Anti-claw (vandal-proof) fabric for home sofa and office furniture: how to choose

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Published: 11/10/2020

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Those who cannot imagine their life without pets have probably had to deal with the problem of damaged upholstered furniture. Claws and teeth are not the worst thing that can happen to a new sofa or chair. The function of furniture can sometimes change and it becomes a blank canvas on which little ones take their first steps in the artistic field. Anti-vandal fabric will help solve all the problems that await the sofa during its operation.

• 1 General concept and characteristics
• 2 Fabrics related to anti-vandal
• 3 Popular trade names
• 4 Recommendations for selection 4.1 For pet owners
• 4.2 Parents of babies
• 4.3 When selecting furniture for public places

General concept and characteristics

Anti-vandal fabric is a high-strength furniture upholstery material. Usually, the unusual term hides the more common name “anti-claw”. This fabric is extremely dense; nylon fibers are glued onto it using a special technology. The final version of the material is treated with a special compound. Ultimately, furniture production produces beautiful, durable, reliable and at the same time extremely pleasant to the touch fabric.

If we imagine the material in a broad sense, then anti-claw is any dense material for furniture that has increased resistance to damage. Making flock is a simple process. An adhesive composition is applied to the base and evenly sprinkled with electrified fibers. Thanks to electricity, each lint stands vertically on the fabric and is instantly glued. The thicker the pile, the more resistant the material is to various types of damage and contamination.

Relax

Relax fabric is considered one of the most reliable, although the most expensive, types of furniture upholstery such as flock or velor. Its feature is a multi-layer structure, in which an elastic isoprene layer is applied to a fabric base made of a mixture of cotton and polyester, and on it is a polyamide pile with a protective coating “Antistain”, which protects against dirt and spilled liquids. The elastic intermediate layer has high mechanical strength, and all dents and scratches on it are instantly smoothed out. As for the Antistain coating, thanks to the carbon fibers in its composition, it ensures ideal preservation of the pile for 10 years. It should be taken into account that cheaper velor fabric can be sold under the name “relax”, which also belongs to the “anti-claw” category, but has worse performance indicators.

Anti-vandal fabrics

Special weaving and impregnation make the material extremely dense. A high level of strength increases the service life of the material.

Anti-vandal fabric comes in several types:

1. Flock . Consists of several layers, looks like velor. The material consists of pile and a dense base. Among its analogues, flock is the most durable, and it is also very easy to clean.
2. Tapestry . It is an analogue of jacquard, which is made from a dense weave of three natural fibers. Tapestry is somewhat heavier than jacquard, but at the same time it is quite flexible, and this makes it possible to use the fabric for upholstery of upholstered furniture.
3. Microfiber . The material is somewhat reminiscent of nubuck in tactile sensations, but microfiber is more resistant to abrasion.
4. Faux suede . This material allows you to give furniture a more noble appearance; it does not wear off or deform. Production is carried out using non-woven technology, polyester and cotton are added to the material. Upholstery fabrics are treated with a laminating compound.
5. Velvet . This option is often used for upholstery. The characteristics of the material are the most positive, it is wear-resistant and durable. Corduroy feels pleasant to the body, it practically does not allow dirt to pass through and at the same time can be easily cleaned with ordinary soap.
6. Chenille . The material consists of a weave of artificial threads. The fabric is extremely durable and can withstand damage from animal teeth or claws. Typically, chenille is made in a single bright color with various prints.
7. Jacquard . Among anti-vandal materials, this material has been a real leader for a very long time. It retains its attractive original appearance for a long time; it has good resistance to scratches or bites. High strength is achieved by tightly weaving the threads. Stains from the material are removed in the simplest ways; the rich color does not lose its attractiveness from exposure to ultraviolet rays. This fabric is preferred for sewing car seat covers.

Important! It is customary to additionally treat such materials with Teflon. The composition will increase the stability and density of the fabric, protecting it from any type of contamination.

Tapestry

In appearance and fabric composition, tapestry is extremely similar to jacquard. However, in the production of such material, denser and more elastic threads are used. The fibers here are formed from three intertwined strands. Thanks to this, tapestry fabric is distinguished by its impressive thickness and significant weight. To increase density, synthetic elements are woven into the structure of natural pile. In addition to the fact that the tapestry has an anti-claw effect, its appearance is beyond praise. Typically, the material is produced in the form of woven fabrics, which display complex pictorial designs. However, the cost of the material remains quite significant for the average consumer.

Popular trade names

The most common anti-vandal materials have their own trade name on the market. It is worth noting the most popular of them.

and of course,

Jacquard

It is also an anti-claw fabric. The fabric has established itself as one of the most reliable means for making durable upholstered furniture. The material has an increased density, so products covered with the presented canvases are ideal for placement in rooms where pets are used to frolicking. Why does jacquard fall under the definition of anti-claw fabric? Reviews from experts confirm that the threads here are intertwined as closely as possible. They are distinguished by their significant thickness and rigid structure, which allows you to create truly stable canvases. It is extremely difficult to damage such material, since the increased frequency of weaving does not allow the teeth and claws of pets to catch on the threads and pull them out.

Recommendations for selection

When making a choice in favor of one or another anti-vandal fabric, it is worth considering some nuances.

It is worth paying attention to the following characteristics:

• strength - the base should be especially dense, the structure of the fabric should not allow animal claws to pass through;
• the surface should not have defects, abrasions or deformation;
• the material must be of a uniform shade, free from stains and other contaminants;
• The color is chosen entirely based on your own preferences.

For pet owners

If a cat has settled in the house, then there is no better option for upholstering upholstered furniture than anti-claw furniture fabric. The properties of the fabric make it best for use in homes with animals. If your tailed friend loves to dig his claws into all the soft objects around, then this technique will not work with a sofa made of animal fabric.

The material does not have a top layer of thread weaving, which provides better protection against cat paws. The animal will simply have nothing to catch its claws on. In this case, interest in the sofa will be lost very quickly. Even if the anti-scratch material gets deformed in the form of snags, cuts, etc., the velvety quality of the fabric will visually hide all the unpleasant moments remaining on the surface of the furniture.

For parents of babies

Anti-vandal chenille fabric is especially often used for upholstering sofas for children's rooms. This choice is based on the variety of bright colors and prints. You should not write off other characteristics of the fabric. The material is truly wear-resistant, and most importantly, it cleans well, despite the degree of contamination. You can remove felt-tip pens, paints or other dirt using a regular soap solution.

When selecting furniture for public places

Vandal-proof flock fabric for cat-proof sofas has gained immense popularity in recent years for good reason. Its versatility allows the material to be used not only against attacks from pets, but also in public places where upholstered furniture experiences maximum load during the day. Flock has a number of unique characteristics. Despite its increased abrasion resistance, the fabric is incredibly soft and pleasant to the touch, which will be appreciated by visitors to cafes or restaurants.

Author:

Zakharova Nina Afanasyevna

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