Slide 1:Your guide to slipcovers…. www.slipcovernetwork.com


To Slipcover or to Re-upholster :To Slipcover or to Re-upholster What’s the Difference?Does it Really Matter?


Why Re-upholster? :Why Re-upholster? good shape on the inside and all it needs is a fresh new fabric on the outside


Good Frame :Good Frame good frames don't wear out made of hardwood - oak, maple, ash, alder or mahogany these woods are strong and enduring and the upholsterer can tell them by their weight


Lumpy or frayed :Lumpy or frayed lumpy old sofa frayed chair that's beginning to shed its stuffing take another look before dismissing it as a "has been”


Slide 6:Needs work on the inside: new webbing re-tied springs new fillings re-cushioning


Antique with wood or tufted :Antique with wood or tufted


Curved furniture such as barrels or tub chairs :Curved furniture such as barrels or tub chairs


Slide 9:Recliners Reclining sofas


To re-upholster is to :To re-upholster is to replace the attached fabric covering on furniture


Why Slipcover? :Why Slipcover? Update a worn looking sofa


Seasonal change :Seasonal change


Easy to remove to clean :Easy to remove to clean


Slide 14:Change the style from one to another


Tufted, frayed or lumpy can be wrapped with an undergarment :Tufted, frayed or lumpy can be wrapped with an undergarment


Chaise with partial Undergarmet :Chaise with partial Undergarmet


Antique wood furniture :Antique wood furniture


Slide 19:Chair in her underwear prior to slipcovering


Dining room chairs with an Undergarmet :Dining room chairs with an Undergarmet Slipcovers Susan Day


Recliners depending on the chair and the fabric :Recliners depending on the chair and the fabric


Recliner after :Recliner after Done by a student


Barrel or tub furniture :Barrel or tub furniture


Sleeper sofas :Sleeper sofas Pull out bed without removing the slipcover


Slide 25:Protect from high traffic or wear to the furniture teenagers animals young children


Lets Compare :Lets Compare Re-upholstery Needs a fresh new fabric on the outside Can fix on the inside Good frame consider re-upholstery Frayed or lumpy Antique wood furniture Tufted furniture Some curved furniture such as barrel or tub some recliners Permanent change attached to the furniture Slipcovers Needs a fresh new fabric on the outside Cannot fix the inside Good or bad frame can still be slipcovered. Some frayed of lumpy can be slipcovered wrapped in an under garment Antique wood furniture some of the wood will be covered Tufted will be covered, but slipcover can be mock tufted Some curved or barrel furniture depends of the fabric chosen Some recliners Removable for cleaning or change of season or style


Yardage :Yardage Slipcovers usually use 2 – 2 ½ yds more than a re-upholstered item Want to sell more fabric?


What are the best fabrics for a Slipcover? :What are the best fabrics for a Slipcover?


The Best Fabric is……? :The Best Fabric is……? Whatever meets your customers needs… That Need IS ?


What is the Manufactures usual recommendation for cleaning fabric? :What is the Manufactures usual recommendation for cleaning fabric? Dry Clean Only Why?


Can all Fabrics be Washed? :Can all Fabrics be Washed? How would you know ? How would you find out ?


Test…Test…Test… :Test…Test…Test…


Who will Wash the Fabric? :Who will Wash the Fabric? Workroom Client Laundry


Can 18 yds of Fabric be Washed as 1 piece in a Washer? :Can 18 yds of Fabric be Washed as 1 piece in a Washer? YES NO


Instructions for Washing Fabric :Instructions for Washing Fabric


Alternative to Dryer Sheets :Alternative to Dryer Sheets Dryer Balls  Designed to reduce drying time and soften fabrics without the use of chemical fabric softeners, Dryer Balls are an eco-friendly solution to landfill-clogging dryer sheets and chemical-laden liquid softeners. As your wet laundry tumbles in the dryer, these bumpy balls lift and separate fabric to make it soft and fluffy, and allow air to flow more efficiently — proven to make ironing easier, decrease lint and reduce drying time up to 25% in independent testing. Go to: www.recyclewithkbkathome.com/recycled-products.html Then click on Eco-Living at Gaiam


Dry Cleaners :Dry Cleaners If we do not want to wash a fabric then our alternative is to vacuum the furniture or to Dry Clean. What do we know about Dry Cleaning?


Slide 38:There are over 30,000 dry cleaning facilities for you to choose from in the United States, but 95 percent of them use the toxic chemical perchloroethylene (perc) as the primary cleaning solvent. Exposure to perc is a significant risk to the workers who dry clean the clothes, and it's also a health risk to you and the loved ones who share your home. Once you get the dry-cleaned clothes home, they continue to off-gas perc into the air in your abode. 30,000 dry cleaning facilities


Slide 39:The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences states that: "Short-term exposure to PERC can cause adverse health effects on the nervous system that include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, sweating, in coordination, and unconsciousness. Long-term exposure can cause liver and kidney damage." The International Association for Research on Cancer classifies perc as a probable carcinogen. Fortunately, there are healthier (and greener) dry-cleaning alternatives.


Slide 40:Industry Trends The demand for environmentally safe products has increased in recent years as a result of government regulations and greater consumer awareness of environmental issues. Wet Cleaning This is a system that uses biodegradable soap and water. Computer-controlled dryers and stretching machines ensure that the fabric retains its natural size and shape. Wet cleaning can purportedly clean 99.9% of "dry clean only" garments safely, including leather; suede; most tailored woolens, silks and rayon's. (Neckties seem to be the one exception.)


Slide 41:Silicone and Liquid CO2 Solvents Relatively new approaches to dry cleaning have been developed based on both liquid carbon dioxide (usually obtained as a recycled byproduct of other industrial processes) and silicone. Dry cleaners using these solvents are currently few in number. Alternative Petroleum Solvents This is more like standard dry cleaning, but the processes use alternative hydrocarbon solvents such as Exxon D-2000 or Chevron-Phillips' EcoSolv. Check with cleaners in your area—at least one is likely to offer perc-free cleaning services. www.GreenEarthCleaning.com is a good place to start. For more information about Dry Cleaning http://recyclewithkbkathome.blogspot.com/search?q=dry+cleaning


What do you think we should do with the following pieces of furniture? :What do you think we should do with the following pieces of furniture?


More Slipcovers :More Slipcovers


Resources :Resources http://science.howstuffworks.com/dry-cleaning.htm http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/environmental/200603percholorethylene-pt2.html http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/02-10/dry-cleaning-alternatives-eco.htm http://www.rogards.com/ugly http://www.norwoodmall.com/ugly


Slide 57:Karen Erickson www.slipcovernetwork.com slipcovernetwork@gmail.com 800-267-4958 Directory of Slipcover Professionals Slipcover Press Quarterly Publication Slipcover Summit 2007 Boston (Waltham) Annual educational opportunity for Slipcover Professionals.