Artificial suede for furniture: the pros, cons and recommendations for care

Artificial suede is a fairly popular material for furniture upholstery today. Everyone knows about the beauty and quality of natural suede, so this material is very valuable. The artificial counterpart in appearance is practically the same as natural, therefore it gives the house a special atmosphere of chic and luxury. The quality of this product, of course, inferior to this suede, but at the same time it has its advantages.

Artificial suede has a very simple composition of fibers. One fourth is cotton, and the rest is polyester. Fibers are connected with a fabric cloth, sometimes the top-finished product is treated with a layer of Teflon, so that the material does not absorb liquid contamination. The rigidity and flexibility of the product is determined by the structure of the threads. Synthetic fibers provide a greater degree of elastic elongation, the fabric is minimally susceptible to creasing, does not stretch throughout the entire period of operation. There are two types of artificial suede:

• on a fabric basis;
• on a continuous nonwoven basis.

The first option is more popular because it is breathable. The differences are in the structure of the material, the height, density and direction of the pile differ. The nobility of suede is formed from the play of light shades. Everyone knows the effect that is created on the fabric when stroking it with his hand. The higher the nap, the brighter the remaining trace.

Particular attention is paid to the production of painting products. This process consists of three stages - adsorption, diffusion and fixing of dyes. Before the paint is applied to the canvas, it is carefully examined for defects, thermal and steam treatment is carried out. Acid, chromic, direct, disperse dyes are used for coloring.

Currently, furniture stores offer a wide color variety of faux suede. Usually, buyers prefer to choose a monochromatic version, but suede with a pattern is also quite common.

The main advantage of Alcantara over natural suede is its affordable price. Visually, they can only be distinguished by a professional master. The quality of natural fabric is higher, however, and the synthetic material has quite a lot of advantages.

• If you carefully treat the furniture, the fabric will last for several years and will retain its original appearance for a long time.
• The material has high strength, it is difficult to tear, stretch or damage.
• The fabric is very resistant to the effects of ultraviolet and high humidity. Color does not fade for a long time and does not fade.
• Unusual ability of artificial suede for furniture: in the winter it gives warmth, and in summertime - coolness.

• The material effectively passes the air, resulting in a pleasant indoor microclimate.
• By itself, faux suede is a warm fabric. The furniture upholstered with this comfortable material creates a feeling of coziness in the room.
• Artificial suede is immune to static electricity.

Another advantage of faux suede - it is very pleasant to the touch. On such a sofa it is pleasant to sit, touch it with your hand, play with fibers in the sun.

Before choosing the material for sofa upholstery, It is necessary to get acquainted with its shortcomings.

• Despite the fact that the fabric is very resistant to any mechanical impact, with the claws of a stubborn animal, it can not cope. Therefore, the owners of cats is better to abandon the purchase of artificial suede.
• If the material is purchased in a light shade, then the owners need to be prepared for the fact that it quickly gets dirty. Especially this problem is relevant in homes where there are young children.
• Artificial suede requires careful treatment, as well as compliance with special conditions during cleaning.
• Hair and animal hair are easily “magnetized” to the material.

Choosing faux suede for upholstery, follow the following rules.

• Pay special attention to the color of the fabric. It is recommended to avoid light shades, since they are very noticeable spots, and to get rid of them is problematic. At the same time, too dark a sofa also does not fit every interior. The sofa made of black faux suede looks spectacular, but it has the peculiarity of absorbing space, therefore it is suitable only for a very spacious room.
• Try to give preference to products with a high degree of impregnation with Teflon. This will greatly simplify the care of the material. The advantage of this fabric is the ability to wash.
• Furniture fabric stores offer options with long and short nap. From these factors depends on the duration of the material. It should be borne in mind that suede with a long nap will deteriorate faster.

• On sale you can find a product with a rough surface, not very familiar to the touch. This should not alarm the buyer. The fact is that this is a kind of artificial suede, laminated for extra strength. This fabric is of high quality, additional processing allows the product to keep its shape, but it is still recommended to install a sofa upholstered in a laminated version in an office setting, and not into the house.
• Mainly furniture departments in Russia, including online stores, offer custom-made products from China. Do not be afraid of such products. In China, they produce quite good fabrics that make up a strong competition to products from Turkey or Italy, whose materials are practically not found on sale, despite assurances from sellers.

When caring for a sofa covered with faux suede, listen to the following recommendations.

• The most useful advice is to buy a removable case. It will protect the fabric from abrasion, mechanical damage and other external factors. The cover can be removed, washed, changed if necessary.
• As soon as the liquid gets on the suede, you need to immediately shake off the drops and wipe with a wet cloth. If there is a stain, you can clean it with soda (leave it for a day and then vacuum it) or wipe it with a sponge with soapy water, but you cannot rub it hard. As soon as the material dries, the nap should be restored with a soft brush.
• Vacuuming a sofa lined with artificial suede is allowed every week, but it is better to use a soft nozzle.
• To clean the material is better to use the services of dry cleaners. The most preferred option is dry cleaning with hydrocarbon solvents or driyline. These methods will not damage the fabric, but only give an updated look.

• Care must be taken to ensure that food contamination does not dry on the fabric.
• Special products and stain removers for natural and artificial suede are suitable for the care of the product. However, before using a similar composition to remove the stain, test the tool. To do this, you can try to apply a stain remover on the wrong side of the upholstery and watch the reaction.
• If the sofa is covered with a removable cover made of synthetic suede, reinforced with Teflon, then it can be washed. But in no case should you twist the product after washing, you must use a centrifuge.
• When washing you can not use bleach, solvents, chemicals, compositions based on petroleum products.

Most reviews of sofas with faux suede are positive. Consumers praise the furniture for a very aesthetic appearance. With proper care, the material retains its structure and paint. There is a spectacular sofa, even after several years of use, even when it stands by the window under direct sunlight. People like to touch the sofa, the material resembles velvet.

Nevertheless, many still cover the sofa with a veil or cover, revealing its beauty only during the visit of guests. This is done in order to extend the life of the material.

Negative reviews are associated with the property of artificial suede to peel off the top decorative level with the active use of the sofa. The vulnerability of the material to the claws of animals is noted. And also not everyone likes meticulous care of the product and the ability of suede to attract hair and wool.

How to distinguish natural suede from artificial, see the following video.