AIBU to think this is disgusting

[thegreenlight]

Bought a footstool from DFS (not cheap either) just over a year ago. Cushion is same fabric. Look at the state of it! Apparently this isn’t a fault with the fabric . What do you think - am I being unreasonable to say that this is a fault with the fabric and it shouldn’t be used on a footstool if it isn’t colour fast? Apparently no one else has complained so it can’t be a fault .

Direct UV is a powerful and damaging thing to so many materials. Whilst I’d be a little disappointed I do think your response is somewhat over the top. I feel you ought to have had voiles or something like that to protect your furnishings from prolonged direct UV.....so no I don’t feel the fault is really with them but probably wouldn’t repeat purchase.

@thegreenlight - I have some fairly expensive cushions which have faded quite badly - I just think it is the fabric - the quality of them otherwise is really good. In my experience velvet is more prone to fading that other fabrics so i would choose something else if you are going to re cover anything. i had two velvet backed cushions - one leant up against a french window one on a chair for 9 months - the velvet on the window one is now so much lighter & a different colour.

I would recommend a faux suede - pretty bomb proof & can get lots of lovely colour s

Oh and kept both cushions - as long as one has back facing towards the back of a chair both look OK - on the front - not perfect but serviceable

I wouldn't be ok with it necessarily, but I wouldn't call it disgusting.

Anyway, great flounce OP.

Definitely sun bleached.

A rubbing machine! Even better this has been a good thread. Thank you for that.

I would be annoyed with it but it is sun bleaching.

They could easily argue that you haven’t looked after it properly by leaving it in direct sunlight.

@Tissueboxcover

Sunlight bleaches anything pretty quickly.

No. Depends on the dye used.

Unless told to keep furniture out of the sun that's not acceptable.

@PatriciaPerch

I could use this thread of evidence I never need to follow up on my work :o :o ahh sarry sarah it's yar own farking fault for living in a naice hoose and it is the SUNS fault, 2020 has been really really sunny you know £600 for a footstool!! and 1 year in the cloth looks like that? Look for independent companies everyone, I can provide you with a nice footstool to your spec and not blame it on you if the cloth is substandard. Jesus wept DFS bots on here

The cloth is quite likely substandard but keeping it in full sun could well be a factor and I’m willing to bet that DFS would argue that as a reason not to replace it. That’s not to say they are right mind you.

If the sofa itself and cushions have been in the same position then the OP has a point about why the footstool has changed. It could be a fault with the fabric if everything else is fine. Depending on how much energy you have I’d either argue the point, or take them up on the reupholster offer.

If they're willing to pay for it being reupholstered I'm guessing they know it's a problem with the item. I'd push for it to be replaced or for them to pay for the fabric as well.

at you not caring for your footstool properly. MN head girls have rules about the care and maintenance of a footstool and you, OP, have let yourself down in that regard

I had a chair do this - upholstery fabric in dark grey turned blotchy pink within a year. Faulty fabric. Of course normal upholstery fabric should be able to withstand normal amounts of light in a room. You’ve not stored this item on a sand dune in the Sahara. Your sofa and cushions haven’t bleached like that despite being in the same environment. I would write a formal letter of complaint as per a pp.

Also chuffed that an actual fabrics prof agrees

I feel slightly envious that you have enough direct sunlight shining into your living room to cause fading. Our garden is partly shaded by massive oak trees, so our living room is quite dark at times... I can only dream of a room with full sun all day. [Misses point]

Am I right in thinking that the only item that has this discolouration is the footstool? Nothing else?

Does anyone place bare feet or sweaty socked feet on the footstool?

There's a good chance that this discolouration might be caused by the feet themselves. Nothing to do with being a dirty scutter, some peoples pH is more acidic than others and this can lead to staining.

Of course it's a fault with the fabric, it's all over the stool if it was the sun it would be patchy. Ask for second opinion or take it down to shop on a Saturday and complain in front of customers.

My brother purchased a three piece suite from a furniture store which was awfully damaged on arrival. After months and months still hadn't replaced as promised. Tried everything with no luck. The whole family including mother in law in a wheelchair stood outside with banners, police called said you cant do that here but you could stand there. Got cheque within an hour.

I've had my sofa for 10 years and hasn't faded at all. Looks exactly the same. And I've sprayed things on it to clean it. And was sat for 4 years in a front room that was a sun trap. I wouldn't be happy.

Thats sun bleaching for sure. Not DFSs problem.

I have had several richer coloured items fade in the past (whilst living in different places) including sofas, chairs, and curtains (along the edge from being in the sun when open). The reds faded even worse than the blues and greens. Velvet/velour faded as much as cotton fabrics. We have a living room that gets sun on part of one sofa, so we opted for light grey sofas to avoid the fading, as our last one faded so much in places. It's quite normal.