Reducing Dye Transfer from Jeans

A furniture warranty and mattress protection services company based in Nebraska, GBS Enterprises repairs, cleans, or replaces customers’ furniture for three to five years. This protection is available through a GBS warranty and covers such accidents as dye transfer from jeans.

The first step to preventing dye transfer from jeans is washing them as soon as they are purchased. This should be done before the jeans are worn or hung up in the closet so they don’t stain any other clothes. When washing new jeans, always use cold water to prevent shrinking and dye fading. It’s also helpful to use a special detergent to protect the color of your jeans. 

Turn the jeans inside out, and if possible, complete the first wash with no other clothes in the machine. If you have to wash with other clothes, only add clothing that is a similar color to your jeans and add a color-catcher sheet to trap any loose dyes. As you wash, use a gentle wash cycle to limit the amount of friction on your jeans. Then, let the jeans air dry to ensure the denim lasts longer.

In addition to washing your jeans, you can help set the dye by using a vinegar soak. When using this, turn your jeans inside out and leave them in the vinegar soak from at least one hour. However, keep in mind that this only helps set some acid dyes. If you aren’t sure what type of dye was used on your jeans, it may be best to treat your jeans with a color fixative to reduce bleeding.

How to Clean Your Mattress

For the past several years, GBS Enterprises in Nebraska has provided consumers with warranty plans to protect their furniture for up to five years. Underwritten by CNA Insurance and Starr Companies, a GBS warranty covers such furniture items as couches, rugs, and mattresses.

When cleaning your mattress, the first step is to remove all sheets and bedding. This includes a mattress pad, bedspread, duvet, and comforter. All of these items should be washed according to the manufacturer’s labels using hot water.

Next, you need to vacuum your mattress using the upholstery attachment. When doing this, it is best to start at the top of the mattress and work your way down. Focus on using narrow paths that overlap to ensure you don’t miss any part of the mattress top. Then, do the same thing on the sides of your mattress.

After vacuuming, check your entire mattress for stains; these are often left by bodily fluids. To remove these, spot clean them with the proper upholstery cleaner or with a mixture of mild dish detergent, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Lemon juice and salt can also help remove stains.

Finally, you can deodorize the mattress by sprinkling baking soda over the entire surface. Gently rub the baking soda into your mattress and leave it to sit for at least 10 minutes. If possible, it is best to leave the baking soda for several hours or overnight, but this is not always practical. Carefully vacuum up all of the baking soda using the upholstery attachment.

Repeat these steps on the underside of your mattress.

What Do Furniture Manufacturers Mean by Bonded Leather?

GBS Enterprises, a company based in Sutton, Nebraska, has offered warranty protection for mattresses and other furnishings for more than three decades. A GBS warranty is a great way to protect an investment in a nice piece of furniture, such as a leather couch.

When purchasing leather furniture, it is important to learn some of the lingo used by salespeople, who may try to sell you bonded leather as a cheaper option. The problem is that bonded leather can hardly be called leather at all. According to industry standards, this material only needs to consist of 17 percent leather to get the name. The rest of the composition comes from extensive processing.

When a hide comes into the factory, shapes are cut from it for use in making furniture, but scraps always remain. These scraps enter a machine that grinds them into tiny pieces. Manufacturers set those pieces in a thin layer and adhere them together with polyurethane.

Because of this final step, bonded leather tends to feel more like plastic than leather. Furthermore, the product does not wear like normal leather; it will simply show wear instead of acquiring a patina over time.