The sun is shining and summer is here for everyone in Minneapolis. With nice weather and beautiful scenery, we often leave our windows open and uncovered to bask in the warm months while we have them. However, that isn’t always the best idea for your upholstered furniture. The sun gives off UV rays that, over time, will discolor and wear down your furniture. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent it! Here are some of our tips that you can use to keep your furniture looking great and last longer.

Update furniture placement

While this is not ideal in some homes, smaller homes like apartments have one direction the sunlight goes through. Rearranging the furniture to avoid the sunlight keeps your furniture out of the sun rays that will make it fade. In larger homes with multiple windows, it might vary from room to room. Without the sunlight’s rays breaking down your couches or other upholstered furniture, the shade can keep your furniture looking fresh.

Add blackout curtains

For those okay with little or no sunlight in their rooms, blackout curtains offer a great solution. These types of curtains can block out up to 90% of the sunlight from getting into your home. Even if you still want a little sunlight, you can pull back the curtains a little bit to let the light in but keep your upholstery in the shade. 

Use window film

Window film is an adhesive covering for your windows that blocks out the UV rays while allowing natural light to come into your home. Some window films can block 90% to 99% of UV rays from entering your home when installed properly. This can be a great solution for people who enjoy the light and don’t mind their view looking a little different. 

Spray protectants on furniture

There are some furniture protectants for upholstered furniture that you can spray onto them. Some of them can work great to keep your furniture protected for a short time. It works similar to wood sealants for wood furniture. Be sure to read the instructions on the protectant to safely apply it to your furniture. 

Get new windows

There are new windows that are made with UV ray protection so you don’t have to add anything to your windows or furniture to protect your upholstery from fading. This is an expensive option, but if you are thinking of remodeling, it could be an option you should look into. 

If you want to keep your upholstery looking great for a long time, upholstery cleaning can keep your furniture looking clean, fresh, and like-new. Contact Lucas Family Carpet Cleaning to get started, or check out our process to see how we can clean your carpets and upholstery without leaving your carpets and furniture damp.