Best Upholstery Choices for Cat and Dog Owners

As a proud owner of a cat or a dog, you know that selecting the best upholstery can be a little complicated. If you are a realist, you must have realized that not just your prized sofa, but most of your home is at the mercy of your beloved pet. Even when not trying to destroy your upholstery willfully, simply by climbing, sitting or walking on it your pet can exact a heavy toll. As a cat owner I can certainly attest to that.

Here are some problems you might have had to contend with:

• Claw marks and scratches.
• Pet hair clinging to the upholstery.
• Dirt marks.
• Stains from bathroom accidents or throwing up.

Try and select a fabric that has a tight weave, and one that is not very textured as that can get caught in claws. Also, stay away from very light colors unless you have a well behaved and well trained pet. Select a fabric that you would buy for a heavy usage area.

Here are the top two choices that have worked well in my experience.

Leather

Leather is one of the best coverings you can choose, period. It is long lasting, and if anything improves with age and use. It is easy to maintain, and comes in many colors, feels, and is available in different price points. What more can you ask you ask for?

When it comes to pets, it can stand up to most. I've even noticed that some pets don't care too much for sitting or sleeping on it.

Even when they do climb on it, it is easily cleaned and pet hair is easily cleaned because it doesn't cling to it. It is possible for your cat to leave holes in it if it uses your sofa as a scratching post, but that behavior should be discouraged in any case.

It is easy to clean leather, but if you are having any problems, get it professionally cleaned because leather is relatively expensive.

Microfiber

A close second to leather is microfiber, a synthetic fabric.  It is also a good choice, simply because it is easy to clean and maintain and wears well. Microfiber is also a more affordable choice than leather, and can also be found in many colors.

Your pet's claws won't get caught in it, as there are no loops in the fabric. It is not a hair magnet, which is great if your pet is a long haired breed.

Microfiber is also easy to clean for stains, should accidents happen. Just make sure to blot most of the mess with a clean towel and then clean with a little soap and water. But make sure to check the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning. 

You may find that a patterned fabric might work better than a solid, but I would not recommend buying any fabric that is nubby or heavily textured, as your pet's claws can easily get caught in it. Besides, it might be too much fun to scratch. It goes without saying that fragile fabrics, such as silk, wool or linen should be avoided or used only where your pet is not allowed.

Upholstering Your Ottoman on a Budget

What can hold your feet or your posterior, can be pushed under a table or to the middle of the room, can be round, oval, square or rectangular with affecting it's performance, can fit into anyone's budget, and can be made by even a novice? Give up? It's an ottoman, of course! And it's one of the most versatile furniture pieces you can buy. You can easily find one at second hand stores, yard sales, or thrift stores.

But if you can't even afford to buy it second hand, you can make it yourself (if you want to know how, visit my article on ottoman instructions). And best of all, there are dozens of ways you can upholster your used or newly made creation. Let me give you a few ideas for potential covering for potential work of art:

1. Leather Skirt. An ottoman is small enough that you can use a skirt to cover the surface with soft, quality leather. You can find many good leather examples at thrift shops. Look at the skirt construction and work with the seams to create the best design on the ottoman's top.

2. Rug. Braided or chenille rugs can be a durable covering for an ottoman, especially for a family room. For a more upscale look, use a kilmn or southwestern rug. But take care that the rug isn't too thick to easily attach to the bottom with staples. An alternative method would be heavy duty glue (Tack the bottom until the glue dries).

3. Bedspread. Have a vintage chenille bedspread? It would make a great covering for an ottoman, especially if it has a design in the center.

You can feature the design for a fabulous original ottoman.

4. Towel. Another durable covering for a family room or other high use area is a towel. It is easily cleaned and is soft and cozy. You can even afford a brand new one for the project - especially if you shop at the dollar store.

5. Tablecloth - Fabric or Vinyl. Whether fabric or vinyl, tablecloths can be a colorful and stylish covering for your ottoman.

Vinyl would be good for a high traffic area. It can be washed clean easily with just a wipe of a cloth. Fabric is less easily cleaned, but still a good choice - especially one treated with stain repellent.

6. Drapes. Brocade or velvet drapes from thrift shops are perfect for covering your project. The fabric is usually elegant and long wearing. The fabric is perfect for a living room or bedroom. And you can find braid remnants at your local fabric store which can be used to add a tailored look.

