Furniture Care Tips
General Tips
- Keep most furniture out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause fading and deterioration of fabric, as well as causing wood furniture to dry out and crack.
- All upholstered furniture should be vacuumed regularly to keep dust and dirt from getting worked into the fabric structure. Dust and dirt can damage fabrics significantly reducing their lifespan. If seat cushions can be removed, the 'deck area' or where the cushions rest should be vacuumed as well.
- All spills should be wiped up immediately. Additional cleaning methods depend on the fabric (see below).
- Upholstery that is light in color may be stained by certain types of clothing (bluejeans ect.) especially if the clothing is wet.
Fabric
Removable seat cushions should be reversed with every vacuuming to prevent exposure damage to one side of the cushion. With some items the cushions will need to be exchanged after being reversed. Generally cushions on sofas and love seats are not interchangeable with each other.
In order to remove stains, you should first read the cleaning code for the fabric in question. Cleaning codes have been standardized as follows:
- S Dry Cleaning
- SW Shampoo Dry Foam
- W Wet Clean
- WS Wet Shampoo
- X Dry Clean Only
Leather & Vinyl
The worst damage is done to vinyl through human and animal skin oils deposited through normal use. The oils will cause the the vinyl to harden and crack. Weekly washing with a sponge and mild detergent will remove the oils and prevent them from doing lasting damage. Be sure to rinse all of the detergent off the material with clean water as even the cleaning solution may damage the vinyl.
Leather comes in two styles generally and they are treated differently. Glazed leather is more common and has a shiny finish and can be cared for similar to vinyl being careful not to over-water or saturate the material. The other type of leather is called nubuck or suede. It means that instead of being shiny the material is dull and rough. Cleaning this type of material should be left to professionals.
Wood
Moisture is the main cause of wood damage. Any liquids should be removed from a wood surface as soon as possible. Wood absorbs liquids and in doing so will expand and crack. Also be sure that any cleaners you use do not contain ammonia, as ammonia will dissolve the wood finish.
Wood is designed to sit on a level surface and may not function properly if not level. Symptoms of being unlevel include doors or drawers that bind. Try to level the object with wood shims. If the drawers still do not function properly, apply bar soap to the railings.
Most wood is finished. Here are some tips for preserving the finish based on what kind of finish the wood has.
- Lacquer finished furniture has a sheen on the surface and the grain texture can be felt through the finish. The wood can be solid or veneer. Use a non-acidic silicone free polish. This will help maintain the wood and keep the finish clear. Follow the instructions on the polish.
- Polyurethane finished furniture has a very glossy almost glass-like finish. Because the surface is so smooth and thick, no polish will penetrate it. Cleaning should be limited to a damp cloth. If absolutely necessary, an ammonia-free surface cleaner may be used
- Laminated wood furniture comes in many varieties, as far as cleaning is concerned, there are two types. They are either finished with lacquer or vinyl. Follow the polyurethane instructions for any non-lacquer laminated wood. Follow the lacquer instruction for lacquer laminated wood.
- Oil laminated furniture has no sheen and the grain is exposed. These can be cleaned with a penetrating oil solution such as Watco Satin Oil. Bees wax or candle wax may then be used to protect the wood.
What to look for in a Mattress
Size
Mattresses come in twin, full, queen and king. There are also extra long twin, extra long full and California king sizes. Sweet Dreams Bedding stock only standard twin, full, queen and eastern king mattress sets. The other sizes may be custom ordered.
| Size | Width | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38" | 74" |
| Full (double) | 54" | 74" |
| Full Extra Long | 54" | 80" |
| Queen | 60" | 80" |
| Eastern King | 72" | 80" |
| California King | 72" | 84" |
Comfort
Mattresses are classified as either plush, firm or a pillow top. Plush, firm and pillow top mattresses generally have the same support, so chose the one that is the most comfortable.
Warranty
Mattresses warranties are broken into prorated and non prorated time periods. Non prorated warranties are better and will cover repair costs. Prorated warranties are valid for a short period and after that period is up, the consumer is responsible for repair costs. Sweet Dreams Bedding offers combinations of prorated and non-prorated warranties depending on the mattress set.
