The sofa is often considered the heart of the living room, and with the right care, a well-made sofa will last years. However, they’re not indestructible, and even the best made sofas need a bit of TLC from time to time.
At Plumbs, we know that your sofa won’t look the way it did the day you bought it forever. There are all sorts of things it might have to endure in the time that you own it – pets and children, casual knocks and bumps, and general wear and tear are all things that can have an effect on the general aesthetic of your sofa covers.
So, with that in mind, here are a few of the most common problems you’ll be faced with when it comes to the general well-being of your upholstered sofa, and how to solve them!
Your furniture can start to fade if left in intense sunlight
This is a very common one, and one that sometimes can be quite tricky to solve. If your sofa is left in direct sunlight for extended periods of time (weeks, months or years), the sun’s rays can eventually start to fade the colours on your sofa. As a result, the fabric can wear out more quickly, which means you may end up looking for new covers sooner than you might’ve expected.
Thankfully, there’s a simple solution if your space allows for it – place your upholstered sofa away from direct sunlight. Not always easily done, but it’ll make a big difference to the longevity of your sofa. If that’s not an option, you could always invest in some quality sofa covers with us here at Plumbs, which you can switch around whenever you feel they’re becoming too exposed to the sun (particularly in the summer!).
Your pet is extremely fond of your sofa
We all love our pets, but let’s be honest – they can take their toll on sofas. Even if you own an impeccably-behaved pet, you’re still probably going to have to deal with the inevitable bit of fur on your sofa from time to time. Probably rather more concerning, however, are notorious pet behaviours like scratching or, uh territory marking.
Fur can be dealt with easily enough – all you need to do is don a trusty rubber glove and rub the fur into a single pile. After that, you can easily pick it up and get rid of it. However, chewed up covers, or those marked with more unpleasant stains, might need replacing entirely. Our replacement sofa covers are the perfect option If you’re in need of a solution. Almost all of our covers are machine washable, meaning they’re great for pet owners and parents who are a bit more likely to struggle with risk of unwanted stains!
Besides that, the next best measures to take are to implement no-sofa-for-pets rules. (But if there’s nothing you love better than a good cuddle on the sofa with the dog, we understand why that might be worth doing a bit of extra cleaning occasionally!)
Dye transfer can start to stain your upholstery
This is another common problem, and one you may even have spotted already. Dye transfer is exactly what it sounds like – the transfer of colour from one furnishing to another. It can occur from any fabric, such as a scatter cushion, and any colour can transfer, not just dark denim. Dye transfer most commonly affects seat cushions, and if it happens frequently enough, sometimes cleaning it won’t always do the job. Sofa covers to the rescue – as mentioned above, our replacement sofa covers are a great option if your sofa has picked up some particularly stubborn dye stains. They’re easy to swap out and stick in the wash at the first sign of staining, meaning you can keep the, looking fresh and new, long after you’ve bought them.
In the meantime, it’s worth seeing what you can do to prevent the problem in the first place. Our advice? The best way to avoid it is to try not to place dark materials on top of light ones. You might have heard other advice to cover your sofa with white cotton sheets when sitting on it, but let’s be honest, that’s not going to be practical for everyone. We’ll leave you to decide whether or not to go for it!
You could be the cleanest individual on the planet, however accidents happen! Especially if you’re a pet owner or a parent. Over time, your sofa will pick up various stains and its usage will no doubt lead to wear and tear. That’s where we can help right here at Plumbs – we supply bespoke, made to measure sofa covers, as well as an impeccable reupholstery service to keep your sofa looking homely and full of life. Revive your furniture with our range of fabrics that tick the boxes of stylish, comfortable, and practical! Looking for something specific, don’t hesitate to let one of us know.
For any and all enquiries please send us an email toplumbs@plumbs.co.ukand we will get back to you as soon as possible.
