Regular Maintenance

·          Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and only use products that they recommend.

·          Cargo recommends that you use a soft lint-free cloth to gently dust your furniture.

·          To remove finger marks, we recommend that you use a slightly damp cloth. Avoid using detergents, silicon or spray polishes, which can cause longer-term damage.

·          If your wood furniture has a lacquered finish, you can keep it looking good in the long term by daily dusting and the occasional wipe over with a clean, damp cloth followed by a dry duster.

·          If your wood furniture has a wax finish, you can keep it looking good in the long term by polishing along the grain with quality natural beeswax every three months. We recommend that you use a clean duster to buff up and retain the natural beauty of your furniture.

·          If your wood furniture has an oiled finish, you can keep it looking good in the long term by “feeding” it with linseed oil every three to four months.

·          In case of accidental spills, blot up the excess immediately. Do not try to remove the stain with excessive water or detergent – Professional cleaning is usually the answer.

·          Both natural and electric light exposure will affect the colour of your wooden furniture. Cargo suggests that you rotate your furniture to prevent any colour differences caused by light exposure. If possible, leave dining room tables fully extended or expose the leaves to light in order to prevent any vast colour differences.

·          Use the upholstery attachment to vacuum your fabric or suede dining chairs weekly and reduce the abrasive effects of dust and crumbs. Avoid brushing upholstery, as it can cause damage to the pile and affects its feel and durability. If you have purchased leather-covered chairs, we recommend that you regularly wipe them over with a slightly damp cloth. If you choose to use a detergent, make sure that it’s very mild to prevent the damage caused by harsher brands.

·          Check the stability of tables and chairs regularly, as you may find the bolts and other fixings may need tightening.

·          If you have any doubts about how to care for your furniture and are unable to find the manufacturer’s instructions, please do not hesitate in contacting your local Cargo store.

Making It Last

·          Avoid placing your furniture too close to direct heat or air conditioning units and try to prevent changes in humidity.

·          Solid wood will still absorb moisture – sticking drawers is a common warning sign. However, if the atmosphere is too dry, as in a conservatory, furniture may start to warp, twist and split. A small humidifier may improve humidity and help your wooden furniture.

·          When moving furniture, take care not to drag or push it, which can damage the fixings and affect stability. You could scratch your floor and injure yourself.

·          As wooden furniture is neither chemical nor heat resistant, do not put hot dishes or cups on any surface. Avoid the use of protective covers containing rubber derivatives, which can react with the topcoat finish.

Design Tips

We’re placing more demands on our living space than ever before. As most rooms now have to serve several functions at once, we’ve come up with some quick tips on how to revamp an old, stale room into a modern, contemporary living space.

·          A tired sofa can date any room – after all, it’s one of the room’s main focal points. If you’re looking to create a modern feel, choose sofas with sleek contemporary lines. Alternatively, if your living space is more traditional choose a sofa that will bring warmth and charm.

·          Colour can affect your mood and experience. If you want to create a contemporary feel, use natural or neutral tones. Keep everything simple and allow the detail in objects to add the flair you’re striving for. If you want a cosier feel, try autumn colours such as rustic browns and warm reds.

·          Try using curtain fabric and colours that will complement your sofa and flooring; colour co-ordination is crucial to finding the right balance.

·          Sometimes it’s the little things that can have the most impact. Use inexpensive accessories to keep a decorating scheme contemporary. Simply changing door handles, vases and rugs can revamp a tired space.

·          Your choice of seating should be the one best suited to your interior space and create balance with the size of the room, the sofa combination and your other occasional furniture. A larger room might require 2 sofas and an occasional chair, however if you have a small space, sometimes sections of a modular might fit better than a single sofa. Armless sofa's can also give the illusion of space.

·          Mirrors add an element of surprise and a touch of glamour. They can create an illusion of space in even the smallest of rooms.

·          When buying curtains or decorating materials take a cushion from the sofa shopping with you to ensure you get the right colour.

·          Why not decorate the room in cream or white then choose one feature wall. You’ll need just two or three rolls to cover one wall making a great statement to any room.

·          Remember that unattractive features like radiators will be much less obvious if painted in the same colour as the surrounding walls.

·          You can also give the bathroom an illusion of height in various ways. Vertical lines lend the illusion of height to a room by drawing the eye upwards. Tiles that extend up to the ceiling can make a small bathroom feel larger. You can also achieve the same effect by painting a vertical stripe or using a similar wallpaper pattern.

·          Several innovative solutions - such as cabinets that can hang in a closet, stackable wooden storage crates with doors that face out, and shelving units can help with lack of storage space, as can simply arranging the furniture to clear more floor space in the walk way areas.

For an eye-catching room, design around a focal point to draw the eye. For a bedroom, invest in a dramatic bed or utilize the fireplace in a living room. Don't make the room compete for the eye's attention, have one large feature and then smaller ones that complement it.   

Bed Care Guide

·          Read all of the manufacturer’s care guides and the labels attached, as these will offer guidance on the various materials and support systems in your bed.

·          Once you have unpacked and put your bed in place, allow it to air for a short while before putting on the mattress protector and bed linen.

·          Remember that it may feel strange sleeping on your new bed to begin with. However, there’s no need to worry – it just takes time for your body to adjust to the different levels of support and comfort. It’ll allow you to enjoy a better night’s sleep in no time.

·          Check all bolts, screws, and legs regularly to make sure that they haven’t loosened over time.

·          If you choose to buy a bedstead with a mattress, place a mattress pad over the wooden bedstead slats. In doing so, you’ll reduce the wear on the mattress cover and prevent the transfer of small splinters. As a natural product, the mattress pad allows the mattress filling to “breathe.”