7: Sweater. A heathered wool sweater would make a gorgeous covering for an ottoman. Think of using it in a den or family room.

Remove Chocolate Stains On Clothes, Carpet and Upholstery

Whether it is chocolate mousse or just a chocolate candy bar, chocolate is perfect except when it stains your favorite shirt or lands on the carpet or sofa upholstery.

How To Remove Chocolate Stains On Washable Clothes

Chocolate is a combination stain - a bit of an oil stain, a bit of a dye stain. Start by using a dull knife or edge of a credit card to lift away the dropped chocolate. Do not rub the stain because that will send it deeper into the fabric.

Next, rub a dab of heavy-duty liquid detergent like Tide, Wisk or Persil or a paste of powdered detergent and water into the stain. Wash garment as usual with an all-fabric bleach and detergent.

How to Remove Chocolate Stains on Dry Clean Only Clothes

Again, lift away as much of the chocolate as possible using a dull knife or credit card edge. Do not rub or add water, you could make matters worse. As soon as possible point out and identify the stain to your professional cleaner.

If you are using a home dry cleaning kit, be sure to treat the chocolate stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

How to Remove Chocolate Stains On Carpet

Try to lift as much of the chocolate off the carpet as possible with a dull knife or spoon. If it is melted or liquid, place an ice cube on it for a minute to harden the chocolate and make it easier to lift away.

For the remaining stain, dampen a clean white cloth with water and drop a bit of dish washing detergent on the cloth.

Working from the outside edge of the chocolate stain toward the center, rub in the detergent. Do your best to prevent spreading the stain. Allow the detergent to sit on the stain for at least five minutes.

Wet a clean white cloth with water and "rinse" the area to remove the detergent. Repeat until you feel no more soap.

Allow to air dry.

How to Remove Chocolate Stains On Upholstery

Grab that dull knife or spoon and lift away as much chocolate as you can. Unless your couch is silk (if it is, just call a professional), mix one tablespoon dish washing detergent with two cups cold water. Work from the outside of the stain toward the center sponging the solution with a clean white cloth.

Use a dry cloth to blot away the moisture and repeat until the stain is gone. Do one final sponge with clear water and allow to air dry.

How to Clean Leather Furniture

Leather furniture is easy to clean and maintain. At least most of the time. Barring a few emergencies where you are better off calling a professional, you can maintain leather fairly easily. It is a very forgiving material.

While leather furniture is expensive, but the investment pays off as it can easily last a lifetime with just a little everyday care. Before looking elsewhere for tips on cleaning and maintenance, it is best to follow instruction from your manufacturer, because different types of leather furnituremay require different methods of cleaning.

However, if your leather furniture did not come with instructions:

• Try the gentlest cleaning methods first.
• Always test in an inconspicuous spot.
• Consult a professional if the stain is hard to remove.
• Use a wiping motion and don't scrub.
• NEVER use harsh chemicals, alcohol, strong detergents or abrasive cleaners to clean leather. All of these may cause irreparable damage to your leather sofa. Remember that when cleaning leather, gentler is always better, and strong abrasives cause more damage than any stain that may happen.
  
  
  

  Everyday Cleaning and Care

  • Wipe down leather furniture with a clean, soft, white cloth every week or so. Do this more frequently in a dusty environment. Why white? A white cloth ensures that you don't deposit dyes on your leather couch by mistake, and it is also easy to see if you have removed all the dirt.
  • Vacuum your leather furniture from from time to time, just as you would for any other upholstery material.
  • But unlike other upholstery, you can use a damp, soft cloth to remove dirt build up if you have not been cleaning it regularly. Just make sure your cleaning cloth is damp, not soaking wet.

  Grease Stains

  • Grease stains do not call for a damp cleaning cloth, because you will not be able to get the grease out with water. For these it is best to use a dry, soft cloth and use a blotting action. Press down to blot up as much grease from the leather surface as you can.
  • Use talcum powder or cornstarch, and sprinkle on the leather surface. Allow to sit for a while and then brush away using a brush with soft bristles. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times. Do not rub. This technique also works on fabric.

