Keeping your sitting areas clean, cozy, and inviting through the spring and summer seasons

Sohohome.com

Spring cleaning doesn’t seem to be a popular concept in our communities — we do our deep cleaning before Pesach and our flower decor at Shavuos, and then before we know it summer is upon us and we get busy with all manner of barbecue, camp, and outdoor plans.

But sometimes there’s a little voice in the back of your head whispering to bring in some of that glorious clean air and sunshine, and make a few minor changes to freshen up and reinvigorate your well-loved spots and spaces.

Take a Chill, Pill

Small pills on your upholstered furniture can cause it to look worn out and dirty, but no need to put that couch out by the curb just yet. Pottery Barn suggests a tool called the Gleener to clean upholstery and de-pill snubs in the fabric, while others are fans of Conair’s Fabric Defuzzer. DIYers use a razor to de-pill, but with the low price point on these nifty little tools and the chance of nicking your sofa with a razor, the choice is simple. Both tools also get rid of dust, dandruff, and pet hair.

The Gleener is suited for more delicate fabrics, while Conair’s tool does well with more durable material. But consider yourself warned — de-pilling can be addictive, and you may find yourself roaming the house looking for pilly sweaters and blankets at odd hours of the night.

Finding the Right Fabric

If you’re shopping around for upholstery fabrics, choose a natural rather than synthetic material for less pilling — wool, linen, or silk, for example, or a tightly woven fabric like microsuede or denim. Pay attention to the double rub count, a durability test done on most textiles to determine how long it will take to become threadbare, and look for a minimum double rub count of 20,000 for furniture that gets a good bit of use. (Curtains, tablecloths, and bedding do well with 9,000–12,000 count, since they don’t encounter as much friction as furniture does.)

Keep in mind that the same double rub count on a delicate fabric such as silk will not hold up as long as a sturdier one with the same count, and that an extremely high count likely means the fabric is well-suited to an army base, but not so cozy for you and your kids to curl up on.

For easy cleaning and a fabric that will stay fresh for years, look for fabrics such as Crypton that are pretreated to repel liquids, resist stains, and keep away odors. Crypton supplies their fabrics to major furniture manufacturers, and sells their own line of furniture at Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn, among other retailers.

Many synthetic fabrics are easy to clean, and Better Homes & Gardens has a list of the most popular synthetics with their pros and cons (as well as a great primer on important re-upholstery terms). Winners on the list are microfiber, with its velvet-like finish, and olefin with a faintly wax-like feel — both resist liquids, stains, and fading, making them great choices for sun-lit, high-traffic areas.

Treat It Right, Spruce It Up

We all know that the time, energy, and finances we invest into selecting the perfect couches becomes a smarter investment when we care for them properly. A weekly swipe of a handheld vacuum over upholstered furniture will pick up small air-borne debris and prolong the life of that gorgeous fabric. If you have an old hat brush or a large, soft brush, run it gently over the furniture first to loosen any foreign objects.

Depending on the type of fabric, different treatments should be used to deep-clean upholstered furniture. Molly Maid has an easy guide to cleaning fabric, microfiber, and leather using basic household ingredients, such as vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda.

Turning the cushions over and fluffing up the back pillows (lay them flat and give them a good whack or two) will quickly revive a sorry-looking couch after the kids have lounged on it in unconventional ways. For a style revival, consider new throw pillows in a mix of textures and patterns, or look for new pillow covers. Resist the urge to karate-chop down the center of your throw pillows, unless you’re trying to let off steam.

For trendy spring decorating, look for minimalistic tropical prints (think subtle rather than bold colors and designs), orb-shaped pillows, and linen or cotton throw blankets. Relaxing pastels (sky blue, pale salmon, or mint) or brighter tropical colors (spring yellow, seafoam, turquoise, bright green) are a great way to lighten and brighten up a room, and they can blend seamlessly with neutral, solid-colored furniture.

It’s incredible what a little time and research (and implementation, of course) can do to improve the look and feel of a home space that’s showing its age. Let the sunlight in, clean things up, add some color, and reap the rewards!

Sarah Faygie Berkowitz works in communications and marketing, and moonlights as a writer for online and print news outlets. She enjoys interviewing SMEs on seemingly random topics and producing prose that makes her sound like a pro

(Originally featured in Family Room, Issue 017)