General Care

Having knowledge of how to care for your furniture ensures added value and longevity of your product. To help you protect your investment carefully read and follow our advice and instructions. It is strongly recommended that the following care instructions are followed to keep your furniture looking great and operating properly. Frequency of the care schedule will depend on how much the product is used.

Moving Your Furniture

Unless the furniture is fitted with castors, it is not recommended to slide or drag it. By sliding or dragging your furniture, breakage can occur. Never move the sofa or chair by dragging or lifting by the armrests: the correct way to move the furniture is by lifting it from underneath the base / arm.Protect the edges of your furniture while in transit.

Operating Furniture Safely

Furniture with moving mechanisms should be operated with care. Sitting or standing on an armrest or a footstool is unsafe and never recommended. Keep chair seats and backs in an upright position when not in use.

Do not allow children to play with or near mechanized furniture or to operate mechanisms. It is recommended that you ask your H2 retailer for a complete demonstration of all the operating features. If you have any further questions regarding correct operation, please contact H2 Seating directly.

PRODUCT ENVIRONMENT

All H2 selected fabric and leather coverings are stringently tested to ensure the highest possible quality standards.

To ensure these coverings provide a long life, a number of precautionary measures should be taken.

When arranging furniture, it is important to protect it from extreme heat and cold fluctuations.  For example, damp conditions can cause mold. Hot radiators and other heat sources can cause color fading, as well as a drying effect that can add to the breakdown of protective finishes.

Prolonged exposure to sunlight will also cause damage and fading of all fabric and leather coverings.

HEAT AND SUNLIGHT

Always keep your furniture away from heat and cold sources and do not expose your furniture to direct sunlight. It is also advisable to make sure the room’s humidity is at a normal level.

Do not use therapeutic wheat bags on the furniture. Wheat bags can overheat quite easily and cause damage to the furniture.

CUSHION CARE

Keeping cushions plump and comfy is a simple procedure. Because they flatten to some extent after regular use and adopt the shape of the user, a regular fluff and rotate will ensure more even wear. If the cushions are reversible, turn them regularly.

If you purchase sofas that have a fiber, foam or down filling, it will be necessary to re-model or ”dress” them to ensure they return to their initial look, when they may have been compressed or altered during transit.

During the first months of use, polyurethane fiber padding tends to soften before permanently stabilizing. This setting may also create slight folds on the covering, which is a completely normal characteristic of the product.

AVOIDING ACCIDENTAL COVER DAMAGE

While accidents can occur, planning ahead can avoid most costly mishaps. Buckles, belts, rings, studs on jeans and other objects can snag or tear even the strongest upholstery fabrics or damage or deeply mark leathers. Soiling and deterioration will also occur if pets are allowed to use unprotected seat covers.

Felt pads or rubber/plastic feet are recommended if the furniture is to be placed on wooden, parquet, tile, or other non-carpeted floor surfaces.

Leather Care

Leather is a natural, durable, and breathable material, known for its unique markings and one-of-a-kind character. With proper care, it can last for generations, improving over time with a rich patina. To maintain it, clean with a Leather Cleaner and apply a Leather Protection Cream every 3-6 months.

NATURAL VARIATION IN TEXTURE

Premium leather hides used for upholstering furniture will exhibit non-uniform surface qualities, depending on the area of the hide from which they were cut. Pigment-dyed, buffed and embossed leather will obscure some of these natural texture characteristics. Variations in texture are not flaws and will not affect the leather’s durability.

Common surface variations include scratches, wrinkles and healed sores.

  • Scratches from branches or stretch marks are smooth to the touch but may accept dye with slight variation to the surrounding area.
  • Wrinkles vary from hide to hide. These natural folds highlight unique grain patterns.
    Healed  wounds and barbed-wire abrasions create an organic surface texture and one-of-a-kind authentic leather characteristics. These marks do not affect the durability of the hide.
  • Veins, insect bites and uneven surfaces. Leather is a natural product, and the skin of an animal is affected by the climatic conditions.

We try to position the most visual irregularities on the back or on the outside of the furniture. Each hide is therefore individually cut and sewn. Our highly experienced craftsmen are applying decades of knowledge to provide you with fine leather furniture. 

NATURAL VARIATION IN SHADES

Premium aniline and semi aniline dyed leather may further display subtle variations of color across the surface of the hide. When the hide is cut and sewn together on your furniture, care is taken to attempt to match adjacent pieces, but subtle color differences may occur. These are not sign of poor quality; in fact, they highlight the unique and natural quality of the best upholstery leather.

CARE ADVICE

Be careful not to place your furniture near a radiator or other heat source. We recommend at least two feet (60 cm) of space between your furniture and heat sources to prevent excessive drying.

Natural leather will fade if placed in sunlight. To prevent fading avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight by staying away from windows, doors and skylights.

Your new leather furniture will stay nicer if it is extra protected against staining caused by dirt, oil, water and alcohol. For the best result please apply a leather protection cream before use.

For minor or slight scratches on the surface, use a soft cloth or clean finger to gently buff the scratch. If needed moisturize lightly with distilled water to work scratches out. Remember that leather is a natural product and requires some care to maintain its natural splendor.

