Is polyester OK for dogs? A Step-by-Step Guide

SCRATCHING ON UPHOLSTERY FABRIC

Cats usually scratch to mark their territory so be sure to keep scratching posts available in areas where they like to stay. Dogs claws tend to make dents, rather than scratches, in upholstery fabric. It would be very helpful to remember to keep your pets nails trimmed regularly as well.

Some suggestions for a pet friendly upholstery fabric for animals that like to scratch:

Microfiber or Ultrasuede

This type of synthetic upholstery fabric usually will not show scratches and even if it does, they are relatively easy to brush or buff away.

Leather

Cats tend to avoid leather, especially if a scratching post is nearby. Dog scratches can usually be buffed out. Distressed leather could be an option since it will draw less attention to scratches.

Is polyester OK for dogs?

Urine ‘accidents’ are expected, especially with young puppies until they are house trained, and with older pets that may become incontinent.

Urine on upholstered furniture is a problem which cannot always be mitigated successfully, even with professional cleaning. If the urine goes into the stuffing or, even worse, if there is foam, it cannot be removed by normal cleaning methods because cleaning procedures cannot reach the stuffing or foam. (Foam will act like a sponge and hold the urine).

Various methods of sanitizing are only temporary at best. Cats tend to urinate in the crevices of furniture, making it very difficult to detect (other than the odor) and remove. You may find urine from smaller dogs on the upholstery skirts. Re-upholstering, in the long run, may be the only option.

The sooner the urine is blotted up, the less damage will be done. One option that may be a last resort is to place the furniture outside in hot sunlight (covering the fabric to protect it from sun fading). The sunlight will eventually neutralize the odor, although there is no way to know how long it will take.

Again, Leather may be the best option to prevent urine damage, (though leather that is saturated with urine will be permanently damaged). Leather does have the advantage of being resistant to odor.

Is polyester couch good for dogs?

Woven textures are not recommended because dog and cat claws will damage the weaves. Cox says 100-percent synthetic-fiber upholstery such as polyester, acrylic or polypropylene (aka Olefin) will last longer and show fewer signs of wear than natural-fiber fabrics. “The most durable upholstery is leather,” Cox explains.

What is the best material for a couch if you have a dog?

In general, the best material whether you have a dog or a cat, is microfiber. Also known as microsuede, this synthetic material is a pet-lovers dream. It’s easy to clean, hard to scratch or rip, and lasts a long time.

With the exception of leather, Cox says that synthetic materials are “always preferred over natural materials when it comes to picking a fabric for your pet-friendly furniture.” Think fabrics with high polyester, acrylic, or other synthetic material (like nylon, according to Wright) content.

The UGLY TRUTH about Smartstrand, P.E.T. and Polyester Carpet Fibers

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If you have pets, you’ll know that claws, teeth, slobber and fur can wreak havoc on upholstery.

Fortunately, you can make sure that your furnishings last by choosing your fabric carefully. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.[/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”30px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]

Whether you’re considering new furniture or reupholstering existing furniture, consider how your pets treat your current upholstery. If they don’t lie on your furniture, you can choose just about any fabric that you want.

If they lie on the furniture but don’t scratch or claw it, avoid natural fibres such as cotton, wool or linen, as these easily show signs of wear. If your pets lie on your furniture, scratch, claw and/or chew it, forego fabric upholstery and choose leather or vinyl instead.

A good rule of thumb when picking pet-friendly fabric is to choose a dark and/or patterned fabric, as this will disguise drool marks, paw prints, scratch marks and shed hair.

It’s also a good idea to match the colour of the fabric to your pet’s coat to help hide hair between vacuuming.

Although synthetic fibres may not be your first choice aesthetically, they are as close to pet-proof as you’re going to get. This is because synthetic fabrics are more durable than natural fabrics, don’t show scratch marks easily, and can usually be cleaned with a solution of soap and water.

For added protection, have your upholstery Scotchgarded – if possible – or use slipcovers, throws, or blankets.

Make sure that you go for an evenly-textured fabric with a tight weave, which will be more durable and less likely to trap pet hair than a heavily textured fabric with a larger weave.

Other advantages of a tight weave fabric are that scratch marks can be buffed out of it fairly easily, and spills will bead on the surface – giving you time to catch them before they are absorbed.

When shopping for fabric, always check the cleaning code. S is for solvent or dry cleaning; W is for water-based cleaning; S-W means the fabric can be either dry or wet cleaned; and X means the fabric can only be vacuumed.