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Imagine this; you’re enjoying a lovely quiet evening at home on your new sofa. You’ve poured yourself a drink, and you’re catching up with some Netflix shows that you’ve meant to watch for ages. Suddenly, your fluffy white dog named Snowflake jumps up on your lap to cuddle.
Your red wine spills all over you, your dog, AND your sofa! Oh no, your dog is now pink, and your couch looks like it will never be the same! You think to yourself, “How will I ever remove a stain like this from my sofa?”
Well, with La-Z-Boy’s iClean™ fabrics & leathers, you no longer need to worry about pausing your binge-watching when a spill hits your furniture!
At La-Z-Boy, we’ve built our reputation on making and selling quality made furniture in North America for almost a century. But what about our furniture upholstery? Is it also manufactured to stand the test of time? And is an upgrade to iClean™ worth it?
For this article, we sat down with in-home designer Magaly Del Castillo, who’s been working at La-Z-Boy Ottawa for over ten years. She says since the iClean™ fabric introduction in 2016, she’s been recommending them to her clients. “Clients love the idea of long-lasting, stain-repelling fabrics. It provides them with the peace of mind that’s priceless.”
iClean™ is an upholstery protector that repels spills and stains. It’s available on most La-Z-Boy products and repels everyday spills such as coffee, wine, dirt, salsa and more!
Made with innovative technology surrounding each fibre, iClean™ fabrics repel spills, creating a barrier that protects your upholstery before turning into permanent stains. Simply blot the spill on your living room furniture with a white, soft cloth, and you’re good to go!
In addition, iClean™’s construction includes high-quality materials that “feel exceptional and luxurious,” according to Magaly. It also comes in various colours and patterns and is recommended for high-traffic areas for everyday furniture.
A new introduction to our Leather Selection, iClean™ Leather, is finished to repel spills and highly resist dirt and stains. In addition to protecting against the everyday "dirt," this protection does not affect the softness. The wax technology allows the natural graining to be seen with beautiful contrast and adds a special sheen.
As mentioned before, iClean™ fabrics come in multiple different colours, patterns and textures, which are listed below. Since iClean™ Leather covers have recently launched, the selection is limited to only a few colours.
Browse online and then visit your local store to start customizing. Select from patterns, solids and deep colours and textures.
No matter what style of living room furniture you select, you can customize your piece with countless options that range from upholstery fabrics in all colours, textures and patterns.
As you can see from the picture below, there are many different iClean™ fabrics to choose from, making your choice vast in selecting the right cover that speaks to you.
Please note, however, that the appearance of actual covers may differ from what you see here. If you want to look at more options, speak to a design consultant about iClean™ fabrics.
You can also choose from many different textures—La-Z-Boy fabric furniture textures, including chenille, smooth, woven, and more.
Magaly says that the fabrics at La-Z-Boy, including iClean™ fabrics, “weft and warp into subtle patterns that make it easy on the eye without too many details.” Weft and warp are the two basic components of weaving to turn thread or yarn into fabric.
She also comments that many iClean™ fabrics are also pet-friendly, fabrics tested and formulated to withstand the scratches and wear a pet can cause.
In terms of iClean™’s leather covers, since it is new to the floor, there are fewer than in the fabric selection. There is potential for more leather colour choices in the future as this new line gains traction.
As you can see from the picture below, there are 7 iClean™ Leather colours to choose from as part of the Athena cover family.
Whether you have pets, kids or anyone else in the household, accidents will happen. Fear not, however, because, as mentioned before, iClean™ helps protect fabric and leather from nasty stains to make cleaning furniture much easier.
Because iClean™ covers are stain-resistant, most liquid spills usually bead up and stay on the furniture's surface. Some liquids are tougher than others, so it is always important to blot your high-performance cover with a soft, white cloth or paper towel.
For more significant spills, using a mild mix of soap and water will also work. To make this solution, use 1 teaspoon of a liquid detergent such as Tide and mix it with 16 oz. of water.
The charts below contain the recommended cleaning methods of iClean™ for some of the most common household stains.
For more specific directions on furniture care and cleaning, visit: la-z-boy.com/Support/Fabric-Care or call 855-80-COMFORT or (855-802-6636).
|
Stain |
Recommended Cleaning Instructions for Liquid Spills |
|
Coffee |
When cleaning a liquid spill, immediately blot the upholstery surface with a white cloth/towel to remove the spilled liquid. To spot-clean, the spilled area, soak a clean white cloth/towel in a mixture of soap & hot water and clean the stained area in a gentle circular motion.
If needed, take a damp, clean white cloth, and go over the affected area to remove any soap residue from the fabric or leather.
Do not overwet the material. Pile fabrics may require additional light brushing in the stained area with a non-metallic, soft bristle brush to restore the appearance of the fabric or to reset the nap/pile direction. |
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Juice |
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Milk |
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Pop |
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Tea |
|
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Urine |
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Wine |
If the soap and water mixture doesn’t completely remove the stain, then repeat the above process using a multi-purpose spray bottle cleaner (such as Woolite Fabric and Upholstery Cleaner). Cushion covers should not be removed and laundered. On pile fabrics, the entire panel may need cleaning in a seam-to-seam fashion to restore its overall appearance.
|
Stain |
Recommended Cleaning Instructions for Non-Liquid Spills |
|
Chocolate Syrup |
When cleaning a non-liquid spill, immediately blot the fabric surface with a white cloth/towel to remove the spilled liquid. To spot-clean the spilled area, soak a clean white cloth/towel in a mixture of soap & hot water* and clean the stained area in a gentle circular motion.
