you will see signs of it drying out). The wood is more porous in its early life and can absorb spills and stains. Please be careful and mop up all spills and stains immediately. To maintain your furniture we recommend that in the first three months, you apply a thin coat of oil with a lint free cloth once a month. Then more applications approximately 6 monthly should be sufficient to maintain the soft oil finish of your furniture. We offer oil kits in store for this purpose.

Shading & Mellowing 

It is quite normal for a new piece of furniture to shade or mellow as part of the ageing process. It is usual that shading/mellowing is more evident in new pieces of furniture as the hue of the wood comes through when exposed to daylight. This is more evident in items such as extending dining tables as the table surface is exposed to sunlight more than the leaf, therefore, the leaf will not shade/mellow at the same rate as the table as these are usually either hidden in the table or stored away. Once the leaf is exposed to natural light it will begin to shade to the same degree as the table. The principle is the same for all pieces of cabinet furniture.

Finishing

The traditional method of finishing furniture is with wax and a very fine wire wool, leaving minute scratches in the finish usually running in the same direction as the grain These can be especially noticeable in certain lights Avoid extreme changes of temperature-keep furniture away from radiators and direct sunlight

Cleaning

To clean most surfaces wipe with a cotton cloth which is very slightly damp. For greasy marks add a few drops of vinegar to the water. Never leave a surface wet as this can be harmful to the finish. Annual polishing with a furniture wax will help to maintain the appearance of your furniture. Some ranges have an oil finish which requires more attention, especially if used often. A thin coat of boiled linseed oil (available from DIY shops) will keep the surface in top condition and will stop the absorption of liquids and stains into the surface. We would estimate that this should be carried out monthly when the furniture is new and as necessary after six months.

Avoid using aerosol polishes as these are usually detrimental to the finish. Do not put hot items directly onto a wooden surface as this would be damaging- always use a coaster or heat protective mat

Adding to your Collection

Please bear in mind that if you order furniture from the same range in the future your original furniture will have changed colour and will probably not match exactly. You may also find that slight details, finishes and specifications have changed from your original order. This is especially the case with leather and cabinet furniture

Disposal of Furniture

We are unable to remove/dispose of fitted or semi-fitted furniture due to its complex nature when being fitted. The costs charged when we dispose of customers' furniture usually only cover the disposal costs. No profit is made from this for these services. We would ask the customer if we are disposing of furniture to ensure that they are properly covered by standard household insurance in the event of any accidental damage caused to the property during the removal.

Electrics

When ordering units with lights or electrical fittings please ensure that there is a power socket close to the unit. We supply the cable and plug into a standard UK power supply. We regret that our fitters cannot take on any electrical work, we are happy to liaise with a customer and the customer's electrical contractor when installing furniture but would need prior knowledge of this to avoid delays/added cost

Modern Lacquer & High Gloss Finishes 

Be especially careful to avoid scratching high gloss finishes by using only very soft, clean cloths and wiping with light pressure. For satin finishes, always rub in line with the existing sheen. Dust is very abrasive, and can scratch the finish wiped off with a dry cloth. To avoid scratching, dust the items lightly with a feather duster.

Alternatively wipe lightly with a soft damp cloth to pick up the dust, followed immediately with a dry cloth. The cloths should be soft cotton such as flannel because coarse or synthetic fabrics can scratch some finishes. Wring out the damp cloth thoroughly so it leaves no visible moisture on the surface. To avoid creating swirl marks, always wipe with long straight strokes rather than circular motions.

Wipe with the grain for natural wood finishes, or in the direction of the existing sheen pattern for solid-colour satin finishes

Travertine

Whilst travertine itself is a hard and durable product it is the finish on the top of the travertine that will react to spills and stains. When ordering a marble or travertine table top please speak with the Sales Advisor to ensure that you are buying the product with the correct finish. for your usage.

Marble

Genuine marble for furniture is only available from a few areas of the world. It is extremely expensive to quarry virgin marble from the various mountain formations. Huge marble blocks are cut free and transported out of the quarry for further processing. Care and maintenance of marble is a simple matter. Genuine marble has received a varnish treatment to ensure that the surfaces are resistant to grease, wine spirits etc. The surfaces should merely be washed with a mild soap solution.

Do not expose to solvents such as cellulose thinners etc.

Travertine and marble are natural stone, materials and as such can be vulnerable to hard knocks of scratches to edges or smooth varnished surfaces.

Your genuine stone product is a work of art from nature and will remain beautiful for generations to come.

Cane and Rattan

To care for cane and rattan furniture simply wash with warm soap suds and chamois dry afterwards

Conservatories

The extremes of temperature, humidity and prolonged sunlight can have a premature ageing effect on any furniture used in a conservatory. It would not be considered unusual to see more marked movement of timber or accelerated wear on items used in these conditions. In order for your purchase to continue to look its best, please try to protect it from direct sunlight and environmental extremes.

Beds

There are many different types of mattresses available on the market today. We recommend that if required pocket sprung mattresses are turned as often as possible in the first few months in order to allow the fillings to settle and even out, you may see sleeping positions in the mattress but this is not detrimental and is quite normal. Sometimes a traditional pocket sprung mattress may appear shorter than the base but this will spread after a brief period of time.

Visco Elastic and Latex Mattress

With a Visco elastic or Latex mattress, there is no need to turn or rotate.