Price
A good way to determine a price point, is to determine what kind of usage a mattress will receive. Is it for a child's room? is it for a guest bedroom? Will it be slept on every night or occasionally? When deciding on a price point, remember that a mattress is long term investment. It s also an investment in ones health. Sweet Dreams Bedding offers economy bedding and luxury bedding all at the best quality and lowest price.
Support
At Sweet Dreams Bedding, we feel that an innerspring mattress provides the most even support. Our Spring Systems have passed the torture and endurance test required for approval by the American Hotel and Motel Association and various US Government agencies. Our spring units are a continuous coil spring unit. These units distribute weight evenly over the entire sleeping surface and will prevent "rolling" towards the center of the bed.
The quality of an innerspring mattress is first determined by the number and density of the coils that make up the unit. Generally the more coils mattresses have the better support and quality the mattress will have. Coil count is determined by the amount of springs in a full size unit. So if a mattress says that it has a coil count of 387, this means that in a full mattress there are 387 springs. There will be more springs in a larger mattress, but this is the industry standard for measurement. Proper support will not be achieved with anything less that 312 coils.
Sweet Dreams Bedding also makes mattresses with a strong seating edge by placing a 6 gauge border wire around the perimeter of the mattress. This prevents the side from "sinking" in.
Foundations
There are two different types of foundations Sweet Dreams Bedding makes. The first is a wood box or a wood foundation. A wood foundation is a wood box with a center support that is covered with fabric. Wood foundations do not have any movement. The second type of foundation available is a box spring. A box spring is a wood box that has springs in it. A box spring is usually more expensive and it does have slight movement. On all foundations, Sweet dreams Bedding place protective corner guards on the edges.
Comfort
Mattresses come in different comfort levels. The main categories are plush, firm and pillow tops. There are different levels within each of the categories. Pillow top mattresses have an extra layer of material on both sides of the mattress. Usually this is a layer of foam within a layer of material like dacron or wool or other materials that is sewn or quilted to the mattresses fabric or ticking. Pillow tops can be firm or plush.
Luxury Materials
Some mattresses contain luxury materials. These include things like latex foam, wool, silk, and other materials. Luxury materials make a better quality mattress, that will last longer.
Innerspring mattresses are made by first covering the spring unit on both sides with a bounded polyester fiver bad. Over this, layers of cotton and foam are set in place. Finally, the selected fabric, either just fabric quilted to other materials, is placed on top and the entire mattress is sewn. After the mattress had been produced it then goes through our quality assurance program before it leaves the factory.
Do's and Don'ts of Mattress Care
Don't bend your mattress under any circumstance. This could result in permanent damage to the innerspring unit.
Don't allow anyone to stand or jump on your mattress.
Don't use handles when turning your mattress. Handles are intended only to position the mattress.
Do use the matching foundation designed specifically for your mattress for proper mattress support.
Do use a premium quality mattress pad to protect your sleep surface and ensure limited warranty coverage.
Do use a metal bed frame or a metal support system with a headboard and footboard. A metal center support is a must.
Furniture Warranty
One of the key benefits we provide is warranty support for our customers. If at any time during the life of your product you encounter a warranty issue, we will advocate and intermediate the warranty process. To ensure the quickest and most efficient warranty service, please follow the instructions below:
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Read the Warranty the manufacturer provided
To find out if the manufacturer's warranty covers your issue, please read the warranty card provided with your purchase or click on one of the following links to view the specific warranties from our vendors:
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Download Warranty Form
After reviewing the warranty information, if you believe that your issue is covered, please click on the manufacturer of your product below to fill out a manufacturer-specific processing form. Please be as detailed as possible to help expedite your claim.
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Stains
Note: If your mattress is stained, it will most likely void your manufacturer warranty. If you have a stain on your mattress and you purchased "Protect-A-Bed", please click on the link below to file the claim with "Protect-A-Bed" directly:
- Where can I get warranty information on merchandise?