CHOOSING THE RIGHT FABRIC
You can get a good idea for the quality of a fabric just by touch. For example, how tightly woven a material is can indicate the quality of the fabric. However, the following information, should also come into consideration when choosing a fabric.
MARTINDALE
Especially used for upholstery, the Martindale is a unit for quantifying the abrasion resistance of textiles. The Martindale rub test simulates natural wear of a material, in which the textile sample is rubbed against a standard abrasive surface with a specified force. The higher the Martindale unit value, the more resistant the material is to abrasion.
Home décor fabrics must have a Martindale value over 12,000 units and fabric used in public areas needs a value of at least 35,000 units. All Annala’s fabrics meet the quality requirements for home décor and many of our fabrics also pass the public area quality requirement.
Naturally, embossed fabrics are less abrasion resistant than smoother fabrics. Products made from embossed fabric; pillows, upholstered chairs & etc., can have their durability extended with common practices. For example, rotating pillows and changing the positions of chairs regularly to even out the use of each item can help in extending durability. The durability of fabric is also affected by other factors.
LIGHT FASTNESS
When referring to light fastness in textiles, we are measuring how materials fade or change color due to exposure to sunlight or an artificial light source. The light fastness value is indicated on a scale of 1-8. The light fastness value of furniture fabric is normally between 4-5, whereas Annala’s fabric’s light fastness is at least 5. To assist in reducing color change of fabric, it is always a good idea to place furniture upholstered in monochromatic fabric out of direct sunlight.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Regular vacuuming of the fabric, with a textile nozzle in place, keeps dust out of the fabric and from between the padding. The cleaning of fabric and padding by beating the material is not recommended. However, if the fabric becomes stained, gently apply a clean, damp cloth to the stain. Only if necessary, use a light neutral soap.
CAUTION! Do not use dishwashing detergent. Usually they contain bleaching agents that can easily discolor textiles. To remove difficult stains, please consult a cleaning professional.