In the past, furniture designers just didn’t have much to work with when it came to upholstery fabric that could withstand the demands of a modern household.   Gorgeous linens, silks and cotton blends were smudged with the inevitable spilled coffee, pet accidents and even sweat stains.  Designers could choose a sturdier fabric for oft-used family pieces (and did so) but the stain resistance struggle was real.

When fabric protector spray came along, the industry breathed a sigh of relief and began up charging customers for additional fabric protection.  When furniture shoppers saw how easily chocolate ice cream and even red wine stains wiped off the protected sofas, they happily paid the fee and went on their way.

But before long, consumers noticed that the magic fabric protector spray wasn’t quite as bulletproof as they thought.  Many problems can crop up after the customers brought their treasures home. Stain resistance dropped dramatically after cleaning. Additionally, the spray left fabrics  a bit shiny, or seemed to change the color. And there is the curious question of why manufacturers didn’t guarantee against pet urine.  Do sprays not handle those liquid stains as easily?

But with the advent of performance textiles, furniture designers and manufacturers have yet another alternative to protecting the longevity of their creations and keeping consumers happy.  After all, in a society thrilled to obtain the latest trends in color and design, it’s critical those customers are brand-loyal when it comes to replacing and upgrading their major furniture pieces.

Performance fabric is a better alternative to fabric protector sprays in at least three different ways. 

• It stays protected. When homeowners clean the upholstery, they can’t wipe away the stain resistance.  Because performance fabrics have stain- and water-resistant properties inherent in the fabric design, they remain stain resistant even after cleanings.  Furniture designers and manufacturers can rest easy knowing that the soft, supple, stain resistant fabric they selected for a specific sofa in the beginning still has the same properties five or more years later when their customers might start shopping for a new sofa.
  
  
• It keeps fluids on the surface. Some options in performance textiles are created from performance fibers which are naturally stain resistant and water resistant.  After the fabric is woven, it is encapsulated in another layer of protective finish which results in complete fabric protection.   The fluids just can’t get into the fibers of the fabric because it essentially has a barrier protection.  So, when a pet has an accident, a homeowner won’t have to worry about lingering odors because the fluid disappears when the initial stain is cleaned.  Fabric sprays simply can’t offer that kind of protection.
  
  
• Reliability. After a fabric protector spray is applied, the product goes out to the consumer.  Furniture manufacturers can’t conduct extensive stain-removal testing because the protection is decreased with each cleaning.  But performance fabrics undergo extensive testing before they  ever leave the factory to ensure that the fabric remains color fast, stain resistant and water resistant before it ever gets to the furniture. 
  
  

Choosing an upholstery fabric for every piece is an extensive process.  Designers and consumers are looking for color and pattern trends as well as the ability of a fabric to stand up to the demands of pets, kids and houseguests.  Performance fabrics, with their colorful style and surprising comfortable softness, are an excellent choice for any designer or customer looking for stain and water-resistant fabric that will help keep their pieces beautiful for years to come.