FABRIC SOFA CARE

FABRIC SPOT CLEANING

What's the best way to pre-treat or spot-clean a spill?

Spills happen. When they do, it's best to attack them as soon as possible by absorbing excess liquid with a clean, dry cloth or scooping away standing spills, like ketchup, with a spoon. Do not rub—it can embed the spill further into the fabric fibres and worsen things. 
Spot-cleaning is tricky and isn't recommended for every fabric—linen is particularly prone to fading and discoloration if spot-cleaned. Other polyester fabrics, respond beautifully to spot cleaning within the boundaries of their care instructions. 

• Use Guardsman Fabric Cleaner level 1 and follow instructions printed on the bottle. You can find this product at your nearest James Lane store.
• Gently remove any loose soilage and/or mop up any excess liquid.
• Pre-test the cleaning method on hidden area of the sofa. Do not continue if there is an adverse reaction such as colour transfer.
• Avoid over-wetting as this may result in a water mark.
• Blot the cleaned area with a clean white cloth to help dry the area.-Allow the fabric to dry well in a well ventilated area.
• Do not spray spotter directly onto fabric.
• Stubborn stains may require a second and third application. Allow the area to dry between attempts.

OIL & WATER BASED STAINS

• Gently remove any loose silage and/or mop up any excess liquid.
• Use Guardsman Fabric Cleaner level 1 and follow instructions printed on the bottle. You can find this product at your nearest James Lane store.
• Pre-test the cleaning method on hidden area of the sofa. Do not continue if there is an adverse reaction such as colour transfer.
• Avoid rubbing as this may cause the stain to spread. It can also cause fabric damage.
• Where possible, it is recommended to clean entire panel of your sofa rather than undertaking spot cleaning.
• If the stain has been reduced but not completely removed, a second and third application may be required. Allow the area to dry between stain removal attempts.

PILLING

Fabric pills are the result of normal wear and tear, due to normal daily use. The most common cause of pilling occurs when the hundreds of micro yarns in the fabric fuse together and pick up foreign particles from other woven fabrics, like your clothing. This kind of pilling will often result in the pills being in a different colour from your sofa.

Pills can be easily removed with a pilling machine, which you canfind at your closest hardware store. As mentioned above, this is not a sign of faulty fabric, the fibre removed by the pilling machine will not reduce the natural weight or integrity of the fabric. A quality sofa does not wear out, it wears in.

What's the best way to care for my slipcover?

Simply put, your James Lane sofa with removable or slipcovers won't look photoshop-perfect all the time—and it isn't meant to! Slipcovers aren't stapled down like traditional upholstery—they'll move around the more you sit on them. Natural, uncoated fabrics will wrinkle, crease, and gradually break in. We love the casual-chic style of our slipcovers, but there are ways to keep your slip looking neat without compromising its "artfully breezy" beauty.

A steamer goes a long way toward relaxing wrinkles when the sofa is brand new and those it gets over time. Even a small handheld steamer will do the trick and get it looking easy, breezy, and beautiful again.

A bit of strategic zhuzhing (and some help from your trusty steamer) will fix an uneven skirt or wobbly seams. 

How do I keep my sofa from fading in the sun?

Our fabrics are rigorously tested to ensure they meet the industry-established benchmarks for colourfastness and fade resistance. However, all materials fade with time. And remember, we don't coat our slipcovers with any extraneous chemicals—so no water or stain repellents, flame retardants, or sun protection.
Avoid placing your piece directly in the sun's path or in front of heat sources to prevent accelerated fading—dark and highly pigmented colours are generally more susceptible to fading since they absorb light and heat. Periodically rotating your cushions also goes a long way.

Belgian Linen

Our linen range is one of our best sellers for a reason. Made from 100% stone washed Belgian linen, the linen slip covers can be easily washed, replaced or interchanged for an alternative colour. The Washed Linen is our lightest fabric, but offers a crisp breeziness that makes it one of our most popular and family friendly fabrics. In fact, it is so pleasantly lightweight that it naturally develops a subtle crimp and slight give during the weaving process. Due to the inherent properties of linen, it is not a fabric that will last forever and will wear down overtime with heavy use or over washing. If you are after a fabric that offers flexibility to wash and replace this is for you, if you are after a fabric that will last for ever you are best to stick with one of our man made fabrics.

What's the best way to clean my slipcover?

We don't treat our sofa covers with any "protective" coatings (water resistance, stain repellent, etc.)—it preserves the integrity of our fabrics and avoids direct contact with unnecessary chemicals. It also means your slip will need a little extra TLC from time to time. 

For detailed care instructions for your specific fabric, check out the sewn in care label.

A vacuum—with an upholstery attachment if you have one—works best for everyday dust and dirt. 

Machine washing is possible with cold water on a 40 degrees delicate cycle, mild detergent, and a cautious eye.

• Remember to close all zippers—they can catch on a seam and tear your slipcover if left open.
• While we always recommend washing every component of your slipcover consecutively to maintain colour uniformity, it's important to wash every piece of the slipcover on its own.
• Overstuffing the machine can damage the integrity of the material, as can the friction of rubbing against another fabric.
• Spot-cleaning is tricky and not recommended for every fabric.
• Do not wash your slipcover at home if your machine has an agitator (a rotating column in the centre of the wash basket). Agitators can snag the fabric, even on a gentle cycle.
• Do not bleach or dry clean
• Dry flat in shade and do not tumble dry.