Care Guide

Invest in a tetrad®

Traditional hand built craftsmanship combined with the
best materials and innovative techniques ensure a level
of quality that is second to none.

Founded in the Lancashire town of Preston over 40
years ago in Lancashire, tetrad has established a
reputation for outstanding attention to detail. As a result,
the name tetrad has become synonymous with fine
quality and expert craftsmanship.

All this means that you can sit comfortably in the
knowledge that your sofa will last long into the future.

Care and Maintenance of your tetrad sofa

At tetrad we pride ourselves on the quality of our
craftsmanship. By choosing one of our sofas you have
demonstrated your appreciation of quality products. We
are confident that your sofa will last long into the future,
but to ensure durability and long lasting comfort of your
tetrad sofa or chair; we would recommend you follow
these care and usage instructions.

Leather

Leather is a natural product. It breathes, is warm and has individual
attributes, such as shade, grain variation and natural markings, which all
add to its charm and beauty. We stress these marks as features
indicating it is real leather, not faults. Although slight shading of colours
can occur and is natural, we endeavour to match all hides used as
closely as we can.

General usage and care of Leather upholstery

Leather upholstery has a soft suppleness that will last throughout the life
of the furniture. On softer areas such as cushions, creases and wrinkles
will naturally occur, and the leather may give a little over time on the seat
areas. This is quite normal and gives a soft inviting look that you can
only really get with quality leather upholstery.

Cleaning

• Dust your furniture regularly with a soft cloth or brush, to stop the
accumulation of dust and dirt that cause premature wear. Avoid
using a vacuum cleaner on leather.

Sunlight & heat

• All leathers can be affected by light; we recommend it is positioned
away from direct sunlight and heat to protect them from fading and
premature wear. (Aniline leathers are especially sensitive to sunlight).
• Do not place hot items such as hot drinks, hot water bottles or
laptops on leather as they may result in dark marks. Therefore we
don’t recommend leather sofas for use in conservatories.
• Try to maintain at least 30cm clearance from heat sources such as
radiators to prevent colour change or permanent marks occurring.
Spillages
• Remove any spills immediately. Blot the liquid with a clean, dry, white,
lint free cloth, working towards the centre of the spill dabbing gently.
Do not rub or use abrasive cleaners, detergents or solvents as this
will result in damage to your furniture.
Leather categories
Our range consists of many hides hand-selected from the world’s finest
tanneries. Whilst each hide has its own particular look and feel they can
be broadly separated into 4 main categories.

Aniline

The most attractive and natural leathers which are prized for their soft
natural feel. These leathers that have been aniline dyed using a vat
process with no colour coating added to the surface. They are the most
expensive leathers to produce because only the very best selection of
hides can be used to produce aniline leathers. Aniline dyed leathers are
more susceptible to absorbing liquids because of the natural porosity of
the hide. If you lightly scratch the surface of aniline, it will turn a lighter
colour. To restore the original colour, wet your finger lightly and rub it into
the leather, it should darken slightly, but dry the same colour.

Semi-Aniline

Semi-Aniline dyed leathers have been both dyed and have a thin
finishing layer on the surface. They offer a combination of the softness
and feel of aniline leather with the protective benefits of a surface finish.
By dyeing the leather before the final top coating is applied, a very even
colouration can be achieved with only a thin layer of finish remaining;
therefore the leather remains softer because it is not necessary to apply
a thick top coating.

Pull-up

Pull-up, also referred to as waxy or oily pull-up. Pull-up leathers are
designed to look “distressed” through time and use. The leather lightens
in colour when stretched during wear, creating an “aged” appearance. In
places of heavy use, the oils will be pushed away leaving lighter areas –
particularly on the seating areas.

Hand Antiqued

A fully penetrated aniline dyed hide, its appearance enhanced by a hand
staining process. The result is a rich aged look that gives leather added
depth and character. The rich oils in the retannage allows you to look
deep into the surface of the leather ensuring that all the true
characteristics of the leather, wrinkles, natural texture, markings etc. are
visible. In daily use this patina will be further enriched. Due to varying
grain structure the dyes penetrate to differing degrees in different parts
giving attractive variations.

Apply tetrad hide polish only as directed on the container and try first
on a hidden area of leather. Do not use leather soap, saddle soap, hide
food or any other polish than that recommended by a reputable retailer.

Fabric

General usage & care of fabric

upholstery

To keep your new sofa or chair looking good, we would recommend that
you vacuum your upholstery at least once a week. If you allow dust and
dirt to accumulate the colours will dull and wear will be accelerated.
Avoid exposing your furniture to prolonged sunlight, as even the
strongest colours may fade under such conditions.

Washable cotton loose cover

Loose covers can be washed in temperatures up to 40°C and tumble
dried. We recommend leaving covers slightly damp for ease when
refitting. Although covers can be dry cleaned we advise machine
washing, taking care to avoid washing powders or liquids that contain
optical brighteners. Do not use bleach and be aware of the bleaching
effect that Benzoyl Peroxide, found in most acne creams, can have.
Wash dark colours separately. Steam iron on reverse if necessary. Mop
any spillages immediately with a clean white cloth. It is important to
completely wash the cover at least twice a year.

Tailored fit chenille loose cover

We recommend brushing lightly or vacuuming each week to keep in
good condition. Spilt liquid should be absorbed immediately with a
clean white cloth or tissue. A slightly damp cloth may be used to revive
the texture. The beauty of a tetrad tailored loose cover is that it gives the
appearance of a fixed cover, but is removable to allow a full cover clean.
We recommend professional dry clean only for these products.

Fixed Cover

As this cover cannot be removed for cleaning, we advise brushing and
vacuuming to remove dust and dirt. Stained fabric should be dry
cleaned, preferably with a powder cleaner which lifts the stain from the
fabric and can be lightly brushed away. It is always advisable to try out a
cleaner first on a hidden area.

Seat cushions and interiors

Fabric seat cushions which are covered on both faces should be turned
regularly to maximise the life of the fabric. Fibre, feather and down seat
cushions should be shaken and plumped every day.

Scatter Cushions

All scatter cushions should be plumped and turned (where possible) on
a regular basis. Particular care should be taken with chenille scatters to
avoid snagging, for example, when wearing jewellery or high heeled
shoes, as they are of a delicate nature.

tetrad loose cover fitting instructions

Removing Covers

Washable covers

• Twist pins must be removed before removing the cover.
Tailored fit covers
• Separate all Velcro strips – under arms and frames if appropriate
• Unfasten the buttons
• Ease off, lifting not pulling, alternating from one arm to the other.
• Remove all feather cushion and scatter cushion interiors.
• Do not put cushions or scatters in washing machine

Washing Instructions

Washable loose covers: these covers have been pre-shrunk using
tetrads unique wash and dye process.
Wash at 40°C
Avoid washing powders / liquids that use optical brighteners
Applying Cover
• Loosely throw cover over the back and arms
• Evenly distribute the cover across the relevant areas
• Starting with the arms, tuck in individually, working in one direction.
• Smooth out all the wrinkles
• Finish by buttoning up the back.

Seams

Seam allowances should be positioned pointing downwards.
Finished Unit
• Complete all the seat cushions and scatters
• For best results the cover should be fitted slightly damp or steamed
on completion

All Tailored Fit models are Dry Clean only
tetrad ltd hartford mill, swan street, preston, lancashire, england, PR1 5PQ
telephone +44 [0]1772 792936 facsimile +44 [0]1772 798319 email sales@tetrad.co.uk website www.tetrad.co.uk
tetrad ltd Registered in England Number 936239 Registered Office Hartford Mill Swan Street Preston Lancashire PR1 5PQ