Caring for your Parker Knoll

With a little care and a few tips from us, your furniture should last you for many years to come. There are a number of things you will need to do to maintain your furniture. Click here to view and download the Parker Knoll Consumer Care Guide.

General Care Information

  • Your upholstery is designed to be used in a comfortable and ergonomically correct way. Sitting on the edges of cushions or on the arms may cause premature wear or distortion of the fillings or fabric. Allowing people or animals to jump on the furniture, can cause permanent damage
  • Do not allow pets to snag the fabric. If a snag does occur do not pull it, carefully feed through to the back of the fabric with a blunt needle.
  • Please keep sharp-edged objects, buckles, and jewellery clear of your upholstery.
  • Do not allow children to use furniture to demonstrate their gymnastic ability.
  • Furniture should not be exposed to long periods of direct heat which could cause frame distortion or strong direct sunlight which can cause fading.
  • Avoid sitting on upholstery with non-colourfast clothes or heavily soiled clothes.
  • Do not leave newspapers on upholstery as this can lead to staining
  • When regularly using your sofa, it is advised to regularly turn and move loose cushions. Furniture with fixed seats will require dressing out with use.
  • Please make sure your sofa is kept in a well-ventilated room. Upholstery fabrics have better longevity under normal humidity circumstances

Caring for your Fabric Upholstery

Our extensive range of fabrics are selected from the finest mills across the world. In order to maintain your furniture in the pristine condition in which it was delivered, please take a little time to read the following helpful tips.

  • Some fabrics have a pile, such as velvets and chenilles, which may shade, show pressure marks or flatten. Creases may form in seat and back cushions where fillings flex. These are normal characteristics of pile fabrics, and should not be regarded as a fault.
  • Accumulated dust and dirt will accelerate wear and can dull colours. We recommend you carefully vacuum your upholstery, at least once a week to keep it in good condition. Dust removal may be improved by pre-brushing with a soft brush.
  • Never use soap or detergents on fabrics, as upholstery fabrics are not 100% colourfast. Excessive wetting could cause shrinkage. Minor soiling can be removed by using a proprietary dry foam cleaner available from most furniture stores. Please test before applying to the whole area and follow instructions for use.
  • The application of additional stain repellent treatments may affect the feel, colour, and performance of the fabric.
  • It is advisable to have heavy soiling cleaned by a Professional Upholstery Cleaning Service.
  • Removable (loose) covers must be cleaned in accordance with the label attached to the cover. In most cases, this will mean dry cleaning at a Professional Dry Cleaners only.
  • Parker Knoll will not accept responsibility for any damage caused through
    incorrect cleaning.

Special Care for Velvet & Chenille Upholstery

Velvet and Chenille fabrics have a high pile as a result of a double weaving process. Consequently, this pile may cause fabrics to shade, show pressure marks or flatten. These qualities are unavoidable and as such should not be regarded as a fault but instead a unique characteristic of these natural fabrics.
A few simple tips:–

  • Brush off any dust with a soft-bristled hairbrush or cloth in the direction of the nap.
  • You can vacuum with a specific attachment for velvet or chenille to remove the fuzz formed on the fabric.
  • Remove any creases with a steamer – holding the nozzle right up to the velvet moving at a moderate pace across the crease in the direction of the nap.
  • Never use soap or detergents on fabrics, as this can have a negative impact on the fabric and even change the colour appearance.
  • Please keep sharp-edged objects, buckles, and jewellery clear of the upholstery.

Caring for your Leather Upholstery

A few simple tips:

  • Leather furniture should not be exposed to long periods of strong direct sunlight, which can cause fading, drying out, and cracking, neither should they be exposed to direct heat, which could cause frame distortion.
  • Sitting on the edges of cushions or on the arms may cause distortion and permanent damage.
  • Please keep sharp objects, buckles, and jewellery clear, as these could tear the leather.
  • Do not allow pets to claw or climb on leather furniture.
  • Plump up all feather/fibre-filled cushions on a daily basis, and foam-filled cushions once a week. This will not only enhance the look of your furniture but will prolong the life of the fillings.
  • Avoid sitting on leather with non-colourfast clothes or heavily soiled clothes.

Whilst leather will provide many trouble-free years of comfort, as with all-natural products, a little extra care will help maintain its beautiful appearance.

