CARE OF UPHOLSTERY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3221, 22 May 1928, Page 2

CARE OF UPHOLSTERY

REGULAR ATTENTION

DESIRABLE.

KEEPING FREE FROM DUST.

In the care of upholstery of a car, little but regular attention is needed.. Honest wear is unavoidable and practically irremediable—that is, once the surface is gone nothing can be. done to replace it, and, unfortunately, wear takes place in the most prominent spots. The enemy that can be kept at bay is dust. Even the finest dust is highly abrasive, and it has an objectionable habit of working into • the' pleats of the seat squabsr and cushions. It is advisable to open these now and. again with the fingers and brush out' the dust, a clothes. brush being a convenient tool. The sides of the pleats that have rubbed together will be found .chafed. Where the upholstery Is real leather any good proprietary, leather dressing may be rubbed on the "sore" places; only a light application is required. These dressings are distinct from leather revivers, which are a kind of quick-drying varnish coloured to match the upholstery. They are something to put on the surface, and which remains on the surface. Leather dressings, on the other hand, go into the leather, although they may leave a slight film on top. Comparative illustrations in everyday life are boot -varnish and dubbin; the former gives i a glossy film, the latter dries right in.

Leather-cloth upholstery can be cleaned—as can leather—with so.ap and water by making a good lather and working it in with a sponge. Furniture oil on a damp rag, or any of the special preparations widely advertised are also successful. By far 'the best way of looking after upholstery is to give \it regular* attention, and often in dry weather. Wear at the sides of the pleats does not show, and therefore should be looked for more frequently.

Cloth upholstery in closed cars is another case where little can be done. Here again, regular brushing (or the use of a vacuum cleaner) is the best help"towarcls long service. Usually a stiff brush is best, arid a softer pne for the cloth roofs of saloons.-', It will take the best part of an hour to brush out a saloon properly, because there are so many corners: that doing most. Seats and squabsl'are kept swept by the passengers' clothes. That should be. realised; the passengers do something towards the maintenance of the .car besides keeping the** springs at work.