Browse Forums Soft Furnishings 1 Jul 25, 2010 5:07 pm Has anyone been living with macrosuede ? I am considering re-upholstering my dining chairs in this supposedly washable fabric. I have heard it is very easy to keep clean. But is this merely advertising spin or the real honest to goodness truth ? The stains I am concerned about are just the usual greasy, sticky fingers. We don't seem to have messes like serious spills. Thank goodness Though I've probably jinxed myself now Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 2Jul 25, 2010 7:29 pm I don't have Warwicks macrosuede but a cheaper version of fake suede and I love it. It supposedly has teflon in it and it has been a very forgiving fabric. I have two sons and two younger nephews and it has stood up very well. I just sponge marks off with clear water, thats it. I am a big microfibre cloth user so have used those but a chux works well too. Mine is a deep purple colour atm but I am considering a chocolate or stoney colour for the new house, but still in the fake suede. Hope this helps. Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 3Jul 25, 2010 7:36 pm Southies, I have an old microsuede couch. I don't use it anymore and haven't got around to cleaning it since we moved. I'll give it a clean tomorrow, but I'll take before and after pics so that you can see how well it comes up. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 4Jul 25, 2010 7:55 pm movingGal I don't have Warwicks macrosuede but a cheaper version of fake suede and I love it. It supposedly has teflon in it and it has been a very forgiving fabric. I have two sons and two younger nephews and it has stood up very well. I just sponge marks off with clear water, thats it. I am a big microfibre cloth user so have used those but a chux works well too. Mine is a deep purple colour atm but I am considering a chocolate or stoney colour for the new house, but still in the fake suede. Hope this helps. Thanks movingGal I'm thinking either aubergine or a light olive. Microfibre on upholstery? I wouldn't have thought of that Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 5Jul 25, 2010 7:56 pm joles Southies, I have an old microsuede couch. I don't use it anymore and haven't got around to cleaning it since we moved. I'll give it a clean tomorrow, but I'll take before and after pics so that you can see how well it comes up. oooo, that should really be interesting Jo . I'd really like to see the difference Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 6Jul 25, 2010 8:09 pm I have beige Spotlight microsuede couch covers on my (very 90's) blue and white checked couches in the family room, and I literally throw them in the machine on a normal cycle, hang them out to dry and then do a final 'fluff up' in the dryer. Brilliant!! I also have the Warwick macrosuede upholstered chairs in the meals area, which are also beige, and I re-upholstered them myself a few years ago. I did scotchguard them aswell. They have stood up fairly well and have never been cleaned, but I need to do it, just haven't got around to it! I still make my 2 sit on old cloth nappies at the table! I'm actually unsure 'what' to use to clean them as I can't throw them into the machine!! I will also be using the Warwick macrosuede in powder blue on the buttoned ottoman I will be making, due to the ease of cleaning! Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 8Jul 25, 2010 8:17 pm just googled & found these : http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?p=2431195 http://www.mainlychairs.co.nz/spot_cleaning.htm http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t591233.html Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 9Jul 25, 2010 8:43 pm Southies stormy, where will you be sourcing your macrosuede ? There's an upholsterers shop in Moorabbin (Melbourne) called Padghams and they can get the Warwick Macrosuede cheaper than other soft furnishing shops that I have priced. From memory it's about $33 p/m...off the top of my head!! They will also cover the buttons in the material that I'll need for the ottoman at 80c each! They also have the 'feet' I need! http://www.padghamupholstery.com.au/ I actually think you may have introduced me to them last year in another thread!! I was going to use Zepel velvet, but that is $78 p/m, and far too much for something home made that may not work!! Thanks for the cleaning guide, I'll add it to my 'to do' list! Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 10Jul 25, 2010 8:51 pm Ah yes, I remember them. BTW, I have found a couple of online businesses that supply fabric direct from the manufacturer to you. Might be worth asking for a quote : http://www.furnishyourdreams.com.au/ & http://www.decorama.com.au/shop/dec-c01.php & http://www.adrians.com.au/ Though I think adrian's doesn't supply upholstery fabric Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 11Jul 25, 2010 9:15 pm DH deals in Warwick fabrics and the macrosuede has a teflon coating and spills should just sit on the top ie not soaking in immediately. We had a choc brown lounge in our last house in this fabric and it was great, we had the dog pee on it, wine spillages, food, you name it.... and all the mess cleaned off easily. We actually sold it when we moved and the buyers were more than happy with its condition...after 7 or so years Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 13Jul 26, 2010 12:43 am Southies, I have cleaned a stack of feaux suede upholstery over the years. Probably an average of 4 jobs per month over the past 12 or so years (since they became popular). So I have a pretty good understanding of the fabric. Because feaux suedes have been so popular, the market has been filled by a lot of various suppliers, so there are good, average and poor quality fabrics out there. Usually the cheaper imported fabrics are on bargain basement lounges, so don't expect much from them. But better quality fabrics such as Warwick normally perform quite well. Normally, these fabrics consist of a cotton woven backing fabric, which has a polyester fabric bonded to it. the polyester goes through a process of abrasion to break up the top surface, producing the suede like effect. Now polyester is a fibre that has low absorbancy and excellent general stain resistance, EXCEPT for OILS. So many spills and spots ( at least water based ones) will simply wipe off. The main problem can be oily based spills, or general build up of body oils and perspiration, due to the oleophylic (oil loving) nature of polyester. The better quality feaux suedes normally are treated with Teflon