Our Customer Support Team often get asked the same questions after customers have received their new purchase.
Below you will find a helpful guide on how to keep your new sofa or bed looking at it’s very best for years to come.
We strongly recommend that upholstery cleaning is best left to the professionals however here are a few typical examples that might help you .
Simply click on the question to reveal the answers.
General FAQ
Who do I contact if I have a problem with my furniture?
All contact must be made through the store from which you purchased the furniture. It will help if you also have to hand your original order number and the batch id number which is 7 or 8 digit number found under your seat cushion on the sewn in label on the platform. Please do not contact Whitemeadow as our team will be unable to assist you directly.
My seat interiors are softer now than when we first took delivery – why is this?
This is not unexpected. It is common that interiors lose at least 10% of their density in the first 3 months increasing to 20-30% over time. To prolong the life span of the interiors, where possible cushions should be rotated or seating positions changed regularly.
How do I care for my Whitemeadow sofa?
To keep your Whitemeadow sofa looking it’s best, vacuum your upholstery using a soft brush attachment once a week. This can help reduce fabric wear and fading caused by the build-up of dust and dirt. All cushions should be dressed daily and frequently switch the positions to ensure even wear. Simply wipe clean the feet with a cloth but don’t use spray polishes or solvent cleaners as these can cause damage to the wood and any overspray can damage adjoining fabric.
How do I care for my cushions?
Frequently changing the position of your cushions will ensure even wear. Feather and fibre seat and back cushions need to be plumped on a regular basis. Foam cushions don’t require the same level of maintenance as they keep their shape for longer, however, plump periodically to stimulate the foam. The below video shows you how to do this.
How do I fit the feet on my sofa?
There are various different feet supplied with our sofas, please refer to the instructions that are included with your specific sofa. Generally, the sofa needs to be turned onto it’s back by two people and the travel glides need removing. The below video demonstrates how to fit a set of feet using a power drill, however other feet may require use of a screw driver or a woodscrew method to secure the foot location.
How do I clip and un-clip the linking brackets on my sofa?
If you have a modular sofa, you will need to connect the pieces using the linking brackets. The sofa needs to be carefully turned onto it’s back by two people. One piece of furniture will be fitted with a ratchet clipping, the other with a connector. To connect, align both the ratchet and the connector, push the two pieces together firmly until you hear a clicking noise, confirming they’re clipped together. To disconnect, lift the piece furniture with the connector to remove it from the ratchet and slide away. Do not force apart as it will damage the frame.
How do I assemble my new upholstered bed?
Enclosed with every bed is an easy to use Assembly Guide. Should you be unable to locate this or have mistakenly thrown this away with the packaging please click the link below to Bed Frame Assembly Instructions 2019
I’d like to buy some fabric for curtains and a couple of extra scatters to match my sofa – is this possible and who do I contact?
Most likely the answer is yes, if the fabric is still in production. Whitemeadow are not able to supply any consumers directly and to that end you must simply contact your retailer and ensure you have a copy of your original order to hand.
How do I assemble my new 2 fold sofa bed?
Enclosed with every bed is an easy to use Assembly Guide. Should you be unable to locate this or have mistakenly thrown this away with the packaging please watch the below video.
How do I assemble my new 3 fold sofa bed?
Enclosed with every bed is an easy to use Assembly Guide. Should you be unable to locate this or have mistakenly thrown this away with the packaging please watch the below video.
Upholstery Care Guide
General Care and Use
Regular Cleaning
Carefully vacuum your upholstery using the soft brush upholstery attachment at least once a week, dust removal may be improved by brushing with a soft brush. Pay special attention to arm fronts and pleated sections. Dirt and dust will rapidly increase fabric wear and may cause the dulling and fading of colours.
Take care when using a vacuum around decorative trims and fringing or skirts. These can easily be caught and may be damaged.
