Fabric Care and Cleaning Advice

Cleaning

For best results we recommend all fabrics should be dry cleaned by a specialist in the cleaning of upholstery and curtain fabrics. Spot cleaning and the use of proprietary products is not recommended.

Regular vacuuming and turning of cushions can prolong the life of covers and reduces the need for cleaning. We recommend your sofa and armchair loose covers or set of curtains be cleaned at the same time. This will ensure the colour balance remains consistent.

Washing

Always follow the washing and cleaning instructions. Do not mix fabrics of different colours. Do not use products containing bleaching, optical brightening agents, or conditioners. After washing, pull gently and reshape cover while damp. Fabrics can shrink when washed – please allow up to 5%. Shrinkage caused by washing can often be partly regained by carefully stretching the covers when damp and a gently steam iron.

Loose covers and cushions

Please remember to allow an extra 5% allowance when making up loose covers and cushions, this will ensure they re-fit after cleaning and allow for any shrinkage that may occur. Over locking of seams is recommended to help prevent fraying.

Movement of curtains in situ

When making curtains always allow for atmospheric movement and fluctuations in length as the result of changes in temperature and humidity. Fabrics woven with natural fibres will absorb moisture and this can result in stretching or shrinking. It is reasonable to expect as much as a 3% change in any curtain length. For instance, a 2.5m curtain length may move up to 8cm up or down under different conditions. Heavier fabrics, looser weaves, and those with thicker yarns of natural fibres will react to changing humidity and this should be made clear to the ultimate customer.

For curtains we recommend leaving generous hems to allow easy alteration and adjustment after hanging. We strongly recommend hanging curtains for at least 4 weeks before finishing the hems. Top quality curtain makers avoid ‘exact’ length curtains, i.e., floor-touching or to a windowsill. Any adjustments remain the responsibility of the maker and cannot be accepted as a fault of the fabric. Please note that fabrics woven with manmade yarns will tend to show little or no atmospheric movement.