Materials & maintenance
At Spectrum, we focus on producing furniture that will last for generations. In doing so, we make sustainable choices and set the highest quality standards. Of course you want to enjoy a special Spectrum piece of furniture for as long as possible. With a few simple maintenance recommendations, you can keep the design in excellent condition for years to come.
Here are a few tips and maintenance recommendations for the materials we usually work with in our furniture collection. For example, you can read more about why we recommend certain fabrics and leather types and how you can best maintain them. We also give you a number of maintenance tips for our rattan furniture.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE TIPS
SUNLIGHT
Sunlight, but also artificial light, makes the colour of fabric and leather fade. This is why furniture should be exposed to direct (sun) light as little as possible.
HEAT
Take account of heat sources when placing your furniture. Foam fillings deteriorate more quickly due to prolonged contact with too much heat. If you are placing a sofa or armchair in front of a radiator, make sure there is enough space between the floor, radiator and the furniture so that air can circulate properly.
HUMIDITY
In addition to a proper temperature (18-21 degrees), the right humidity (45-55%) in the room contributes to the preservation of your furniture.
FABRICS
The selection of fabrics that we recommend for our furniture has been carefully selected and comes from internationally renowned fabric collections such as Kvadrat, Gabriel and De Ploeg. All fabrics are provided with recognised certificates that stand for the highest quality requirements. They are also tested for proper environmental verifications, such as the EU Ecolabel or ISO standards.
COMPOSITION
Due to the clean design of our furniture, we recommend fabrics that consist mainly of wool. Wool is naturally resilient, returning the fabric to its original form after use. As a result, the furniture retains its clean form for a longer period of time. Wool has a long lifespan, is fire-retardant and has a self-cleaning capacity.
MAINTENANCE
Furniture fabrics are sensitive to sharp buckles (from shoes or belts), pet nails, toys and rings, etc. These can permanently damage the tissue.
Even stiff denim fabrics accelerate wear and tear. Dark dyed (nail) fabrics can also give off a lot.
It is important to vacuum the furniture often. Use the right mouthpiece (soft brush that is only used for this purpose) and make sure that there are no protrusions that can hook into the fabric. Iron carefully, with low suction power and, in the case of pile fabrics, always along with the nap. This way you can remove dust particles such as sand that cause wear and tear.
For more maintenance tips, please refer to fabric supplier Kvadrat’s tips.
CLEANING
More information about removing stains in fabric coverings can be found on James’ website, specialist in maintenance and cleaning products for furniture fabrics.
LEATHER
For our furniture we select good quality leathers based on quality and flawlessness. As a natural product, each type of leather has its own characteristics that emphasise the character of a piece of furniture. Within our collection we often work with Ohmann Leather, a Dutch company that has specialised in high quality leather since 1934. Click here for the properties of the various leather qualities.
MAINTENANCE
Every leather hide is unique in its kind, one thing all leather types have in common; regular maintenance ensures a longer life span. In order to maintain its soft grip and natural structure, leather needs nourishing and moisturizing substances. These can only be absorbed if the pores of the leather have been cleaned beforehand and the dirt particles have been removed.
The transparent finish on coloured leathers provides initial protection. Good dusting therefore suffices for the first 4-6 months.
Subsequently, you can dust the furniture weekly with a dry lint-free cloth or a cleaning glove. If necessary, a chamois cloth with a few drops of distilled water can be used. Do not apply too much force (due to stretching of leather).
For smooth leather, a combination of a mild cleaner and a lotion is recommended. The cleaner removes the dirt particles extra gently and yet thoroughly from the pores of the leather. This way, the lotion can be perfectly absorbed. A lotion moisturises the leather, contains antioxidants for a longer lifespan and has an optimal re-lubricating effect.
Maintenance products for Ohmann Leather leather can be found on the Care Products website.
NUBUCK
Nubuck is a type of leather that is lightly sanded on top of the skin, which creates a suede look and has a soft touch. Nubuck, like Ohmann’s Colorado Collection, requires different care than smooth and coloured leather.
MAINTENANCE
Nubuck can be wiped off with a dry lint-free cloth. Prolonged exposure to light can cause discoloration of the leather. Special nubuck sprays are available for this purpose, which have a built-in UV filter that offers protection against premature fading.
Click here for Ohmann Leather’s Colorado Collection maintenance products.
CLEANING
During tanning, the nubuck is treated with a moisture- and dirt-repellent product, but the leather will always have traces of use over time. This may include a greasy/bacony feel of the contact parts. Special cleaners are available for this purpose, which gently remove these dirt particles from the nubuck. With a nubuck cleaning cloth, the fibres are roughened up again and even small greasy stains can be removed.
SADDLE LEATHER
Saddle leather is a heavier type of leather, which comes from the neck of a cow. It is firmer, thicker and stronger than other types of leather. Our SZ 02 armchair and SE 06 dining chair by Martin Visser are upholstered in saddle leather.
PROPERTIES
Saddle leather is vegetable tanned, i.e. it is not tanned with chromium salts but with various vegetable-tanning agents. Tree bark or fruit, for example, are used to do this. The leather will become darker and livelier when used, emphasizing the charm and natural character of the material.
MAINTENANCE
Saddle leather can be nourished and maintained with a lotion for vegetable tanned leather. The lotion gives the leather back its essential nutrients and intensifies the colour. Apply the lotion to a clean cloth and then spread it thinly and evenly across the leather. Work neatly from seam to seam and always treat a complete mat.
RATTAN
Our SZ 01 armchair and SE 05 dining chair have a woven rattan reed seat and back. Rattan is derived from the core of a rattan stem and is traditionally woven by craftsmen in the Netherlands.
MAINTENANCE
Rattan is a naturally strong and elastic material that can be woven after it has been soaked in water. The braided reed is so strong that it can have a supporting function. However, as with upholstery fabrics, it is sensitive to point loads, sharp buckles, pet nails, etc. These can permanently damage the reed.
As a natural product, no single stalk of rattan reeds is the same, which results in shades of colour that emphasize the character of the material.
Under the influence of light, rattan reeds can become darker in the course of time.
Rattan fabrics are finished with a water-based thin lacquer, which protects the surface against dirt and discoloration. In addition, this ensures that the small fibres protruding from the rattan lie flat, making it feel smooth, soft and pleasant to the touch. However, this thin protective layer does not make the material completely dirt-repellent. It is advisable to dust the fabric weekly using a dry lint-free cloth or a chamois cloth with a few drops of distilled water.
