We take a great effort at Gemona West Lifestyle to ensure that the materials we use are of the greatest quality. But just like any other item of furniture, wood is a natural material and does not always age perfectly. The strongest defence against furniture damage is routine upkeep. Your purchase will provide you with years of happiness if you heed our straightforward advice.

Here are a few ways to go about the upkeep of your furniture

  The way you care for your furniture will affect how long it lasts, from where you place it to how you use or maintain it. You should always leave space between your leather furniture and outside walls when placing it in your room to reduce moisture buildup. And to avoid colour fading or scorching caused by heat, place far enough away from radiators.

  Avoid sitting on the armrests or the edge of the cushions as well because doing so could cause the fabric and cushioning to sag and the seams to be too stressed. Remember that sharp things like buckles, rings, and even the claws of your pets can rip or harm the furniture.

  Protect the cloth's surface from withering from the sun by using a premium UV filter. When vacuuming, only use a soft brush; never use a powerful attachment as this could damage the fabric's structure or the appearance of the furniture.

Cushion Care

Every cushion needs regular and continuing maintenance. To evenly distribute wear, the simplest methods are to simply flip the cushions over on a regular basis or to periodically "plump" and switch cushions from one side of the furniture to the other. Depending on how they are used, some fabrics may gradually "creep" or "slide." Flipping will minimize this, but occasionally, it's necessary to unzip the cushion and pull or rub the fabric back into place.

Feather & Down

Feather-filled cushions require routine "plumping" and flipping, especially if used as base cushions. If this is not done, the cushioning and cloth may become less comfortable and lose some of their aesthetic appeals.

Fabric

For both fixed and loose cushion covers, when necessary, we advise using a specialized furniture dry cleaning service. Please ask our sales staff for information on your individual fabric before using any cleaning agents or water.

Velvet

Most velvets we carry are natural products. Velvets can be prone to marking caused by pressure in transit or in use. Most marks can be removed by smoothing the velvet with a soft brush and/or gentle steaming. In some natural velvets, crushing is an inherent characteristic and cannot be removed.

Silk & Sateens

Silk is made from very delicate fibres and must be treated with the utmost care. Be sure to keep far from radiators and away from direct sunlight.

Foam-Wrapped Feather

To make feather "wraps" or "layers”, inserts loaded with feathers are wrapped around a foam core. This cushion filling, which is one of the best in the industry, requires little maintenance.

Stain Protection

We advise you to use our Guardsman Plus Protection Plan to safeguard your new furniture. By doing this, you can prevent stains as well as accidental rips, tears, burns, and scratches. When possible, their network of knowledgeable repair experts will make an effort to repair the damage or find new parts. If the required parts are not readily available, the item will be replaced.

Colour Fastness

Although no cloth is completely colourfast, fading can be avoided by taking the right safety measures

Fading & Sun Damage

The most vulnerable materials to fading are dyed ones, especially those dyed in vivid colours.
Long-term exposure to direct sunlight can cause the fabric to deteriorate or fade, so it is best to keep upholstery out of the sun as much as possible. Most sunshine is absorbed by south-facing rooms. The chance of a rip or tear during cleaning can be increased by repeated exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation, which can weaken fabric fibres and make them brittle.

Moisture

Keep your furnishings away from wet areas like the bathroom, a damp basement, and areas near water. They may deteriorate if exposed to humidity.

Pilling

Pilling is typically caused by wear and strain. However, climatic circumstances and air quality might also play a role. Some clothing fibres have the ability to transfer medication to the furniture. Using battery-operated pilling machines, which are readily accessible at most haberdashery stores, you may simply eliminate pilling, which is not a defect.

MATERIALS

Leather

Each leather hide is distinct, thus it's possible to find some natural markings or very tiny colour differences. When reupholstering our furniture, our artisans work with the leather's natural grain to bring out the material's true character and beauty. Leather doesn't need much upkeep when used regularly; a quick dusting with a soft, dry cloth will do. It's crucial to keep leather couches away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

Marbles/Natural Stone/ Petrified Wood

Marbles, Natural Stones & Petrified Wood come in many natural colours and each presents natural veining. The colouration and veining are all determined by the minerals present during formation. Veining can often provide a certain inconsistency in the surface texture of your tabletop and might even require some fill to be used. These variations and natural markings are to be expected.

