There are pets in the home, sofa protection and suitable cover/cushion purchase Guide

Introduction

In many homes today, pets have become a beloved family member, providing irreplaceable joy and companionship. However, pet habits such as scratching, shedding, and occasionally causing minor accidents pose a potential threat to the home sofa. In order to keep the sofa beautiful and clean, but also harmonious coexistence with pets, in-depth understanding of how to protect the sofa and how to buy the appropriate sofa cover or cushion is particularly critical. This article will focus on these points in detail to help pet owners create a beautiful and durable home environment.

Before starting, please explain that our company(Jopalic) is a professional supplier of sofa covers. If you have any needs and cooperation intentions, please contact us by email: sales@jopalic.com.

The common problems faced by the sofa when there are pets in the home

(1) Scratching problem

Pets, especially cats and dogs, often exhibit scratching behavior when they are young or undergoing tooth change. Cats may be sharpening their PAWS to keep them sharp and mark their territory, while dogs may be scratching sofas out of boredom or to get attention from their owners. Their sharp claws can easily mark the surface of the sofa, seriously damaging the appearance of the sofa, and may even scratch the sofa fabric, causing the internal filling to be exposed.

(2) Hair loss

Most pets have hair loss, especially in the season of hair change, and the home can be described as “wool flying”. These falling hair will be attached to the sofa, not only affecting the cleanliness of the sofa, but also over time, it will be deep in the sofa gap, and it is extremely difficult to clean up. If not cleaned up in time, it may also breed bacteria and mites, which will have a certain impact on the health of the family.

(3) Stain problem

When pets play and rest on the sofa, they may accidentally spill food and drinks, or leave stains such as saliva and urine. If these stains are not treated in time, they will leave unsightly marks on the sofa, and some stains may penetrate into the interior of the sofa fabric, which is difficult to completely remove, thus affecting the beauty and service life of the sofa.

The daily measures to protect the sofa

(1) Pet training

For scratching problems, pets can be trained to correct their behavior. For example, prepare a special scratching board for your cat, place it near the sofa, guide it to use the scratching board when it wants to scratch, and give it a reward, such as a treat or praise, when it is used correctly. For the dog, it can be trained by simple instructions, when it tries to scratch the sofa, it can stop in time and issue a “no” command, so that it understands that this behavior is not allowed.

(2) Regular grooming of pet hair

To reduce the amount of pet hair that falls on the sofa, it is necessary to groom your pet regularly. Different pet grooming frequency and tools are slightly different. For example, cats generally need to be combed 2-3 times a week, can use a special cat comb, such as row comb, needle comb, etc.; Dogs according to the length of hair, the frequency of combing is different, short-haired dogs can be combed 1-2 times a week, long-haired dogs may need to comb every day, commonly used dogs have bristle comb, rake comb and so on. By combing, you can clean up the hair that is about to fall off the pet in advance and reduce the amount of hair attachment on the sofa.

(3) Clean the sofa in time

Once the sofa is found to have pet hair, stains, etc., should be cleaned up in time. For hair, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove a large area, and then wipe with a damp cloth to further clean residual hair. For stains, select the appropriate cleaning method according to the type of stains. If it is a food stain, it can be gently wiped with a damp cloth, and then cleaned with an appropriate amount of dishwashing liquid solution; If it is a urine stain, it should be treated with a special pet urine cleaner and then rinsed with water. Regular comprehensive cleaning of the sofa is also important, such as deep cleaning once a month, including cleaning the sofa cover (if the sofa cover can be removed and washed), wiping the sofa frame, etc.

Sofa cover purchase points

(1) Material selection

Cotton

Cotton sofa covers are a common choice and have the advantages of being soft, breathable, skin-friendly and friendly to pets and family. And its price is relatively close to the people, easy to clean, can be directly into the washing machine cleaning. However, cotton covers are easy to wrinkle, and need to be sorted out in time after drying.

Hemp

Hemp sofa cover has unique texture, good air permeability and wear resistance. It has a certain resistance to pet scratching and is not easy to be scratched. However, hemp materials may be relatively rough and less comfortable than cotton, if there are members of the family who are sensitive to touch, you need to consider the choice.

Polyester

Polyester fiber material sofa cover wear resistance, wrinkle resistance and corrosion resistance, bright color and not easy to fade. It can better resist pet scratching and stains, and dries faster after cleaning. The disadvantage is that the air permeability is relatively poor, and it may feel stuffy for a long time.

Chenille

Chenille is a new type of fabric, its soft and delicate fluff, excellent touch, warmth and decorative good. For pets, chenille fabric can cushion the scratching force to a certain extent and reduce the damage to the sofa. However, pay attention to cleaning, can not be too hard to rub, so as not to damage the villi.

Artificial leather

Artificial leather sofa cover has good wear resistance and water resistance, smooth surface, easy to clean. It can effectively prevent pet scratching from causing damage to the sofa, and the stain is not easy to penetrate. However, the permeability of artificial leather is poor, there may be some odor, and it needs to be ventilated before use.

