You can get dyes that go in the washing machine. I've used them with great success. Have a look on eBay for them, lots of lovely colours.
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Not having a good day
(81 Posts)So my nice "new to me" chair was delivered today. It looked immaculate in the shop - almost looked like a new chair. It's a light coloured linen loose cover. Not something I'd normally choose but it was comfy and I liked it and nothing else in the shop was comfy.
Total disaster. The delivery men were awful - didn't cover it with anything, got it stuck going through the back door (we've had a sofa through that door before) and yanked and dragged it partly against the outside stone wall - and it had moss stains all over the arms and one wing. I tried to stop them and say shall I get a blanket to put over it but too late.
Honestly it made me cry. I knew straight away they were stains that wouldn't come out easily. Phoned a professional upholstery cleaner who said - not on linen loose covers, the chemicals could damage it. Phoned a dry cleaner who said they can't guarantee getting moss stains out.
If I was younger and fitter I might have tried washing it in the machine but the ironing would be really hard and I can't do that any more. And it might shrink - no labels to say how to clean it - it just says linen.
Shop offered a few options - they could pick it up, get it cleaned and redeliver it. I don't trust them, it would take ages and I don;t think their professional upholstery cleaner will achieve it having just spoken to one.
I opted for a refund of the delivery cost. Even just taking the cover off and taking it to a dry cleaner seemed hassle. I didn't want to make it worse by trying to wash it off,
But in the end I thought I'd try some bicarbonate of soda on it then wipe that off carefully, to try and remove most of it and then get it dry cleaned.
Another disaster. Apart from anything else I have a really painful right shoulder and that is now worse. Bicarb isn't supposed to leave white spots like bleach marks is it? I've used it on fabric before - but - that is what has happened.
It removed most of the worst green stains and mud marks - but it left little white spots as if bleach had been spilt on it (it's multicoloured light colour).
So now it just looks grubby on both arms and one wing with little white spots.
And I have a very painful shoulder and won't be able to do anything for a few days.
I suppose I could get new loose covers made but that would be quite expensive I think.
Shame on the delivery men. But maybe the best option would have been to let the shop get it back and get them to sort it at least then you could have asked for a refund if that didn't work. 😓
It's the same stuff that ends up on Amazon.
Exactly the same, by the same companies.
I would really not use Temu although it’s up to each individual but they are not a good firm they have terrible human rights issues with their workers and the stuff they sell whilst looking fantastic (I get tempted when I see pictures) is very touch and go as one review said ‘some wonderful stuff, some not so good and some straight to the charity shop’ (where we have to dispose of it to landfill via the rag man) and you really don’t want to cause yourself more upset
Get a nice throw and don’t think about it any more it’s done and dusted you have the chair you love and the initial shock and disappointment is over, have fun finding the right type and colour of cover for it
If the chair was cheap, which you say it was, it would be worth having it recovered, surely?
Local church or community magazines often have adverts for people who do things like this, and would probably be better priced than large companies.
I feel for you, I can well imagine how upsetting this is.
First of all -I am really sorry for you.
It doesn't matter how much it cost -you were entitled to have this chair delivered in the state in which you bought it .
I agree with MOnica on this .
COMPLAIN .
Two weeks ago , I nearly passed out in Boots waiting for the assistant to open a cabinet .
In the end , I found him chatting at the till .
And I said ,
I am invisible to you because I'm old .
And yesterday , in a different branch the assistant was unhelpful to me .
I walked out .
I've known the shop manager for about 15 years and I've decided to complain about the assistant .
It's not the first time that I've experienced her rudeness .
On the positive side you have a very comfy chair , that is wonderful and not easy to find
So true.
If you had seen it (even with the white marks) I think it would still be your perfect chair! 
Oh dear I feel for you! You have received some sound advice on GN . Do try the white vinegar for the bicarb marks. On the positive side you have a very comfy chair , that is wonderful and not easy to find new or used!! If you can manage to have new covers made go with that, if not use a throw . Whatever you do don't let this incident eat you up - relax and enjoy your new chair and who knows in time you may become so used to the marks that they no longer bother you. 💐
Oh dear gentleshores too late I know but you should have sent it straight back. Did you pay on your credit card? If so you can contact the retailer and reject the chair then contact your credit card provider and claim a full refund under a Section 75.
You may have a problem because you've attempted to clean it but by refunding the delivery cost, the retailer has accepted liability that there was an issue by offering the refund to you.
Good luck.
I know how disappointing it is when trades people who should be relied on to do a basic job let you down. I hope you enjoy your chair despite the marks.
youtube.com/shorts/P_-vP14NDow?si=T6fGnRtB3x_AOdOv
These are stretchy, and from Amazon.
flappergirl
Oh gentleshores, I feel angry on your behalf. My mum had a spinal defect and I know just how important a "just right" chair can be. Were you on your own with the delivery men? I do wonder if they'd have been so unpleasant if a man was present.
Thank you. Yes I was on my own and I'm regretting it now. I keep forgetting I'm not as robust as I used to be. I think you give off "weakness" sometimes when feeling vulnerable or in pain.
Logically they could only offer to take it back and clean it and return it again, or give me a refund. The chair was worth more to me than the refund and I didn't trust them to get the stains off or deliver it properly a second time! Plus the wait.
I was very stressed and upset for the first hour or two as it looked absolutely terrible and I was sure the stains wouldn't come off and even the dry cleaning people said they might not come off. It's not completely cleaned off but arm covers should do the trick (except those things keep falling off don't they?).
It doesn't look too bad now the arms are drying a bit. I might just get some arm covers (although they won't match).
If it's a chair you love the shape of and within budget I'd keep it anyway.
Try the vinegar thing.
🤞
And then wash it on a not-too vigorous cycle.
I'd try a wool wash if possible.
Oh gentleshores, I feel angry on your behalf. My mum had a spinal defect and I know just how important a "just right" chair can be. Were you on your own with the delivery men? I do wonder if they'd have been so unpleasant if a man was present.
Yes it's second hand. I only paid £50 for it. But from a reputable charity who deal with a lot of furniture. So it's not so much about getting the money back as having the chair right.
If it was new I'd have sent it straight back for a refund. But having a chair I can sit on comfortably is more important to me than £50 right now, and it was a one off.
And yes it was absolutely terrible delivery and I've made that very clear. I'm getting the delivery cost refunded.
The best place to look for second-hand stuff is in your local papers. I bought a lovely single-seater leather sofa, locally. £50- bargain!!! Fortunately, my daughter has an ‘Estate’ car and she picked it up for me. I am curled up in it, as we speak.
RosiesMaw2
Return it - the delivery men should have brought it covered eg with polythene and possibly with the loose cover off and then fitted on when it was in situ
Do not attempt to do any more to it, reject it as not fit for purchase
When you say “new to you” - I assume it was new?
I assume “new to me” means second hand?
I don't think those are stretchy ones, gentleshores, as they just cover parts of the chair/sofa.
If your chair is new though, you should certainly be kicking up a fuss and complaining, first and foremost.
I assumed the chair was secondhand.
Return it - the delivery men should have brought it covered eg with polythene and possibly with the loose cover off and then fitted on when it was in situ
Do not attempt to do any more to it, reject it as not fit for purchase
When you say “new to you” - I assume it was new?
MissAdventure
Thank you :-) Assume those are stretchy ones?
There isn't much money to have back! It was incredibly cheap but immaculate before it was delivered. I have sat on so many chairs now and this one was just right and a one off. I couldn't face starting all over again trying to find one that works for me. (Also needs to be one you can replace the legs on to make it higher).
What a shame gentleshores - just return it and have your money back….all of it.
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