Performance Fabrics: Expectations vs. Reality

You've heard of performance fabrics, but what exactly are they, and why should you use them? This article will explain all the ins and outs of these products, including how they're made, their benefits, and what to look for when purchasing a performance fabric.

What is performance fabric?

Performance fabrics are designed to be durable, stain resistant and easy to clean. They are made of a blend of synthetic fibres and natural fibres that allow the fabric to hold up well when it meets harsh chemicals or spills. Performance fabrics can be used for clothing, furniture, and other household items.

Performance fabrics are typically a mix of synthetic materials and natural fibres.

Performance fabrics are typically a mix of synthetic materials and natural fibres. Synthetic fibres, such as nylon, polyester and spandex are much more durable than natural fibres like cotton or wool. Each manufacturer uses different percentages of each material to create their own unique performance fabrics, but here are some common ingredients to look out for.

Performance fabric is often used in upholstery and window treatment applications, but the sky is really the limit when it comes to how you can use it.

Performance fabrics are commonly used in upholstery, window treatments and even rugs. But there’s no limit to how you can use them. Performance fabrics can be used on their own or as an accent piece in almost any room of your home. Here are some examples of other applications for performance fabrics:

• In a bathroom or laundry room: Use performance fabric to give your walls a splash of colour and texture. This is an especially great idea if you have small children who like to get dirty!
• On your bed: Makeover your bedroom with performance fabric on pillows, curtains, or even under-the-bed storage bins! Check out these DIY ideas to help you get started (and find inspiration)!
• On the ceiling: If you love bold patterns try using performance fabric on the ceiling instead of wallpaper because it won't require any prep work.
• Stain-resistant. Performance fabrics resist stains and dirt, so they'll look good even after you've spilled coffee or wine on them and cleaned it up. This makes cleaning up messes that occur throughout the day easier, which is especially important if you work in a fast-paced environment where spills can happen frequently. You don't need to worry about ruining your seating when you're trying to take care of business!
• Durable. Performance fabrics are stronger than traditional fabrics like cotton or linen that get worn out easily with frequent use. That means performance upholstery lasts longer, saving you money over time since you won't have to replace them as often (or at all). Durability also means that these fabrics won't shrink or lose their shape after washing them.
• Easy maintenance: No matter how much time goes by between washes, FibreGuard’s performance fabrics require little maintenance care beyond rinsing with cold water when necessary; unlike many other types of materials out there these days which require dry cleaning services or trips through machines with harsh chemicals meant specifically for treating stains.

What if I have pets or kids?

Let's say you have a dog that sheds everywhere, or maybe a kid who thinks dropping food on the floor is hilarious. Or perhaps both? The good news is that performance fabrics are stain resistant, easy to clean, and durable—so you can wipe up mud and dirt or throw in the wash if something happens.

How do I clean my performance fabric products?

When it comes to cleaning your performance fabric products, there's no need to worry. A soft cloth with a bit of water will do the trick!

Avoid using bleach, as this can damage the fabric's colourfastness over time.

When you want a deeper clean for stains like mud or blood (yikes!), try spot-treating with a solution made from one part soap and five parts water (no bleach). Apply gently on top of the stain before rinsing with cold water; repeat, if necessary, until the stain has been removed completely.

FibreGuard fabrics are simply easy to clean. Find out how here.

Does performance fabric soften?

Performance fabrics are made of synthetic fibres, which aren't usually soft to the touch. As such, performance fabrics sometimes stiffer than natural fibres and are therefore not ideal for clothing or bedding.

However, they can be used in upholstery and window treatments because they're durable and easy to clean. If you want a fabric with a little more flexibility than your typical performance fabric but also want it to be stain-resistant and easy-to-clean, consider using FibreGuard easy clean upholstery as it’s soft to the touch as well as high performance.

How does performance fabric work?

Performance fabrics are made from synthetic fibres, which are more durable than natural fibres. Synthetic fibres resist stains and spills better, too. They also resist mildew, mould and the fading caused by UV light—all of which can be a real problem with natural fabrics.

Performance fabrics are reliable, durable and easy-to-clean and will withstand daily wear and tear from the whole family.

These fabrics are also used in commercial spaces such as office cubicles, hospitals, and schools where they must be able to withstand frequent cleanings under harsh environmental conditions.

In addition, performance fabrics are often specified for use in contract environments, even medical and dental environments.

Performance fabrics are designed using different fibre types that offer different comfort levels depending on the application. For example, polyester fibres may be used for softness along with cotton which adds durability.

What makes FibreGuard performance fabrics great?

FibreGuard performance fabrics are great because they're:

Contract performance fabrics for commercial spaces

High performance contract fabrics are in a class of their own: durable and easy to clean, reliable and will withstand daily wear and tear in all kinds of environments. Performance fabrics are often used in upholstery and window treatment applications, and FibreGuard fabrics can be easily cleaned by simply wiping down with a damp cloth.

Woven to Protect: performance furniture fabrics that fit perfectly everywhere

We hope that this article has clarified what performance fabrics are, why they’re so great and how you can use them in interiors spaces. If you have any questions about our products or any other questions about performance fabrics, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Proven both stain-resistant and long-lasting, FibreGuard fabrics are engineered from the inside out to perform.

FibreGuard is the result of years of research and testing by interior designers and textile engineers.

Our focus at FibreGuard is to be what we call ‘life-friendly’: offering fabrics ready to stand up to anything daily life can throw at them. Interested in our easy-clean fabrics?

Contact our team to discuss how we can help you and your business today.