If needed, take a damp, clean white cloth, and go over the affected area to remove any soap residue from the cover.
Do not overwet the material. Pile fabrics may require additional light brushing in the stained area with a non-metallic, soft bristle brush to restore the appearance of the fabric or to reset the nap/pile direction. |
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Dirt |
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Ice Cream |
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Jelly |
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Ketchup |
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Salsa |
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Washable Marker |
If the soap and water mixture doesn’t completely remove the stain, then repeat the above process using a multi-purpose spray bottle cleaner with double rubs (such as Woolite Fabric and Upholstery Cleaner).
Do not remove or launder the cushion covers on your sofa. You may need to clean the entire panel in a seam-to-seam fashion to restore the overall appearance of the material.
*To make the soap and water mixture, take one teaspoon of a liquid detergent such as Tide and mix it with 16 oz. of water in a bowl or plastic container.
There’s no denying that performance fabrics and leathers are more expensive than regular upholstery, and iClean™ stain-resistant protection is no exception. With that in mind, if you have a messy family that is accident-prone or have pets and furniture stains make a regular appearance, iClean™ might benefit you in the long run.
It is important to note that some furniture frames at La-Z-Boy come with select iClean™ covers, which do not affect the starting price of your furniture.
*All La-Z-Boy prices listed in this article are subject to change. We aim to update all cost-related articles twice per year. This article was last updated in October, 2022. Please visit lzb.com and select an Ottawa or Kingston La-Z-Boy store location to view the most up-to-date pricing.
La-Z-Boy has over 90 years of experience crafting and manufacturing furniture with lasting durability and exceptional comfort. Our prices are typically in the mid-high range of the furniture market, an investment meant to last many years of relaxation.
To learn more about our furniture costs, check out these articles:
iClean™ fabrics and leathers are covered under the La-Z-Boy Limited Lifetime Warranty. While most of our upholstery has a one-year warranty, iClean™ fabrics and leathers are covered for three years. Meaning they are quality-backed to stay soft and sustainable for that time.
To further protect your purchase, La-Z-Boy offers an extended warranty plan at an additional cost.
It is important to note that not all stains are covered under La-Z-Boy’s warranty. Here is a list of common stains and whether they fall under our warranty.
|
Stains |
Covered |
|
Beer |
Yes |
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Chocolate Syrup |
Yes |
|
Coffee |
Yes |
|
Washable Marker |
Yes |
|
Dirt |
Yes |
|
Ice Cream |
Yes |
|
Jelly |
Yes |
|
Juices |
Yes |
|
Ketchup |
Yes |
|
Milk |
Yes |
|
Salsa |
Yes |
|
Pop/Soda |
Yes |
|
Tea |
Yes |
|
Urine |
Yes |
|
Wine |
Yes |
|
Oil-Based Products (Salad Dressing, Lotion, etc.) |
No |
|
Wax-Based Products (Candle Wax, Crayons, etc.) |
No |
|
Ink Marks |
No |
|
Mustard |
No |
IMPORTANT: The customer is responsible for cleaning as outlined in the iClean™ Recommended Cleaning Methods.
For stains not covered, La-Z-Boy usually recommends a professional upholstery cleaner. To learn more about Furniture Care Tips, check out this article.
Now that you know more about iClean™ upholstery at La-Z-Boy, is this the right specialty cover for you? To answer this, we must look at the cost, functionality, and style.
Firstly, iClean™ is a performance stain-resistant cover, which will be more expensive than regular upholstery. If you are someone who experiences many spills on your furniture, this might be a worthy investment.
Otherwise, you might benefit from other specialty covers, such as Pet-Friendly fabrics, Eco-Friendly fabrics, or Antimicrobial Fabrics & Leathers. You can learn more about these specialty covers in their respective review articles.
Although iClean™’s functionality is self-explanatory, some wonder if iClean™ is toxic. Magaly recalls a client coming into the store who had been researching furniture covers and was worried about off-gassing.
Off-Gassing is a phenomenon that occurs to new furniture when manufactured products are released from their packaging. The packaging and materials used to make La-Z-Boy products are made with chemicals, which, when newly exposed to fresh air, can create a “new furniture smell.”
This new furniture smell is actually called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which, in high doses, can be toxic. However, Magaly assures that there is no off-gassing with iClean™ covers.
At La-Z-Boy, we consider ourselves environmentally aware. We as a society are beginning to understand that if we make small changes, they can have a significant impact.
La-Z-Boy products are also carefully made so that minimal VOCs are released into your home upon receiving new products. You can learn more about if La-Z-Boy Furniture Is Toxic by checking out this article.
After reading this article, you now know what iClean™’s power is capable of.
iClean™ upholstery has been a cover option at La-Z-Boy Ottawa & Kingston for about 7 years, with 26% of our fabrics being iClean™.
If you love your La-Z-Boy furniture, you want it to last. We are happy to help you navigate all the options and tailor your furniture so that it’s right for you at any of our Ottawa and Kingston La-Z-Boy locations. You can also book ahead and schedule an appointment with one of our consultants online.
We know that functionality is essential in building a comfortable life, not just a stylish one. That is why we offer complimentary in-home design service should you need help designing the room of your dreams!
What is the best fabric for your sofa? (Leather vs. Fabric)
La-Z-Boy Furniture Protection Plan