In a yacht, it’s not just the state-of-the-art equipment and luxury furnishings that need to be considered in these vessels. There will also be the upholstery fabrics that make the interiors look even better. The latter require periodic maintenance, such as frequent cleaning.
The different techniques for maintaining upholstery in a yacht
There are companies that specialise in cleaning yachts and that can take care of the upholstery on board. Indeed, a Yacht Upholstery Cleaning service is offered in their range of services. However, it is still essential to know how to maintain these upholstery fabrics on a daily basis so that they retain their original appearance for as long as possible.
How do I remove stains from upholstery?
Upholstery fabrics in and around functional furniture are often exposed to stains. These incidents are considered irreparable in some cases. However, if you act quickly, you can remove the stains permanently. The first step is to remove the upholstery from the furniture. This will allow you to work effectively away from the stains and limit their spread.
The first treatment to be carried out is to remove the liquid or agent that has clung to the upholstery. To do this, use an absorbent cloth or a wooden spatula. Then, the next step is to treat the stain locally. When finding the right product, it is best to carry out a test to prove its effectiveness and, above all, to check that the product in question does not damage the fabric in terms of colour. If everything works, the stain removal operation can be continued.
How to achieve successful stain removal?
In addition to stains, yacht upholstery can also show signs of ageing over time. These are caused by heavy exposure to the sun. The upholstery tends to shrink and lose its shine. Fade is a way of preventing this rapid deterioration. It is a simple technique to perform.
Decatizing is the action of subjecting yacht upholstery to the action of moist heat before washing. In this way, the effects of shine will be eliminated. The fabric in question will also be stabilised. In short, the fabric will not suffer the unsightly effects of washing, especially when it is done in the machine. This is important so that you do not have to change your yacht upholstery fabric frequently after only a few cycles of care.
Each upholstery fabric has its own cleaning technique
It is also important to know that washing techniques differ from one upholstery fabric to another. There are several types of fabric used in yachts. These are always the best performing and most elegant on the market. It is therefore necessary to comply with the maintenance instructions provided, otherwise these upholstery fabrics may be damaged.
Among the upholstery fabrics available for yachts, cotton is the most popular for both interiors and exteriors. This fabric is also the easiest to clean. It can be machine washed up to 60° C. With silk, on the other hand, a delicate washing programme must be used to avoid damaging the fabric. Velvets are not suitable for machine washing. In addition, the spinning process must be done carefully. All this information is available on the label of the fabric in general, even the ironing.
How often should upholstery be washed?
Upholstery fabric must be changed and washed when it is dirty. The frequency of maintenance will depend entirely on the lifestyle of each person on board their yacht. Generally, curtains are the most exposed to dirt. The upholstery of furniture can be subject to much more care. For example, it is advisable to vacuum regularly to prevent dust from becoming embedded in the fabric.
Deep cleaning should not be too frequent. This is because it causes rapid degradation of the upholstery. Ideally, this maintenance should be carried out every year. However, it is best to have spare parts available in case something goes wrong. In addition, upholstery fabrics should always be removable to make replacement easier.
Tips for the daily care of yacht upholstery
It is therefore inevitable to carry out regular maintenance on upholstery fabrics to avoid having to wash them regularly and accelerate their deterioration. For example, qualified cabin crew can be hired from a yacht cleaning company to ensure that dusting is carried out systematically several times a day. Alternatively, automated equipment can be purchased to facilitate this maintenance and to do it yourself. In addition, state-of-the-art yacht cleaning equipment can be used to limit the amount of dust entering the interior.