or similar fluoro-protectors to give much better resistance to oily based soiling. So yes, a quality fabric such as Warwick macrosuede is quite a serviceable fabric. The down-side can be that in hot weather, the fabric does not breath as it has low absorbancy, so is a bit clammy. This will lead to more perspiration build up which is quite damaging. In heavy areas such as the arms, back of neck and knees, a patina may develop due to body oils contaminating the fabric. If you are aware of this, you can take preventative measures and use a cotton throw in hot weather. Also anti-macassars and arm covers can help. A product thats good to use for spots is 'Mr Nomarks'. http://www.google.com.au/search?q=mr+no ... =firefox-a A good vac say once a month or as often as possible keeps it maintained. Spills and spots still need to be cleaned up properly, and is quite easy. Remember, just because it has good stain resistance, it does not mean you can leave stuff there, (like many people do) Sticky spots will cause soil to attach to it and become ugly. Any residues of spills, sugars, oils, chemicals etc can make it soil up, so they should be cleaned up well when they happen. Blot up liquids, scrape and blot up semi-solids. A damp microfibre cloth will wipe up and clean off most water based spills. You can use a horse grooming brush to give it a good brush over when vacuuming every so often. Many dried spots will just scrape off. Despite all this, its best to have it professionally cleaned at least every 2 years. It can go longer if not in regular use, but regularly used lounges should be cleaned about every year. They normally clean up quite well, and I usually use a shampoo method that incorporates a fabric protector to enhance its appearance in the long term. THINGS TO AVOID: Solvents should not be used, as they can cause it to delaminate. Remember the surface fabric is bonded to a woven backing, and solvents can make it let go. Its not uncommon to find delamination in body contact areas, which can present as a wrinkling or rippling of the fabric. One customer rang me once saying she had a microsuede fabric that has got "cellulite" Actually, its not a bad description of a fabric that is delaminating. This mostly happens with cheaper fabrics or those that have had a lot of use, resulting in heavy perspiration soiling. I have known some very dark colours that were crocking (dye migration) so be wary if wanting very deep colours. Otherwise, avoid direct heat or sunlight, which are damaging to just about any fabrics. NOTE Joles, not sure how you are planning on cleaning yours, but its important you only use appropriate products. There are certain products that professionals use, and I might be able to steer you to a place you can get some. Cheers! Ash. Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 14Jul 26, 2010 7:15 am Oh as usual Ash, you are a fountain of knowledge! Many many thanks for replying in such detail! I have printed out your response & will keep it on file. royalblue ....But better quality fabrics such as Warwick normally perform quite well. Quote: The main problem can be oily based spills, or general build up of body oils and perspiration Quote: The down-side can be that in hot weather, the fabric does not breath as it has low absorbancy, so is a bit clammy. This will lead to more perspiration build up which is quite damaging. Quote: In heavy areas such as the arms, back of neck and knees, a patina may develop due to body oils contaminating the fabric. If you are aware of this, you can take preventative measures and use a cotton throw in hot weather. Also anti-macassars and arm covers can help. Quote: A product thats good to use for spots is 'Mr Nomarks'. http://www.google.com.au/search?q=mr+no ... =firefox-a Quote: I have known some very dark colours that were crocking (dye migration) so be wary if wanting very deep colours. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 15Jul 26, 2010 9:39 am Crocking? Its probably not a prob with quality fabrics. I did find a batch of cheap imported lounges from Bali a while back. Very deep colours such as black or dark brown lounges would release dyes into say white pants. Crocking = dye transfer from one textile to another when in contact. Its good to have on hand both the Mr NoMarks Fabric cleaner and Fabrisan. One after-thought... these fabrics are quite thick and not so pliable, so they may not lend themselves to going on tightly detailed chairs. This is why most macrofibre lounges are pretty flat and plain in style. Around arms for example, they will have a series of folds to curve around. So if your chairs are a plain squarish style, no probs. If more curvey, speak to an upholsterer before getting you fabric. Ash. Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 16Jul 26, 2010 11:56 am thanks for that infor re the weight of the macrosuede, Ash !! very helpful I'll keep that in mind when I contact my upholsterer Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 17Jul 26, 2010 1:33 pm Ash, I only ever use water and a cloth. Never cleaned it with anything else. I'm not sure where my couch is on the quality scale, it's a Divans one and I've had it around 11 years. It's ugly, but was the first piece of NEW furniture I ever bought, so it's not going anywhere. I'm not sure if I'll get to it today Southies, I have a sick DS home from school. But it will be tonight or tomorrow. It has to be done. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 18Jul 26, 2010 2:04 pm Try getting some Fabrisan (Mr NoMarks) and use a microfibre mit, or a bonnet mit from a commercial cleaning supply place, followed by a clean colourfast towel to dry off. Do section at a time. Spray a section as uniformly as you can, work it all in with the mit, and wipe excess off with the towel. You can be a bit more vigorous on spots or more soiled area. Equestrian brushes can be used. Allow to fully dry before re-use. Better still get a professional in, but thats your call. Cheers! Re: Living With Warwick Fabrics Macrosuede 19Jul 26, 2010 2:08 pm Nah, it really is just a spare at this stage, sits in a room we dry clothes in, so I'm not going to bother too much with it. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick I would be wary. Is you site demilished but nothing else done? Sounds like liquidity problems to me. Our builder did the same. Got hundreds of thousands of dollars of… 2 15413 3 5596 Can anyone suggest a house layout where the kitchen-dining - living runs the length across the rear of the house left to right where our best view will be we… 0 4348 |