Some mattresses may have a slight odour due to being packaged this should dissipate after a few days.

Zip and Link Sets

Zip and Link mattresses and bases are usually fitted with a zip to both faces of the mattress. It is important to unzip these when turning or transporting.

Electrically Operated Chairs and Beds

Make sure that the chair or bed is plugged in and the power (mains switch) is on. Ensure that the mains cable is free from damage or obstruction and entanglement with the chair or beds operational positions. In the event of the chair or bed being switched off or a power cut, the mains plug is sometimes fitted with a green reset button which will reset the motor. If your chair or bed is still inoperable, do not attempt to carry out any repairs, please consult the store. Do not sit on either end of the bed when in the raised position as this could strain the mechanism.

Bedroom Furniture

Floors need to be level when fitting and assembling wardrobes and large cabinets and this is the customer's responsibility. We have on occasion been able to help in levelling wardrobes where floors are not level, however, this can be time-consuming and there may be extra costs involved. When ordering units with lights or electrical fittings please ensure that there is a power socket close to the unit. We supply the cable and plug into a standard UK power supply. We regret that our fitters cannot take on any electrical work, we are happy to liaise with a customer and the customer's electrical contractor when installing furniture but would need prior knowledge of this to avoid delays/added cost.

Carpets

Shading/Pile Reversal

Through use and in time, all carpets will flatten to a certain degree and as a result, cut pile carpets will tend to shade in the same way that velvet curtains and fabrics do. This is called 'shading'. The degree of noticeable shading will depend upon the amount of design in the carpet together with the depth of colour. A plain carpet is more likely to show greater shading than a darker, heavily patterned carpet as the design will distract attention from the shading. This effect can vary given the local lighting conditions and traffic. Sometimes a watermark will appear for no apparent reason, this phenomenon is attributed to site conditions, is inherent in all pile carpets and is not a fault of manufacture or installation.

Shading is caused because the tufts throughout a newly laid carpet are almost parallel with each other, any inclination being regular and in the same direction. After a period of time, the tufts will gradually assume a greater slant in the areas of most use and thus expose their sides to the light. The sides of the tufts are now reflecting more light than the tips and will appear lighter in colour. This is known as 'pile pressure' and there are no hard and fast rules as to when this will occur and to what extent. It is simply a natural characteristic of all cut pile materials.

Please note that samples shown or supplied may not be from the batch that is eventually fitted. Whilst flooring supplied will be manufactured within fine tolerances. some variations of shade and finish are possible. A wider variation should be expected with 'Berber yarns, natural flooring and wood. Please advise us if colour matching is critical to your furnishing scheme.

Vacuum at least once a week (or more in areas of heavy footfall). This will keep the pile clear of dirt and grit and keep the pile fresh.

Shedding and Piling

In the same manner, as with fabrics, some carpets can pill. This is perfectly normal and can be removed.

Please contact the Carpet Department for more details.

Carpet Protection

We are happy to provide a stain guard carpet protection service to help protect your investment. Please contact your carpet Sales Advisor for more details.

Wooden Flooring

As with any genuine wood product, wooden flooring will move slightly in your home atmosphere. When fitted a wooden floor is left with a gap around the edge of the room to allow for shrinkage or expansion. This gap is usually concealed by a quadrant beading. Laminate flooring is less prone to movement.

Soft Furnishings

Unlined Curtains

Some unlined curtains are suitable for washing but there is always a risk of loss of finish and body of the fabric. There are several 'washable' fabrics available but they do not guarantee no shrinkage. If curtains must be washed, remove all hooks and loosen the heading tapes before washing. Tiebacks and handmade headings use stiffened buckram in construction; it is not advisable that these be washed.

Lined Curtains

Lined and interlined curtains are not suitable for washing. Dry cleaning will also risk damage to your curtains as lining. Interlining and fabric may all react differently to the cleaning process. Brown watermarks and fading may also become more apparent after cleaning. To maintain the appearance of your curtains vacuum regularly to remove dust. Cover the nozzle with muslin, especially for silks or fine fabrics to avoid excessive pulling on the curtains.

Roman Blinds

The tapes/cords on the back of a Roman blind can often work loose. This is easily fixed by lowering the blind, ensuring that all the tapes are fully extended and adjusting the tape grips at the bottom to bring all the tapes back to the same length. If over time any of the components of your blind become faulty due to wear and tear we can offer a repair and re-setting service.

Steaming Curtains

Ideally, creases should be allowed to hang out naturally. Steamers can be used but with care as the combination of heat and moisture can cause shrinkage. A steam iron held at a reasonable distance from the fabric to allow the steam to work without causing dampness or overheating should be sufficient to ease creases or raise the pile of velvets and chenilles. We can offer a curtain steaming and finishing service if you feel that your new drapes need that extra touch.

Fashion Fabrics

Modern fabrics are created using a wide variety of construction methods and fibre content. Some fabrics will enable soft fluid drape while others will create fuller bulkier or even 'scrunched' effects. Silks, metallic threads, wool, cotton and synthetics all have their own characteristics and behave differently. Some fabrics may have natural 'slubs'. 

Atmospheric and temperature changes can have an effect on how your curtains behave, for example, there may be movement in the length of your curtains from summer to winter or curtain length may rise or drop if they are hung in front of a radiator. These characteristics are unavoidable and should not be seen as defects.