You can re-polish your surfaces with a coat of natural paste wax as desired. This will restore the shine and protect the surface. As you would with a fine piece of wood furniture, always use placemats, coasters, and trivets and clean any spills immediately with clear water and wipe with a dry cloth. Regular rubbing alcohol is a perfect product to use for day-to-day cleaning.

Natural Woods / Veneers / Lacquered Surfaces

Regular dusting will help maintain the beauty of natural timbers, veneers, and lacquered finishes. Individual stains on the furniture will likely not stick to it permanently if done in this way.

A modest bit of furniture polish and a soft, moist cloth should be used in combination to get rid of tough stains. Droplets of water or alcohol must be removed very quickly because they could damage the furnishings and leave stains. Since aggressive cleaning products frequently contain solvents or other chemicals that harm lacquered coatings or even have the potential to irrevocably damage them, they should never be used.

Glass & Mirror

Use a gentle cloth and glass cleaner to clean the surface.

Metal

Use a gentle, dry cloth to dust frequently. Use warm water and mild soap for thorough washing. Rinse with fresh water, then pat dry. Metal surfaces should not be cleaned using steel wool, sandpaper, mineral acid, bleach, or chlorine.

Lighting

Lamps and bulbs are not included. To find out which lighting is suitable, please consult your sales advisor. Please check with an electrician about the compatibility of chandeliers and lamps before connecting them to lighting control systems.

Rugs

To preserve quality and avoid pile crushing, it is usually preferable to rotate your rug in high-traffic areas every four months. This will aid in preventing regions exposed to direct sunlight from fading or discolouring. Please be aware that it could take up to 3–4 weeks for indentures and folds to fade after the rug is delivered and unwrapped. In other circumstances, the rugs might need to be rolled the other way so they can be placed flat.
For all rugs, an underlay or anti-slip is advised. As they stop the rug from slipping and sliding, underlays can help in the prevention of damage and accidents. A rug's lifespan may be increased by using an anti-slip that also serves as a shock absorber while being used. In order to protect your rug from stains, moth damage, and regular wear, we can set up specialized treatments. To learn more about this service, speak with our sales consultant.

Wool Rugs

Regular vacuuming without the use of a beater-bar roller is recommended, and spills should be cleaned up right away by blotting, not rubbing, with a white cloth or paper towel. We also suggest treating wool rugs to ward off moth infestations. The pile may sustain unintended harm from moths and their larvae, but this can be fixed with treatment.

Viscose & Silk Rugs

Given the fragility of the fibres, we advise expert cleaning. To schedule a professional cleaning session and receive expert guidance, please get in touch with the Gemona West Lifestyle Company.

Curtains

Direct Sun

Avoid intense exposure to sunlight. The sun's rays can cause fabrics to fade and break down. The Gemona West Lifestyle Company advises lining and interlining your curtains to help avoid this, albeit this won't completely stop the harm that sunlight causes.
Consider using some type of sun protection if you are exposed to the sun frequently and strongly. A blind or shade to safeguard the materials could be used in place of a separate lining behind the treatment. Failure to protect the cloth could lead to fading claims being denied.

Creasing

Our curtains are packaged with care and shipped out. Any folding of the cloth, however, will result in some creases; our installer will steam when necessary. The textiles will continue to relax and naturally drop as they hang, so give them some time to smooth out any wrinkles. Please, be aware that wrinkles on linen and velvet textiles may last a lifetime due to the fabric's inherent properties.

Yarns/Fibres

Our fabrics are made from a variety of natural yarns and synthetic fibres. Slubs and other natural weave irregularities are frequently present, which improves the fabric's overall appearance. It should be highlighted that this is a natural property of the fabric and not a flaw.

Silk

Silk needs to be shielded from sunlight because it has a low level of colour fastness. We advise interlining as well as the additional security of blinds. Additionally, the silk yarn's natural qualities include slubs, knots, and irregular horizontal banding.

Shrinkage

Please, be aware that when in place at the window, shrinking of up to 5% may occur owing to changes in air conditions. The hems have an ample amount of cloth to provide any necessary length adjustments.

Regular Care

When your curtains are drawn, give them a light shake. This will stop dirt and dust from getting stuck in the fibres. Vacuum any accumulated dust off the surface of your treatments once a month. Use a clean, soft brush attachment and somewhat lower suction force for this. Keep an eye out for any sizable clumps that the brush may have distributed or any lagging trimmings and decorations.

Cleaning

You should never wash or clean custom treatments. Do not press or iron your blinds or curtains. To receive advice on reputable cleaning services, please get in touch with our sales consultant.