  Water Stains

  • The best remedy is to blot with a soft cloth immediately, as soon as the spill occurs.
  • If the water has dried, use a soft damp cloth and starting from the stain wipe outwards towards the edges of the cushion in all directions. Again, no scrubbing, only wipe gently. Use less and less moisture as you go outward. This technique provides a uniform effect for the entire treated leather surface, while minimizing the stain.

  Ink Stains

  • Ink stains on leather are among the hardest to remove, and may need to be cleaned by a professional depending on the kind of ink, and the severity of the stain. As with any other stain, fresh ink stains are easier to remove.
  • Small marks, such as those from ball point pens, may disappear on their own over a period of time. You can also try cleaning smaller stains using a gentle soap solution.
  • Big blobs of ink will need to be treated professionally. Do not use alcohol to clean your leather furniture, as you could potentially damage the color.

Update Your Upholstered Furniture

When you're ready for a new or fresh piece of upholstered furniture, consider having the an old piece you have revived with new upholstery. By having the piece upholstered, you can choose your favorite fabric, change details like the skirt or the roll of the furniture arm, and probably save a lot of money over buying a new piece of upholstered furniture. And the old piece you have is probably much better made. You'll win all around.

Here's How:

1. When you're ready to have your upholstered furniture freshened up, don't choose an upholsterer from the yellow pages. Get recommendations from friends who have had furniture upholstered. Be sure to look at the work they've had done and confirm that it's up to your expectations. Have the workman look at your piece of furniture, make suggestions about styling, and estimate how much fabric you'll need to purchase.

1. Look in magazines and catalogs for pieces of upholstered furniture similar to yours. What do you like about the look? Is if the skirt, special trims, exposed legs, complimentary fabrics? Find a look you like and confirm that your upholsterer can duplicate the details.
2. Select your new fabric based on the style of the piece of furniture you have and your home. Bring home swatches of fabric to see how it looks in your home. Compare colors with walls, draperies, and accessories that you already have. Be sure to purchase enough fabric to match patterns from section to section or from the frame of the upholstered piece to the skirt.
3. Decide on changes you might want to make in the shape or design of your upholstered furniture piece. This is the time! Consider eliminating a skirt on the bottom in order to expose decorative wooden legs. Or perhaps arrange to have the skirt made deeper for a longer and taller look on the piece.
4. Don't even think about a ruffled skirt unless you're decorating in a Shabby Chic style. Generally, it's a good idea to keep the lines and details on a piece of upholstered furniture neat and simple. A plain front or box-pleated skirt will look more sleek.

1. Decide if you'll have complimentary pillows and have them made at the same time.
2. If your sofa is long, reduce the number of seat cushions for a more pleasing look. Consider having a single seat cushion span the full length.
3. The workman can change some of the design of the piece of furniture. A straight back or arm can be softened with additional padding. Cushions on a piece of upholstered furniture can be rebuilt for added support and a softer look and feel.
4. Add fashion touches with coordinating welting or cording at the seams and around the edges of the piece. A row of 8" fringe around the base of the sofa or chair is a luxurious touch, though very expensive.
5. Camouflage an outdated furniture frame by throwing coordinating or complimentary pillows and cushions on the piece.
6. If your piece of upholstered furniture is too low and uncomfortable to sit on, add longer legs prior to reupholstering. They can be camouflaged and hidden by the new skirt you'll select.
7. Select fabric that will hold up well under the conditions in your home. Though cotton velvet is very durable, it might not be practical for your home. Floral cotton chintz prints add color and pattern to your room, but may not survive an active family. Choose what will look good in your room and be sturdy enough for your needs.
8. Get a commitment from the upholsterer that he'll repair any scratched wood trim or broken frame pieces. With the covering off, this is the time to repair any elements that need it.

Tips:

1. Look for examples of updated furniture and try to have your old piece brought into this century.
2. Reupholstering a piece of furniture can, and probably will, be more expensive than buying a piece off the floor of a furniture showroom.
3. If you love the new fabric, consider buying enough to redo the piece after this new look wears out. Then when you get the piece covered again, you can have the same look that coordinates with your space.
4. Buy the fabric, complimentary fabrics for pillows trim at the same time. It will be easier to coordinate colors, textures, and pattern size.
5. If you want this to last, consider having a slipcover made in the same fabric.