Cleaning Advice

  • Keep furniture out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
  • Do not place furniture in high-humidity environments or outdoors.
  • Dust and clean your furniture regularly, vacuum with a soft brush.
  • Clean your furniture with a lukewarm clean cloth. Do not use household detergents or solvents.
  • Prevent body oils, perspiration, and hair products from damaging leather.
  • Wipe up liquid spills, stains, oil, cosmetics, and other dirt immediately.
  • Avoid contact with chemicals such as paint, nail polish, alcohol-based cleaning gels, and strong detergents.
  • Apply fabric or leather protection as needed.

STAIN REMOVAL

For minor spills or soiled furniture, wipe of any excess liquid immediately with a clean absorbent cloth or sponge.

If necessary, gently wipe the area with a soft cloth with clean, lukewarm water and allow the area to dry naturally. Do not use soap or soak the stain heavily with water as this might cause more damage than the stain itself!

For butter, oil, or grease wipe off excess quickly with a clean dry cloth. Do not rub! Do not use saddle soap, cleaning solvents, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, detergent soaps or ammonia water.

After the furniture has been cleaned and have dried naturally, we recommend you apply leather protection cream.

If the stain persists, it is recommended that the leather be cleaned by a professional leather care specialist to avoid any potential damage to the leather.

Always try the cleaning method in a hidden area first. Cleaning products containing solvent, or abrasives should never be used. Use of fat-soluble detergents should also be avoided as these products can dry out the leather.

RULES OF CAUTION

Arm and neck rests are particularly exposed to body oils and perspiration. This can lead to dark stains and collection of salt that will damage the leather. Chemicals from hair products, cosmetics and hand creams etc. can also result in similar damage. More frequent cleaning of these areas might be required.

Jeans, particularly when new, can cause discoloring. Pets should not be allowed to sit on leather furniture as they too can cause damage to the leather.

Particular care should be taken if you are taking certain medications (including, but not limited to; chemotherapy, blood pressure and heart medications). Some properties of these medications can be transferred through perspiration onto the surface of the furniture and cause stains or other damage. If you use these kinds of medications, we recommend that you increase the frequency of cleaning and protecting your leather furniture. Pay particular attention to arm and head rest, and other areas that experience the greatest body skin contact.

Fabric Care

Avoid sunlight, heat, temperature fluctuations, and high humidity to protect your furniture. Sunlight, heat, and body oils can cause colour changes—keep furniture out of direct sunlight. Prevent contact with sharp objects, rotate cushions regularly, and be cautious of new jeans, which may cause discolouration. If you notice a loose thread, cut it carefully and tuck the ends back—never pull them. Pilling is normal and can be removed with a lint tool.

REGULAR CLEANING

Dirt and dust left in the fabric leads to the breakdown of fibers and will contribute significantly to shortening of the fabric’s lifecycle.

Fabrics and microfibers will therefore stay brighter and wear much better a simple brushing and vacuuming once a week or at least once a month. Use a super-soft slightly damp cloth regularly will also reduce buildup of dust, body cream and perspiration.

A foam cleanser is recommended for a deeper clean 1-2 times a year. Contact your H2 Seating dealer for more information

STAIN AND DIRT REMOVAL ADVICE

Act immediately. Reduce the spill by working from the edge towards the center, in order to avoid spreading. Gently remove most of the dirt using a spoon or other blunt object, and blot immediately with a clean white cloth.

It is important to avoid rubbing the microfibers, especially when they are wet. For wet stains, absorb as much of the liquid as possible with paper towels or a soft cloth before starting the cleaning process.

Brush with a soft brush when the fabric is dry. Water-soluble stains can be removed by applying a lukewarm, water-soaked non-abrasive cloth with a very mild soap. If needed, act in accordance with the instructions listed below. If using a solvent, never apply directly to the stained part, but on a clean cloth. After applying the stain remover, remove with a clean, dry cloth, then brush in opposite direction to pile lay. Leave to dry and do not lean or sit on the damp part. When dry, use the vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to restore pile.

IMPORTANT: If spills or stains are excessive, we advise contacting your retailer or professional upholstery cleaner, or use a specialized fabric cleaning agent. When cleaning it is essential to pre-test any cleaning method on an inconspicuous area to ensure that your cleaning agent and upholstery dyes are compatible.

The following treatments are recommended for localized stains:

  • Cosmetics, ink, milk, cream, beer, egg, blood, chocolate:Generally, use water and neutral, mild soap only. Rub the stain with a clean white cotton cloth dipped into a solution of water and neutral very mild soap until the stain disappears.
  • Lipstick, shoe polish, oil, fat:Immediately sprinkle talcum powder on the stain, then gently rub with a clean, white cotton cloth dipped into a solution of water and neutral very mild soap.
  • Coffee and tea:Use a clean, white cotton cloth dipped into a solution of water and neutral very mild soap.
  • Wine, liquor:Rub the stain with a clean, white cotton cloth dipped into a solution of water and neutral soap until the stain disappears. Alternatively, try with a cloth dipped into ethyl alcohol.
  • Chewing gum: Swelling with ethyl alcohol, then to be removed mechanically.