Fabric Upholstery and Furniture Cleaning

Zippers are included on cushions to ensure a good closure and are for manufacturers’ purposes only. Always keep fully closed and do not remove covers for any reason! We recommend that only a professional cleaning service be employed to properly clean upholstery, including the zippered cushions. Never remove the covers for washing or dry cleaning purposes as they may cause covers to shrink or unravel.

There is no warranty on upholstery fabrics for fading, shrinking, stretching or general wearability. Since sunlight will cause more rapid fading and deterioration of fabric, avoid exposure to bright sunlight.

Weekly Care Of Upholstered Fabrics

Brush and vacuum; cut threads, don’t pull. Reverse cushions to help distribute wear evenly, help maintain cushion shape, help prevent excess seam “travel,” and maintain tailored appearance. Depressions in cushions are normal under ordinary use, and are not considered a defect.

Soil Repellents

The purpose of various soil repellents and fabric treatments is to slow dirt penetration and to make cleaning easier.  Treating fabrics with repellents makes them stain resistant but not stain proof.

Leather Upholstery

Most leathers have a top coat or protective finish. To ensure years of service and good appearance from your leather upholstery, it should be cleaned on a regular basis with only a damp sponge and warm, soapy water.  Solvents should never be used.

CAUTION! Some of the finest leathers (pure anilines) have no protective top coat. They are much more fragile and should never be cleaned with liquid. Remember that perspiration, body oils and hair oils left on leather for any period of time can cause staining, drying out, cracking and/or   peeling. Direct sunlight should be avoided. In addition, leather can be punctured by sharp instruments and items that might be carried in pockets. Since these problems are caused by lack of proper care, we cannot warrant your leather upholstery against them. Your sales representative or our customer service staff can give you specific directions for cleaning your leather furniture.

Wood and Lacquer Surfaces

We recommend the use of good quality table pads with every dining table, as tops can be easily damaged. Remove any liquids spilled on the surface by promptly blotting. Lift objects…never drag them across the top. Always use a table pad or trivet to protect top from hot and/or moist dishes. Even though a finish may be highly heat resistant, it can be burned. Avoid exposure to sunlight as the surface will change color. Use only quality polishes or oils  recommended for furniture and apply in small quantities.

Lacquer and Polyester Surfaces

Care must always be exercised so as not to scratch or scuff these finishes. However, the appearance of lacquer/polyester is easily preserved by the prudent use of the correct furniture cleaners, polishes and waxes. We recommend only fine furniture polish and paste wax designed for the care of lacquer/polyester surfaces.

Never use paper towels, abrasive cleaners, products with ammonia or caustic cleaners on brass or any metal finish, acrylic, wood, lacquer, polyester or marble furniture.

Brass Surfaces

Never use abrasive or glass cleaners on brass finishes as they will break the protective lacquer seal and allow the brass to tarnish more rapidly. To clean, use warm water gently applied with a soft cloth, then wipe dry.

Glass Surfaces

Use spray glass cleaner with soft cloths to clean. When glass surface is next to metal finish, avoid  overspray. Glass tops should always be protected against scratches from place settings or accessories without felt pads attached.  Remember, minor imperfections in glass surfaces are not unusual and not considered a defect.

Acrylic Surfaces

Use a very soft cloth only, i.e. jeweler’s cloth, and warm water or cleaners/polishes specifically formulated for acrylic surfaces. Acrylic surfaces are highly sensitive. Minor imperfections (i.e. ripples, bubbles, waves and hairline surface scratches) are normal and not considered a defect.

Plastic Laminate Surfaces

While these surfaces are heat resistant, they are not indestructible and should be protected with a table pad or trivet against very hot dishes or pots and pans directly from the range. Clean only with warm water and mild detergent or soap. Never use abrasives! Dragging items across the top will scratch the surface, exercise caution.

Marble and Travertine

Travertine and marble are rare and beautiful materials which nature has made practical and functional. They do, however, require a reasonable amount of care to protect them against staining, discoloration  and marring.

Many people think travertine and marble are almost indestructible They are actually a form of intensely compacted calcium and magnesium carbonate compressed with sedimentary sand, in the case of travertine, or, in marble, melted together with other mineral elements and metals. These elements give colored marble its distinctive background coloration: black by coal, red by iron, green by copper, etc. These surfaces are more porous than they look, making them susceptible to staining from food, liquids and other household materials, especially if left standing on the surface for some time.