  • Dust weekly with a clean soft cloth.
  • Clean quarterly by wiping over with a lukewarm mild solution of pure natural soaping agent, using a damp cloth or soft sponge in a circular motion. If using a sponge, work the sponge to achieve a lather; it is better to use the suds to clean with.
  • Do not rub the leather as this could damage the surface.
  • It is important not to over-wet the cloth or sponge.
  • Failure to carry out regular cleaning could result in the leather becoming discoloured permanently.
  • Any accidental spills should be mopped up immediately with an absorbent tissue or a soft, clean cloth. Always work from the outside of the spill towards the centre, to prevent it from spreading. This is important to avoid a stain. Then follow the ‘soaping’ cleaning procedure.
  • Never use:- polishes, creams, detergents, leather food, solvents, varnishes, white spirit, or stain removers. They will damage the leather beyond repair.

Cleanable Fabrics

Crypton®

Stains are easily lifted away without the need for abrasive cleaners.
While the performance features of Crypton® Fabric make it easy to clean, it is not self cleaning. Please use the simple instructions below to clean.
Spot cleaning
1. Blot any excess liquid; wipe away excess mess with a dry, clean towel.
2. Mix together a simple soap and water solution. We recommend mixing 1/4 teaspoon enzyme laundry or dish detergent, like Ariel® or Persil®, with 1 cup warm water.
3. Apply the solution and agitate with a soft bristle brush. Make sure to brush lightly and work from the outside of the stain inward so as not to spread the stain. Rinse your sponge or brush frequently.
4. Blot with a clean towel and rinse. Repeat if necessary.
5. And remember, soap attracts dirt, so make sure to rinse thoroughly.
6. Allow fabric to air dry.

 

Easycare®

Feel free to live on your sofa with Easycare. This range of durable fabrics is resistant against almost all day-to-day household stains. Both eco-friendly and super soft, this collection is easy to clean with just a sponge, water and mild soap.
We have a range of Easycare fabrics in our current collection. These include Fusion, Latitude and Capture fabrics which can be found in the ‘LifeStyle’ swatch book in store, or on our fabric section of the website.

Easycare® and Easy Clean
Almost all average household, oil- and protein-based stains (e.g. olive-oil, red wine, coffee, tea, milk, fruit juice, jam…) can be removed by sponge cleaning using water and mild soap.
1- First, take off any excess residue from the spill immediately with a wet cloth or, if necessary, with abundant (lukewarm) water.
2- Then clean the stain with a sponge, water and eventually mild soap.
3- Allow to air dry.

 

Caring for your show wood and castors

Show wood

  1. Timber or show wood areas of your furniture should be simply wiped with a soft duster.
  2. Periodically they can be cleaned with a diluted solution of warm water and vinegar and then buffed with a soft duster to restore the shine.
  3. Do not use spray furniture polish.

Castors

  1. Some items are fitted with castors for ease of movement.
  2. Check the condition of your castors and feet regularly, as if damaged or faulty they could dirty or damage wooden floors or carpets.
  3. Avoid dragging furniture across exterior surfaces as this may damage your castors.

 

Caring for Your Seat Cushions

  • Reversible cushions, if provided, should be rotated daily on chairs and sofas in order to avoid localised excessive wear or soiling.
  • All scatter cushions should be plumped up on a daily basis especially if they are fibre or feather filled. This will not only enhance the look of your furniture but will help prolong its life.

We recommend that feather cushions or feather mix cushions are not vacuumed, only brushed.

Follow the simple steps below to help ensure your seat interiors are always looking their best.

 

Encore seat interiors

The Parker Knoll Encore seat interior offers a solid foam core encased with pocketed roll carded fibre, giving the look and feel of a fibre seat with the added durability of foam.

  • With an Encore seat interior, your seat cushion will recover its shape and maintain its plumpness.
  • Unlike standard fibre seat interiors, which need constant plumping and maintenance, the Encore seat interior only needs regular turning and dressing to maintain its shape.
  • On receipt of your sofa or chair, you may see exaggerated plumpness to the seat cushion. This will reduce with use over a short period of time as the interior pockets of fibre settle into the ideal shape

Premium Comfort Foam

Premium Comfort Foam has been developed by Parker Knoll in conjunction with a leading foam supplier to create a supremely comfortable seating experience. This seat interior option has a foam core and super soft topper, creating pockets of air when you sit as well as offering excellent recovery properties with an elegant, tailored appearance. Premium Comfort Foam will conform to your body shape, perfectly ensuring you have a premium comfort experience.

 

*Please note seat interiors will soften after initial use, this is a normal characteristic. You can prolong the longevity of your interiors by regularly plumping and rotating them. For more information on how to care for you furniture, read our Care Booklet.