Decorative facings and timber feet require minimal maintenance and should be kept free from dust by occasionally wiping with a clean cloth. Do not use spray polishes or solvent cleaners as these can have a damaging effect and any overspray can have adverse effects on the adjoining fabric.
Care of Cushions
All cushions should be “tidied and dressed” regularly, we recommend turning daily, and frequently switching the positions of the cushions where possible. This will help prevent excessive wear to one side. Avoid perching on the edge of cushions as this may cause the fillings or fabric to lose their shape
Feather and fibre filled seat and back cushions will need to be “plumped” on a regular basis to ensure the cushion interior fills the case to the correct shape. Failure to do this may result in the fillings forming a mass, giving the cushion a flat or uneven appearance. Foam cushions do not require the same level of maintenance as they will keep their shape for longer, that said we do recommend periodically plumping to stimulate the foam.
Care of Mattress and Sofabed
All of our mattresses are double sided and should be turned regularly for even wear to both sides. Always remove bed linen from the mattress before closing the action to avoid damage to the mechanism.
Prolonged Sunlight and Heat
Upholstered furniture should not be exposed to direct sunlight as this may result in deterioration and fading of your fabric. Always position your furniture away from the sun rays and protect it by drawing blinds, or curtains when applicable. Avoid leaving your upholstery too close to open fires or radiators.
Correct Use
Your furniture is designed to be sat on in comfort, so use it correctly for that purpose. Sitting on the edges of cushions or the arms may cause permanent wear and distortion to the fillings and fabric. Avoid allowing sharp edge toys, buckles, jewellery and domestic pets to snag the fabric. If this occurs, carefully cut the plucked fabric yarn or snag away with a pair of scissors. Under no circumstances should a snag be pulled. Please try to restrain children from climbing and jumping on upholstery, especially when wearing shoes.
Major Cleaning
It is difficult to give general instructions on doing this yourself, since different fibres and fabric constructions require specialist techniques. We therefore, recommend that you leave major cleaning to a recognised upholstery cleaning specialist. They can give you expert advice and carry out the necessary periodic cleaning quickly and efficiently.
The effectiveness of the specialist cleaning treatment will depend on the degree of soiling. It is therefore advisable to have this done before the fabric becomes too engrained with dirt. It is inevitable that after a dry cleaning process a slight colour variation will occur between the removable and fixed sections of the upholstery. Under no circumstances attempt to wash covers or use the dry cleaning machine at your local launderette unless you have purchased a specific machine washable product.
Spots and spills can sometimes be treated with specific chemicals to aid their removal. Always pre-test any cleaner you intend to use on a hidden area of the furniture, checking for colour loss and fabric compatibility. Look for faded colours, shrinkage or rings, these are signs of incompatibility. Under no circumstances should you apply excessive pressure or rubbing to a spillage as this may result in permanent damage to the fabric. Blot the surface dry with an absorbent colour fast cloth or kitchen roll to soak up excessive liquid. Fabrics with high cotton contents may become lighter in colour after spot cleaning. If in doubt, always seek professional advice.
If your furniture has had an after sale, soil resistant treatment applied by a third party, we as manufacturers cannot accept any liability for problems caused to the fabric in any way by this treatment, for any marking or staining that may have been over-sprayed, or for any staining or marking that may occur after their application or during their specialised cleaning procedures. Such treatments should always be pre-tested for their fabric compatibility on a hidden part of the furniture or a fabric sample before application. Any fabric protection problem must be referred to the agent that supplied it at the time of purchase.
Leather. Dust weekly with a clean, soft cloth. Clean quarterly by wiping over with lukewarm, mild solution of a pure soaping agent, such as Lux flakes or Dreft, using a damp cloth. Important – Do not over wet the cloth. Failure to carry out simple cleaning on a regular basis could discolour your leather permanently. Polishes, creams, detergents, leather foods, solvents varnishes, white spirit and stain removers should not be used as they can seriously damage the leather beyond repair. In the event of accident or severe soiling, consult your retailer for professional advice.