Liquids and other substances with even a mildly acidic content can discolor or otherwise damage polished marble or travertine surfaces. We advise the use of coasters under glasses when placing them on marble or travertine surfaces.

The best way to maintain the appearance of any marble or travertine surface is:

1). Apply clear paste wax* and polish with a soft dry cloth. Waxing should be done frequently after the table is in place. This will help to build a transparent layer over the surface necessary for most of the protection required. It is best to apply several thin coats; thick applications will streak. *WARNING: 1) Under NO circumstances should you use a tinted (i.e. blue, green, white or yellow) paste wax on your marble or travertine furniture. 2) Only wax or buff one small area at a time because paste wax should not sit for long periods.

2). If you should spill any liquid or other material onto the  surface, wipe off immediately, rinse and rewax. Always use coasters under glasses.

Stained Or Damaged Marble Or Travertine

The removal of light rings or slight stains is a simple procedure. Evenly apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide or ammonia to the stain, using very soft steel wool and light pressure if the stain has some depth.  Remove traces of the solution with clear water, wipe with dry cloth and rewax.  This method generally produces good results. Soft steel wool also may be used on scratches, although we recommend a very light-handed application. Rewaxing is always necessary afterwards.

Additional Hints For Care Of Marble And Travertine

Most of the travertine and marble tops used on our tables are filled to give a smooth surface. Occasionally, however, tiny openings (especially in the travertine) are missed and remain open.  This is not considered a defect. Additionally, some small part of the filling might be jarred loose in transit, which will also produce a small hole. In order to close these tiny holes, we recommend the clear paste wax procedure described in Section 1 of the above paragraph.

Cases With Doors

Wall Units • Room Dividers • Buffets
China Cabinets • Dressers • Armoires

These cases will be leveled at the time of delivery, ensuring an even fit of doors. As items are placed inside the case, or if the case is moved, the redistribution of weight may cause the doors to bind or to be uneven. Re-level the case to ensure proper door alignment by using shims under one or more corners, or adjust self-leveling glides, if they are on the case.

Facts You Should Know

Convertible Sofas

Never force a convertible sofa sleeper open!  Pull or push evenly…never jerk. The hidden bed unit operates on a  balance and opens and closes easily with the proper touch. Tuck in linens and one thin blanket, carefully keeping clear of mechanism. We advise removal of linens when mattress is not in use.

Extension Tables with Fillers

Extension tables are machined and finished to have a snug fit and overall good appearance unextended. When filler leaves are inserted, a variation in color, grain and fit may occur in the top and sides. This is not considered a defect as it does not affect the serviceability of the table. Further, the table will be subjected to light most of the time, causing a lightening of color.  The fillers will remain darker in color since they are used only occasionally.

Drawers

Drawer sticking may be caused by changes in atmospheric conditions, by redistribution of inside weight or by the case being moved and the level upset. Re-level. If the problem persists, rub a bar of soap or paraffin over the sliding parts such as drawer glides to further alleviate the binding or   sticking problem.

Leather Upholstery

All Lawrance leather products feature top grain leathers.  However, leather qualities and their maintenance vary dramatically. Leather contains many surface blemishes and irregularities which distinguish it from synthetic imitations. These natural folds, scars and scratches give character to the leather, and to a limited extent are acceptable on all parts.  Finer, softer leathers may have more noticeable blemishes and variations since the process to remove them may change the natural suppleness of the leather.  The more a hide is “worked”, the stiffer it becomes; so to maintain the sensuous suppleness of better leather furniture, you will find more traces of  these natural folds, scars and scratches.

Pure aniline leathers will develop a patina and show their age more quickly. In Europe, this is considered the beauty of truly fine leather furniture. These innate markings distinguish quality leather from imitations.

Color Variations

When attempting to match colors, remember that dye lots may vary, and that natural products have varying grains and colors.  The small variations in wood, marble or lacquer color and dye lot color differences in each piece of upholstery, drapery fabric or carpet are beyond our control.  Velvets will shade and cushions do wrinkle when used.  Still, Lawrance will make every reasonable effort to ensure your satisfaction.

Mattresses and Foundations

Water flotation system mattresses are designed to be placed on matching foundation or platform bed. When filling or refilling, be sure to add proper chemicals to the water to help guard against growth of algae.