How-To

Quality furniture may feel like a luxury to some, and hard to find by others, but it’s worth the investment of time and money. When you familiarize yourself with the longevity of hardwood furniture, the safer features, and the artistic value, you’ll be able to spot a well-priced piece of quality furniture much more quickly.

Real Wood vs. Fake Wood

There are a variety of fake wood types in the furniture industry. To the untrained eye, knowing the difference between the real stuff and the fake wood can be hard. While they are cheaper in comparison, you may discover that you don’t save that much money for the poor quality. Here are ways to identify the different faux wood:

Unlike solid wood, faux wood is lighter, lacks texture and detail, has grainy edges, and is often left unfinished on the sides or bottom of the piece.

Kinds of Fake Wood

Fiberboard (MDF) – This manufactured wood is made of wood chips, plant fibers, sawdust, softwood flakes, and other recycled materials. These are then bonded with a synthetic resin and tightly compacted into boards or sheets.

Particle Board -This is actually considered a type of fiberboard, but the pieces inside are much larger. This causes noticeable texture and lessens the durability and attractiveness.

Laminate – This is another faux wood that uses artificial materials to create a wood-like appearance. A “wood grain” is then printed onto the laminate and given a shiny finish. While the quality of laminate is better than fiberboard, it is still fake-looking and doesn’t compare to hardwood.

Veneer – This is a form of faux wood that actually incorporates a thin layer of natural hardwood. This layer covers a base that is often made of medium-density fiberboard. The veneer is soft and this is because of the lighter core and can become easily scratched and dented. Veneer is challenging to sand and re-stain.

Recognizing Good Upholstery

Quality upholstered furniture will be made of more than just high-quality solid hardwood frames. Upholstery can come in a wide range of quality based on the manufacturer.

Carefully pay attention to the stitching and material of chairs, sofas, ottomans, and recliners. The stitching of cheaper upholstery will often tend to be loose or frayed.

Genuine leather vs. Faux leather

Genuine leather is not as abundant anymore and is being replaced by cheaper bonded leather and synthetic leather made of plastics. Pleather and bonded leather often loses its luster quickly and once it begins to tear, it is a continual mess of tiny peelings. They can have a chemical smell to them as well.

You can spot Genuine leather by its natural rough edge. Synthetic leather will be extra shiny and have a smooth edge.

High-Quality Fabrics

Look for a performance fabric and upholstery that is higher on the grade system. (The lowest is A and the Highest is F) A higher-quality fabric can be more expensive and may actually not be your best option based on lifestyle and budget. Explore your options. Some synthetic fabrics are considered of higher quality. Look for trusted manufacturers who are good at their craft and not just a specific fabric type. A good tell-tale sign of cheap manufacturing is the stitching will often tend to be loose or frayed.

You’ll also find higher quality in something that has been made in America and avoid cheap labor from overseas.

Quality Furniture is Art

Quality furniture made of real wood will have ornate details and will likely feature dovetail drawers and joints. You’ll always get unique wood grains and durable products that can be made to look soft and delicate, or natural and sturdy.

Quality furniture takes time; it requires time to source the materials, create a design, craft the product, and safely ship it to customers. The evidence is clear in the final result that the time is worth it.

Find Quality Furniture At Weaver Furniture Barn

Whether you’re looking for a cozy bedroom set, an upholstered loveseat, a meaningful family dinner table, or a chic office setup, you can find quality pieces for every room of your home when you shop at Weaver Furniture Barn.

What is the best way to care for upholstery? We’ve put together a list of things you can do the prevent stains, increase the longevity of your upholstered furniture, and the things you should avoid.

Preventative Measures

Remove Dust/Hair/Dirt/Crumbs: Vacuuming, microfiber dusting, and lint rolling your upholstery is a top priority. Eventually, your fabrics will wear away when left with unattended dirt. Other organic matter can cause smells if not properly taken care of.

Leather Touch-Ups: Leather wipes are a great way of removing body oils that can build up. Removing that residue is important if you want to prevent cracking and dark spots.

Pretreating: Some furniture can come pretreated with a fabric protector. This coating can help keep tough stains from occurring. These treatments will need to be reapplied every few years and can be done yourself or by an expert.

Fluff and Rotate: If your cushions can be removed in a way that you can fluff and rotate them, this will keep them from wearing out too quickly.

How to Clean Upholstery

Pay Attention to Cleaning Codes: This should always be the first step when you care for upholstery. On your upholstered furniture, there should be one of these abbreviations on the tag:

• SW: Safe to use solvents or water
• S: Water-free solvents (an example is alcohol)
• W: Save to use water and water-based cleaners
• X: Vacuum only

Make or Buy a Trusted Cleaner: While many stores and manufacturers will have different lists of store-bought cleaners they recommend, these DIY cleaners have a good reputation.

• Fabric Cleaner – 1/4 Cup vinegar, 3/4 Cup distilled water, 1 Tbs. dish soap/Castile soap. Mix into a spray bottle and mist the stain. Gently blot or scrub (if necessary) with a soft cloth until the spot lifts. Moisten a cloth with distilled water to remove any soap residue. Dry with a towel and keep the air moving.
• Leather Cleaner – 1/2 Cup olive oil, 1/4 Cup vinegar. Mix in a spray bottle and spray the surface. Buff with a soft cloth.
• Synthetic Fabric Cleaner – 1/2 Cup vinegar, 1 Cup warm distilled water, 1/2 Tbs. dish soap/Castile soap. Mix into a spray bottle, mist the area, and blot/gently scrub the area until the stain disappears.

Treat Stains Immediately: Any kind of stain should be taken care of as soon as possible to avoid permanent discoloration or damage.

General Spot Clean: After blotting up any liquid from your stain, you should apply a small about of cleaner to the spot. Next, gently activate it with your fingers or soft cloth to avoid oversaturating the fabric. Then, you’ll take a dry cloth and blot the stain by starting from the outer edge and working in. Repeat until the stain no longer transfers onto your blotting cloth.

Drying Moisture: If you need to dry your furniture to avoid moisture rings, use the lowest heat setting on a hairdryer, turn on a fan, or keep a dehumidifier running.

What to Avoid in Upholstery Care

Machine Washing/Dry Cleaning: Many people think that all removable cases on upholstered furniture are safe to wash like other laundry. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Unless marked otherwise, the fabric and stitching are at risk when cleaned with these methods. Please seek a professional cleaning company if you have a stubborn stain.

Tap Water: While your tap water may be safe to drink, the minerals in it could discolor the upholstery. Please stick to distilled water if that is the needed cleaning solution.

Scrubbing: You should always be gentle when cleaning fabrics and leathers. Blot up liquids and rub the spot as little as you can.

Prolonged Sunlight & Moisture: Fabrics and leather are not exempt from fading and moisture damage. Keep your furniture out of direct sunlight as much as possible and keep a dehumidifier in your room if needed.