Special Notes
All fabric types will have gone through a selection of different processes in its manufacture, each of which can have an effect on the overall and final colour. Every effort is made to ensure all fabrics are within an acceptable commercial tolerance from a master swatch we hold, that has been agreed with the supplier. Retailers’ swatches or samples should be used as colour guides only as colour shades may vary slightly from batch to batch. For your convenience a sample of your furniture’s fabric has been fitted to the seat platform and should be used for matching future orders or repairs.
Chenilles
These are pile fabrics and flattening of the fibres during normal use are a characteristic and may result in slight shade variations against parts of the furniture that have no physical contact. Regular vacuuming or brushing with a soft brush is necessary to maintain the surface appearance.
Viscose Velours
Under no circumstances must water be applied directly to this type of fabric. If in doubt, seek professional advice.
Acrylic (Dralon) Velvets
These fabrics have a softness and lustre created by a thick pile of threads on the surface. Through normal handling and wear of the furniture, crush marks and random shading of the fabric surface will occur. This is generally considered a desirable expression of the fabrics’ comfort and elegance. Avoid contact with hot surfaces. To remove localised dirt or stains, sponge lightly with warm water (do not over wet), pat the surface dry with a soft cloth. Excessive rubbing will distort the pile.
Nylon Pile Velvets
Clean with water based solutions only. Never use petroleum based cleaners. Lightly soiled areas may be cleaned using lukewarm water and mild soap. Do not saturate the area, but gently wipe in a circular motion, never rub or scrub. Pat dry with a soft cloth, once dry, wipe over following the pile direction Do not dry clean.
Cotton Prints
As cotton is a natural product the fabric may often have a slub effect caused by yarns being caught together during the weaving process. This is not a flaw and should be classed as a feature of this type of fabric.
Loose Threads
Steps are taken to remove loose threads, however, should you find any loose threads then these should be cut off, and not pulled as this may unravel the fabric weave.
Zips
Where zips are fitted, this is often for ease of manufacture and does not necessarily mean that the cover is removable.
Fire Retardancy (FR)
Your fabrics are protected by a Fire retardant treatment for your safety. Where covers are back-coated, dry cleaning processes may remove this protection.
Wooden Feet
As with all wooden products each item has it’s own grain pattern and shade variations may well occur This variation is typical in a natural product enhancing the overall appearance and should not be interpreted as a shading defect.
Transit Glides
All furniture with wooden feet has been fitted with transit glides for ease of delivery. Please remove before use. Never open the action or use the Sofabed with transit glides fitted. This will damage the mechanism unless the correct feet are fitted.
Loose Cover
Please ensure that when washing covers that have been sold as suitable for this purpose you follow the following guidelines;
Do not exceed 40 degrees C or use a ball type powder dispenser
Cold Rinse, Short spin
Do not use powders with optical brightening agents or containing bleach
Do not tumble dry, squeeze, wring by hand or dry in direct sunlight
Do not allow damp fabric to come into contact with other fabrics to avoid dye transfer
To aid refitting of covers to your upholstery, re-fit whilst slightly damp and allow to dry in situ
Leather
Real leather is a natural product and has individual characteristics that will often display traces of its past. Brand marks, healed scars, neck growth, vein marks, areas of differing density, creases, bites and hair pore structure in no way detract from the wearing qualities. Grain structure will vary and as no two hides are the same the sample in our swatch books should be regarded as a colour guide only. It is always impossible to guarantee a perfect colour match.
All furniture is recommended for Domestic use only unless manufactured to the contrary by specific agreement.
We reserve the right to change any specification on our products without prior notice, please check with your retailer. Whilst every effort is made to match the fabric/frame dimensions etc ordered from your retailer, these may vary slightly. The manufacturer will not be liable for defects caused through non-compliance with the above instructions.