keeping in touch - 03272020

Staying In Contact With You!  How to Safely Clean and Disinfect your Church Furniture

Staying Safe & Protecting Your Furniture Investment

Everyone is exercising great caution in this challenging time. Here at Summit Seating, we want to share information on the cleaning and care of your church seating and/or furnishings.

Church seating & furniture requires regular maintenance and cleaning to keep products looking nice and to stop the spread of germs.

Cleaning Wood Chancel Furniture & Wood Chair Frames

Summit Seating is known for its exceptional Chancel Furniture and Chair Frames made of Maple, Oak, Ash & Beech hardwood. All wood furniture should be cleaned, wiped down, and polished regularly to maintain the luster. It’s important to take extra precautions with wooden furniture since harsh cleaners may ruin the finish.

We recommend using a mild solution of soap and water applied with a damp rag. Dry the wood immediately as leaving water on the wood for an extended period might damage the finish. Furniture polish can be used to keep the shine and luster of the frame as needed.

You can also purchase cleaners that are specially formulated for wood, however; make sure you read the labels carefully to see if it’s an appropriate cleaner to use on a lacquer finish, which is used on Summit Seating furniture.  The use of abrasive cleaners and cleaners that contain bleach may void the frame warranty.

Cleaning Worship Chair FramesAll worship chairs from Summit Seating are manufactured with powder-coated steel frames. To clean, periodically wipe down the frames with a light solution of soap and water or non-caustic cleaning agents to remove surface dirt and perspiration residue. If you use a cleaner, avoid ones that are abrasive as that can erode some powder-coated finishes.You can restore the luster of glossy finishes by using lemon oil or high-grade automotive paste wax. However, avoid using these treatments on textured finishes such as faux wood. Soft Scrub® can be used to remove scuff marks and scratches.

Cleaning Worship Chair Fabrics  Light Cleaning…..simply use lint rollers or vacuums once a week. Fabric Washing…A light lather can reverse regular wear and uplift small, set-in debris from woven fabric. Chairs upholstered with fabric treated with a performance treatment—such as Nanotex, InCase, Crypton, iClean, or Alta—will generally clean nicely. In fact, you may notice a brighter color and a better general aesthetic to the fabric after cleaning. However, a fabric made using cotton, polyester, nylon, and wool (or a mixture of these yarns) that is not treated with a performance treatment will be more difficult to clean, especially if the material is stained. It also may not brighten after general cleaning.Something else to note, Scotchguard and Teflon are not performance treatments. These formulas are sprayed onto a material versus an actual performance treatment, such as those mentioned above, which encapsulate the yarn in a process where the material is immersed in a liquid bath. This is why it’s important to have chair fabric treated at the time of purchase. An advantage of purchasing chairs with a 100% polyolefin material is that you can use a bleach solution to disinfect the material without bleaching out the color.

Precautions When Cleaning

Although cleaning chairs regularly is important, use as little liquid as possible. This will help keep your fabric looking better for longer. Using too much water can leave visible watermarks or soak the upholstery and cause the fabric to lose its integrity (it can shrink or sag). Also, avoid water contact with the metal parts of the chair, particularly any zippers around the seat cushions, as they can rust if not dried thoroughly. To ensure your chairs and furniture are water safe, test a small area on a single item and wait a few hours to see if the water affects the fabric.

How to Create a Cleaning Solution

Make a cleaning solution by mixing ¼ cup dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of warm water. With an electric hand mixer, whisk the solution until a dense layer of thick, dry suds forms across the top.

Use a clean cloth to gently massage the suds into the fabric, being careful not to rub, as rubbing will work the dirt deeper into the woven fabric fibers. Pressing hard, use a rubber cooking spatula to scrape away the dirty suds.Rinse, by dabbing the washed area with a warm, damp cloth.Always allow the fabric or furniture to thoroughly dry before use, as moisture will cause more dirt to cling to the chair’s surface.

Deep Cleaning and Removing Set-In Stains

Stains, immediate or set in, are always tricky to remove from chair upholstery. There’s a chance the simple soap and water method shown above could do the trick. However, sometimes the fabric needs heavier cleaning to remove stains. Here are some measures you can take.Steam Cleaning…….Steam, unlike straight water, has moisturizing properties that will hydrate a stain without saturating it completely with liquid. Once a stain is moisturized, it may loosen from the fibers and become easier to blot out. Using a steam vacuum is the easiest way to do this. However, putting a standard iron with a steam setting over the spot may do the trick as well. Vinegar…….Vinegar has natural solvent properties that may help loosen and lift set-in stains. Apply vinegar to upholstery with a damp, clean rag and blot over the desired area. Then, take a second towel to soak up any remaining fluid and grime. Though vinegar has an odor, the smell will evaporate after the chair is completely dry. Cleansers*…….If the above methods don’t work, try a commercial-grade fabric cleansing spray. These products contain solvents that chemically attack set-in stains. Some of our favorites are: Resolve Stain RemoverTuff Stuff Multi-Purpose Foam CleanserFolex Stain RemoverBISSELL Spot & Stain Fabric and Upholstery Cleaner*Please use caution with commercial-grade solvents. Most use powerful chemicals that may ultimately damage your fabric. Before using throughout the chair, always check the upholstery label and test it in a small area.Also, never rub in the solution as rubbing can deepen the stain and fray the fabric fibers causing more damage to your furniture.

See Other Custom Designed Church Products!

We made it easier to find the product you’re looking for.  When you need that item call us at (800-318-3833) Or text: 678-521-2403.  We’ll answer questions on pricing, delivery & every detail. 

Summit Quality, Affordable Value,

Custom Made Just For You!

Summit Seating Church Furniture provides churches with truly wonderful worship spaces that remain durable and valuable in the future of your ministry.  Why not get the best and save?

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Give us a quick call:800-318-3833        Or text: 678-521-2403www.SummitSeating.com