Tarp

The main feature of the sofa cover made of waterproof cloth is superior waterproof performance, and when the pet accidentally spills drinks and other liquids, it can effectively prevent the liquid from penetrating into the sofa. It also has some wear resistance and can resist scratching by pets. However, the comfort of the waterproof cloth is general, and the appearance is relatively simple.

(2) Suitable size

When purchasing sofa covers, be sure to accurately measure the size of the sofa, including length, width, height and curvature of various parts. The size of the cover is too small to completely cover the sofa and can not protect it; The size is too large, which not only affects the appearance, but also may cause problems such as fold accumulation and slip during use. In general, it is appropriate to choose a cover slightly larger than the actual size of the sofa, so as to better wrap the sofa, and there is a certain amount of room for expansion during the use of the sofa.

(3) Colors and designs

Color selection

From the point of view of dirt resistance, dark sofa covers are more suitable, such as dark gray, dark blue, dark brown and so on. These colors can better hide pet hair, stains, etc., and reduce the number of frequent washes. Of course, if you have higher requirements for home beauty, you can also choose other colors according to the overall style of the home, but you need to be ready for more frequent cleaning.

Pattern selection

In terms of pattern, it can be determined by personal preference and home style. If the home style is simple and modern, you can choose geometric patterns, line patterns, etc.; If it is pastoral style, you can choose flower pattern, small grid pattern, etc.; For a Nordic style, plain colors or a simple Nordic element pattern is more suitable. However, no matter what kind of pattern is chosen, it should be noted that the pattern cannot be too complex, so as not to cause visual clutter, but also not conducive to hiding the stains that pets may leave.

(4) Functional considerations

Anti-slip design

In order to prevent the sofa cover from slipping off during use, it is best to choose a cover with a non-slip design. Some covers will have silicone anti-slip particles at the bottom, or use special anti-slip fabrics, which can effectively fix the cover on the sofa, even if the pet is frequently active on the sofa, it can ensure that the position of the cover is relatively stable.

Waterproof and antifouling function

Considering that pets may leave stains on the sofa, a sofa cover with a waterproof and stain-resistant function is a good choice. The surface of this kind of cover is usually specially treated to make the stain not easy to penetrate into the fabric and easy to clean up. When pets accidentally spill drinks or leave urine and other stains, just wipe gently with a damp cloth to clean up.

Anti-ultraviolet function

If the sofa is placed near the window and other places with direct sunlight, choose a sofa cover with anti-ultraviolet function can effectively protect the sofa fabric from ultraviolet damage and extend the service life of the sofa. In particular, some light-colored sofas are more susceptible to the influence of ultraviolet light and fade, and the cover with anti-ultraviolet function can alleviate this problem to a certain extent.

Antibacterial function

Since pets can carry a variety of bacteria, choosing an antibacterial sofa cover can reduce the growth of bacteria on the sofa. This kind of cover is generally achieved by adding antibacterial agents and other ways, which is very helpful to maintain the cleanliness of the sofa and the health of the family.

(5) Quality testing

When purchasing sofa covers, in addition to paying attention to the above points, simple quality testing should also be carried out. For example, touch the cloth with your hand to feel whether the texture is even, whether there are rough or hard places; Pull the edge of the cover to see if it is easy to tear, to test its strength; Observe the suture line of the cover, whether it is fine, uniform, and whether it is off line. Only by ensuring that the quality of the cover is good, can it better play its role in protecting the sofa.

The purchase of sofa cushions

(1) Material

Memory pad

The sofa cushion made of memory cotton has good resilience and can automatically adjust its shape according to the body’s sitting position and pressure distribution to provide comfortable support. For pets, the memory pad is also soft, and they will be comfortable to rest on it. However, the price of memory cotton pads is relatively high, and if it is stressed for a long time, it may appear depressed, and it needs to be sorted out regularly.

2. Sponge

Sponge is a common sofa cushion material, cheap, with a certain degree of elasticity and support. Sponge cushion can be divided into high, medium and low grades according to different density, the higher the density, the better the elasticity and support. However, the permeability of sponge MATS is generally poor, long-term use may feel stuffy, and easy to deform.

Down

Down sofa cushion is very soft, fluffy, excellent warmth, can give people a very comfortable feeling. As for pets, they also like to curl up on the down mat to rest. However, down MATS are expensive and need regular patting to keep them fluffy, otherwise they will collapse. At the same time, the down mat may have some feathers running out and need to pay attention to cleaning.

Latex

Latex sofa cushions have natural antibacterial properties, breathability and good elasticity. It provides better support and is good for the health of both pets and family members. Latex MATS are affordable, however, some latex products may have an odor that takes a while to eliminate, and latex MATS may age faster in direct sunlight.

Coconut

Coconut sofa cushion is a natural and environmentally friendly choice, it has better support and breathability, can effectively resist pet scratching. Coconut material is relatively hard, suitable for people or pets who like to sit a little harder. However, the coconut mat may have some natural fiber odor, which needs to be ventilated for a while to eliminate.

