Torn upholstery repairs can make even a new couch or chair look old and worn. Furniture shops fix most damage, but you can also repair torn fabric yourself if you know how.
You can patch tears in sofas and chairs with a patch made of heavy fabric. To do this, cut a square piece slightly larger than the tear in the upholstery. Pin it to the torn flap using a poultry skewer or an upholstery pin. Brush a thin layer of latex fabric glue over the patch and along the edges of the ripped upholstery.
Tears
If you have a tear on your sofa, chair or loveseat, it can ruin the look and feel of the upholstery. Many furniture shops will fix tears but, if you know how to sew, you can make repairs at home and save money.
You’ll need a curved needle and heavy-duty thread to stitch the tear closed. Begin at one side of the tear, about half an inch away from where it began. Guide the needle parallel along the seam and up through the adjacent hole, crossing over to the other side of the fabric.
Repeat these steps to close the tear until it’s completely closed. Then, cinch the thread and stitches tight to prevent them from coming loose in the future.
For leather upholstery, you can use a special repair kit to fix rips and tears. These kits contain a tinted liquid and graining paper that can be used to fill in the tear. This will blend the tear in with the rest of the leather, restoring its color and texture.
Holes
There are a few ways to repair small holes in your upholstery. Some of them can be a snap to do yourself, and others may require a professional repair.
For smaller holes, two inches or less, you can repair your own cloth upholstery using a piece of fabric and a special type of adhesive that seals with heat. Holes caused by cigarette burns, animal claws and other types of damage can be easily repaired with this method.
To do this, you’ll need a small piece of fabric that matches the color and texture of your couch and a special adhesive that can be heated with an iron to seal.
Once you have these supplies, you’re ready to patch your hole. Make sure to clean the entire couch thoroughly before you start repairing it.
You’ll also need a pair of sharp, tiny scissors and tweezers. The tweezers will help you maneuver the scissors carefully to cut through the thick fabric without accidentally cutting through the couch itself.
Stains
It’s hard to avoid the stains and spills that come with life, but you can still do your part to keep your furniture looking its best. Upholstery that looks clean makes it easier for family and friends to enjoy the sofa or chair.
Whether it’s wine, spaghetti sauce, juice or a puppy’s mess, there are plenty of ways to remove stains from your furniture, even the most stubborn. But if the stain isn’t going away, it’s time to call in a professional upholstery repair service.
A professional upholstery cleaner will use special cleaning solutions that are tailored for the particular material, such as a water-based cleaner for polyester or nylon. This type of cleaning is important because it can prevent permanent damage to your furniture. This means that you’ll be able to keep your furniture looking its best for years to come.
Adhesives
Whether you are making repairs to the door panel of your car or securing pockets on a pair of jeans, you need an adhesive that will hold strong over time. Adhesives are liquids that solidify to bind together similar or dissimilar materials.
There are many types of adhesives, some of which are specifically designed for certain jobs or conditions. They can be used for upholstery, but they may also be used for wood and other items that are not as delicate as fabric.
Typically, adhesives are made from natural sources such as wood or rubber. They are often sold in a variety of colors so that they will match the color of the material they are repairing.