WASHING CUSHION COVERS

SHOULD I BE WASHING MY CUSHION COVERS MYSELF?

Should I be washing my cushion covers by myself? This question comes up all the time from our customers. It's a very easy thing to do. You notice your sofa cushions are a little dingy (which is perfectly normal with kids, pets, and normal usage). So, you decide that washing cushion covers in the washing machine or even by hand in the sink would be a relatively easy task.

After washing, they come out looking nice. But you notice a little problem...The colors aren't as bright as they used to be, and it takes a lot of effort to get the covers back over the foam cushions themselves. In fact, for one or more of the cushions you can't even get them zipped up all the way.

The reason you are not really satisfied with your efforts is because do-it-yourself washing cushion covers like normal laundry is not the way they were designed. So why do they have zippers? The real reason is zippers are there totally for the convenience of the furniture manufacturing company or the upholsterer.

SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER

Below are important points to consider if you are tempted to go about washing cushion covers by yourself:

• When washing cushion covers, there is some danger of fabric shrinkage and dye loss. Once this happens, there is not much you or anyone else can do to fix it.

• Shrinkage typically occurs more often in the dryer, so if you are tempted to wash your own cushion covers, hang them to dry. Unfortunately, there will still be some risk of shrinkage.

• Dyes are funny things. The dyes on your favorite t-shirts are pretty tough and durable and will last a long time but on upholstery they can bleed or fade.

• Putting cushion covers in the laundry can also cause problems with the integrity of the fabric, such as any latex backing that could be present. Delamination, the separation of the face fiber and backing, can occur.

DON'T IGNORE CLEANING CODES!

Cleaning codes on upholstered furniture can give good clues about the type of cleaning that can be used on a fabric. Cleaning codes are listed on some upholstered items, usually on the decking under the cushions.

These codes help identify the type of cleaning process recommended by the manufacturers to be used on the fabrics. (Please Note: do not confuse this with the white 'do not remove' tag found on many pieces. (This tag describes the inside stuffing of the item, not the fabric covering). Beware: While the codes serve as a general guideline for cleaning, they may not always be the optimum solution.

Four common codes can be listed by manufacturers which represent cleaning instructions and colorfastness of dyes:

• 'S' code assures that dyes are stable to dry (solvent-based) spotters or cleaners. These should be cleaned with a dry-cleaning solvent method.

• 'W' code means the dyes are stable to water-based spotters and cleaners. 

• 'W/S' signifies dyes are stable to water or solvent-based spotters or cleaners. 

• 'X' code indicates dyes are not stable to either water or solvent-based spotters or cleaners and should only be thoroughly vacuumed on a regular basis.

CAN I SAFELY DRY-CLEAN MY UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE

IN MY HOME IF THE CODE CALLS

FOR DRY (SOLVENT CLEANING?

You cannot safely dry-clean by yourself in your home if that is the code you find or if you suspect dry cleaning may be the way to go. ABC has sophisticated machinery that allows for safe dry-cleaning in a home environment, if that procedure is determined to be necessary.

WILL ABC CLEAN MY UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE IN MY HOME?

ABC cleans pre-qualified residential upholstered furniture in customers' homes. We will ask you to text us images of your upholstered furniture before

we schedule for cleaning.

Do not remove your cushion covers! We always clean the cushions with the covers on so if there should be any shrinkage, it will be uniform throughout.

WHAT TYPE OF UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE WILL NEED

TO BE CLEANED IN ABC's CLEANING PLANT?

There are certain specialized types of upholstery fabric that need special attention during and after the cleaning. We will always suggest the cleaning take place in our plant if this should be the case with your upholstery fabric. If we have explained to you that your particular piece of upholstery needs to be cleaned in our plant, we have done so for both your protection as well as ours.

Whether your furniture needs wet or dry cleaning, we can provide it. Small items such as removable patio and boat cushions are best cleaned in our plant.

AFTER-CLEANING TREATMENTS

FOR YOUR UPHOLSTED FURNITURE

Please continue reading here for more information and how to care for your upholstered furniture between cleanings.

THE 5 SECOND RULE and FOOD SAFETY

The 5 second rule! You know, the one we use when we furtively pick up that piece of cookie we just dropped before anyone sees us. And, if anyone does see us, we boldly shout out, "5 second rule!" 

Since we just completed our marathon of traditional eating for Thanksgiving and Christmas and parties in between, this might be a good time to examine this rule and its relation to food safety.

Could scooping up a fallen piece of food in 5 seconds or less actually compromise the safety of eating that delicious little morsel? Is it just an urban legend? Is there any truth to it? Or should we avoid eating any food that has fallen to the floor or onto any surface?  

DOES EVERYONE DO THIS?

It may be surprising to know a very high percentage of individuals will definitely admit to retrieving a fallen piece of food as quickly as possible and eating it. This is especially true if no one is watching! And that includes men as well as women.

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY SCIENTIFIC STUDIES DONE?

Believe it or not, some scientific studies have been done on this subject! However, the results of the studies are mixed, and the jury is still out. Here are some general findings:

• It does matter what the surface is. Of the 3 most common flooring surfaces--carpet, tile, and laminate--bacterial transfer appears to be least on carpeted surfaces. Of course, if the general environment is kept reasonably clean indoors, it is less likely serious bacterial transfer will take place.

• It does matter if the fallen food is moist or dry. Bacterial transfer appears to be much faster with moist food than with dry food so it would seem the more quickly moist food is retrieved, the less bacterial transfer will take place. But--is less of a transfer worth the possible risk?

• 5 (seconds) may be too high of an estimate. Actually, after a piece of fallen food hits the floor, it can actually take 3 seconds or less for bacteria to transfer to the food.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON BACTERIA

THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED?



1. Staphylococcus aureus
2. Escherichia coli or E. Coli

Ingestion of either or both can have possible serious consequences on our digestive systems, especially for someone with a compromised immune system.  

WHY DO PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW

THE 5 SECOND RULE?   

There are actually many possible reasons to account for this behavior. Please continue reading here.

Thank you for being an ABC customer!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED TO OUR AUCTION FOR COPS, KIDS, & TOYS!

HERE ARE OUR JANUARY 2025

REGULAR CUSTOMER ANNUAL APPRECIATION DISCOUNT SPECIAL DEALS...

PLEASE NOTE:

If you are a regular customer, you will have received a Postcard featuring our

Regular Customer Appreciation Discount.

In order to receive the discount, you must have the postcard in your possession.

Thank you.