6.3D air layer

3D air layer material sofa cushion has good air permeability and elasticity, it can provide a certain buffer when pets scratch, reduce the damage to the sofa. Moreover, the mat of this material is easy to clean and can be cleaned directly in the washing machine. However, 3D air cushion support is relatively general, may need to be combined with other materials to achieve a better feeling of sitting.

(2) Size and shape

The size of the sofa cushion should match the sofa, in general, the appropriate cushion size should be selected according to the number of seats, length and width of the sofa. In terms of shape, common square, rectangular, circular, semi-circular and so on. You can choose the right shape according to the style of the sofa and personal preferences. For example, for a single sofa, a square or rectangular cushion may be appropriate; For the chair, the semi-circular cushion will better reflect its unique curvaceous beauty.

(3) Thickness selection

The thickness of the sofa cushion will affect the feeling of sitting and the degree of protection of the sofa. In general, thicker cushions can provide better cushioning, better resistance to pet scratching, jumping and other behaviors, and can also make the person sitting on it feel more comfortable. However, too thick cushions may affect the overall beauty of the sofa, and there may be problems such as slippage during use only. Under normal circumstances, the thickness of 3-5 cm is a more suitable choice, which can meet the requirements of protection and comfort, and will not have too much impact on the beauty of the sofa.

(4) Surface treatment

Anti-scratching treatment

To protect sofas from pet scratching, some sofa cushions have an anti-scratching treatment on the surface. For example, the use of special wear-resistant fabrics, or the addition of some wear-resistant coatings on the surface of the fabric, can effectively reduce the damage of pet PAWS on the mat.

Waterproof and antifouling treatment

Similarly, considering that pets may leave stains on the sofa, sofa cushions can also choose products with waterproof and antifouling treatment. After special treatment on the surface of this kind of mat, the stain is not easy to penetrate into the inside of the mat, convenient cleaning, only need to gently wipe with a wet cloth.

Antibacterial treatment

Because pets can carry a variety of bacteria, choosing a sofa cushion with an antibacterial treatment can reduce the growth of bacteria on the cushion. This kind of mat is generally achieved by adding antibacterial agents and other ways, which is very helpful to maintain the cleanliness of the mat and the health of the family.

(5) Filling uniformity

When purchasing sofa cushions, you should also pay attention to check the filling uniformity of the cushions. Gently press your hands on different parts of the mat to feel if it is evenly filled. If the filling is not uniform, it may cause the cushion to appear depressed or raised during use, affecting the feeling of sitting and the protection effect of the sofa.

(6) Resilience

The resilience of sofa cushions is also an important consideration. By observing the speed and degree of recovery after pressing the mat, its elastic recovery ability can be judged. Resilient cushions can quickly return to shape after pets or people sit on them, providing continuous comfort and protection for the sofa.

Combined with home style to buy

(1) Simple and modern style

If the home style is simple and modern, then in the choice of sofa covers or cushions, we should pay attention to the texture of the material and simple design. You can choose polyester fiber material cover, color with neutral colors such as black, white, gray, simple geometric pattern or line pattern. For sofa cushions, memory cotton or latex material square or rectangular cushions will be more suitable, the color is also simple, the thickness of about 3-5 cm.

(2) Pastoral style

Pastoral style of home suitable for the choice of cotton or hemp sofa covers, the color can be elegant flower colors, such as light pink, light blue, etc., choose flower patterns, small grid patterns and so on. Sofa cushion, you can choose sponge or down material, the shape can be round or square, moderate thickness, the surface can have some pastoral style decorative elements, such as lace edge and so on.

(3) Nordic style

Nordic style emphasizes nature, simplicity and comfort. Sofa cover can choose chenille or hemp, color to plain color, such as beige, oatmeal, etc., pattern selection with simple Nordic elements of the pattern, such as Nordic snow, reindeer, etc. The sofa cushion can choose memory cotton or latex material, the shape is square or rectangular, the thickness is about 3-5 cm, the surface treatment is simple, without too much decoration.

(4) Chinese style

Chinese-style home, sofa covers can choose hemp or cotton, the color is mainly dark, such as dark brown, dark red, etc., the pattern selection has Chinese traditional elements of the pattern, such as Ruyi, back, etc. The sofa cushion can choose sponge or memory cotton material, the shape is mostly square, the thickness is moderate, and the surface can have some Chinese-style decorative elements, such as embroidery.

Summary

In the case of pets in the home, the protection of the sofa needs to be started from many aspects, including training the pet, regular grooming, timely cleaning of the sofa and other daily measures. In the purchase of sofa covers or cushions, to consider the material, size, color pattern, functionality and many other points, and to combine the home style to choose, so as to protect the sofa, but also to make the home environment beautiful and comfortable, so that pets and family can enjoy life in a harmonious home atmosphere. I hope that the content of this article can help pet owners solve the problems in sofa protection and purchase of related products, so that your home life is more comfortable.