"It used to be all cottons, but today we have a lot of polyester," says Steven Blanchard, owner of Blanchard's Upholstery. He has been doing upholstery work for 17 years.
Actually, there are synthetic man-made materials that are a lot stronger and hold color better and are durable because they are slightly better material than pure cotton. They still have cotton; just about all fabrics contain it because the cotton gives the fabric softness. Almost everything else is for durability and keeping the colors from subsiding.
Some fabrics are not meant for everyday use because of the wear and tear from small children and animals. If you have a sofa you are redoing and you want it to last any amount of time, certain fabrics with thinner material aren't worth putting on a sofa.
"I will say cottons won't work well, and that's not exactly true either because there are cottons that are strong like denim," says Blanchard. "There is a certain fabric application you don't want to put on certain pieces of furniture, but that depends on wear and tear. For instance, I wouldn't put silk on a sofa that I use everyday. But the easiest way to decide is when the customer physically picks it up; that's when you can determine if that's not really good or if that will work."
According to Homestore.com, there are several fabrics to use and here are their common characteristics. Cotton is a versatile fiber that is used for prints; it is woven and is comfortable to use in all climates. Linen is a high-end fiber that is crisp, tough and durable. Wool is strong, durable, soft to the touch and resists water. Rayon is a smooth, soft, lustrous and comfortable fiber. It wrinkles easily when used alone though. Blended with other fibers, it adds silk-like luster to the fabric. Nylon is strong and abrasive, and mildew resistant. It does not absorb water or other liquids easily. Acrylic is a manufactured fiber that offers many qualities of wool, is a natural fiber and is used in plush or fleecy fabrics. Acrylic resists fading but creates small balls of fiber on the couch's surface. Olefin is strong, not prone to dirt and is used alone or used with other fibers. Polyester is a strong, resilient fiber that is blended with others. Silk is a strong, resilient, luxury fiber with a natural luster. The size varies from fine to heavy, as in raw silk.
Fabric on couches typically comes with a stain and soil repellant finish, says the website. If the fabric is not treated, purchase a spray-on form at a hardware store and apply it to the fabric directly. Fabric protection gives the owner time to pick up or blot away spills before they soak in. However, it does not prevent damage to the fabric. If the couch did not have a stain repellant applied to the couch before purchasing, then one needs to apply it themselves.
