Is The Minneapolis Heat Bad For My Upholstery?

It’s the warmest time of the year, and we are feeling the heat. With the hot days and the warm nights in Minneapolis, the only way to keep cool is with air conditioning or having a steady supply of frozen treats in your freezer. Unfortunately, it isn’t just the people that need to stay cool in your home. Your furniture also needs the colder temperatures to last longer.

Hot water damage

Any temperature of water can damage your upholstery, but hot water can do more damage to your upholstery than cold water. The heat from boiling or close to boiling water causes discoloration of the fabric and wears it down faster. There is a greater chance for the upholstery to crack or fray, depending on the material. Because water can get deeper into your upholstery, it can also damage the cushioning underneath the upholstery, wearing down the lifespan of your furniture. The best way to avoid this is to use room-temperature water and very little of it, or call your local professional upholstery cleaner.

Humidity damage

Most furniture is built with wood framing. Wood reacts to humidity easily. During the winter when it is less humid, the wood will dry and shrink. When the humidity of summer is in the air, the humidity fills the wood with moisture, making it expand. This expansion can make the wood start to bend and flake from itself, weakening the furniture. The humidity also damages the upholstery itself. Similarly to carpets, fabric upholstery can grow mold, hold dust, and gain bacteria from the humidity. The best way to combat this is to adjust the humidity to between 50% to 60% in your home. Whether it’s winter or summer, make sure to keep the humidity consistent throughout the year.

Light damage

It’s not so much the light but the UV rays that come from the sun. The longer your furniture stays in the sun, the more UV rays that will affect your furniture. When the sun shines on fabrics, there is a chemical reaction with the dyes and plastics in the fibers that breaks the upholstery down and makes the colors fade. The sun will also warm up your upholstery, which doesn’t only increase the humidity, but it’s also uncomfortable. The best way to avoid UV damage is to keep your furniture out of direct sunlight.

Keep your furniture looking new longer. A great way to avoid damage from time and spills is to get regular upholstery cleaning. We also do not use hot water in our unique cleaning process. Contact us to get started.