Choosing a Mattress

At Cargo, we supply some of the most innovative mattresses on the market from Relyon Beds. We’ve created a fantastic guide that will allow you to choose the best mattress for your needs.

We’ve divided our mattresses into three simple categories: open coil, memory foam and pocket sprung. Each type of mattress offers different characteristics and levels of support.

Open Coil

The separate springs are arranged in rows and linked to one another by a spiral wire. Some higher quality beds will use a continual spring system, made from one piece of wire shaped into a series of springs. Look out for the icon indicating the spring count. The greater the number of springs, the better the support (spring count refers to a 5ft King Size mattress).

Relyon Ortho Tufted Double Mattress

Relyon Ortho Tufted King Mattress

Memory Foam

This innovative material has a unique feel and slowly responds to your body heat and weight. It slowly returns to its original shape when the mattress is out of use. The material provides a combination of support and comfort, with unique pressure relieving properties, reducing stress and the need to turn. Look out for the icon displaying the amount of memory foam. The greater the depth of foam, the higher the comfort levels, conformity to body shape and pressure relief.

Relyon Memory Elite Double Mattress

Relyon Memory Elite King Mattress

Pocket Sprung

Each spring is sewn into hardwearing pockets allowing individual movement of each spring. Pocketed springs work independently of one another, offering unique support to the body shape and providing superb resilience and optimum comfort. Look out for the icon displaying the spring count. The higher the number of pocket springs, the more responsive the bed is to your body’s curves (spring count refers to a 5ft King Size mattress).

Relyon Posture Double Mattress

Relyon Posture King Mattress

Relyon Pillow Dream Double Mattress

Relyon Pillow Dream King Mattress

Mattress Care Guide

·          Each morning allow the mattress to air by turning down your bedding and when changing your bedding, brush your mattress with a soft brush. It is highly advised not to vacuum your mattress due to irreversible damage that can be caused.

·          Cargo offers a one-year guarantee against manufacturing defects. We recommend that you use a mattress protector in order to prevent stains and smells and ensure your mattress remains in perfect condition.

·          In case of stains and spills, we advise you to treat them immediately in order to prevent longer-term damage. If you use liquid to treat the stain or spill, avoid saturating the mattress and using detergent or hard brushes, as they can cause damage to the mattress. Once treated, allow the mattress to air gently, away from sources of direct heat and light.

·          Do not jump, stand or sit on the edge of the bed for long periods of time, as this can adversely affect the internal construction and can cause the mattress to collapse over time.

·          Although the vast majority of Cargo’s mattresses are described as “non-turn”, we advise that you turn them from head to foot regularly. If you have purchased a mattress that needs turning, we advise that you turn it every two weeks for the first six months and every four weeks after this period. Stick to a routine where you turn first end-to-end and then upside down in regular rotation.

·          When turning a mattress use the handles to carry the load evenly. At least two people are required to safely turn a mattress.

·          As your mattress is designed to shape to the contours of your body, therefore settling of the fillings is normal. By turning your mattress, you’ll help keep the support provided by the filling.

Beds and Mattresses

Cargo’s beds are made by some of the most established and experienced bed-makers, with a reputation for high quality finished products. Choose from a wide variety of double and king size beds and mattresses to create the look you desire in your bedroom. As you’ll spend a third of your life in bed, it’s essential that you make the right choice! We’ve created the Cargo Bed and Mattress Guide in order to help you choose the products that suit you and your lifestyle best. 

Sofa Guide

Buying a sofa is a significant investment. We want you to be delighted with your choice or sofa, sofabed or chair, so take some time thinking about the best options for you and your lifestyle before making that all important purchase. 

When deciding on a sofa, it’s essential to take into account the size of your room and how many people you would like to seat at one time. Although getting new furniture can be exciting, we want you to make sure your new sofa will fit before you place the order. If you are ordering a chaise or a corner sofa, the side of the arm or chaise will be as you look at it, not as you sit in it. Our experienced Store Staff often advise customers to use sheets of newspaper to “create” their sofa in their living room beforehand. This will give you a realistic idea of space constraints and will help you in choosing the right sofa for you.

As a general rule, high backs on sofas and chairs may look best in rooms with high ceilings and lower backs in less open rooms can give the illusion of more space. It’s also worth considering that the arms of a sofa can affect the amount of seating capacity as well as ease of access to a room. If the room is small, choosing narrower sofa arms will help in creating the illusion of a more compact unit.

Fabric or Leather?

Cargo’s vast range of sofas, sofabeds and chairs may make your choice harder than originally anticipated! We recommend that your first choice should be deciding whether to opt for leather or fabric.

Once considered a luxury product, leather has become enormously popular with the advent of new manufacturing techniques making it much more affordable. Leather is a natural product and unless you opt for a very smooth, highly treated finish, your leather upholstery will age with use. For many people, this adds to the overall character.

Fabric presents you with a larger range of colour options. It usually comes in a fibre mix for strength and texture and all Cargo Ranges are thoroughly tested for durability.

Upholstery Swatches Service

We offer a free telephone service to help you choose the right fabric colour and texture for your new sofa or chair. Our suppliers will post these to you or to any UK address. Please only order the swatches you need. Please call 0844 848 3300 to order.

Upholstery Care Guide

On Delivery

·          If you have wooden floors, use protective felt on the feet of your new furniture to prevent scratching.

·          When rearranging your room, find someone to help you lift and carry. Failure to do so could result in injury or damage to your property.

·          Before the delivery team leaves the premises, take a few minutes to check that you are completely satisfied with your purchase.

·          Once the protective wrapping is removed from leather furniture, the cushions may appear flatter than expected and the leather creased. Use the palm of your hands to press gently on the leather surface and smooth the cushions and leather into their normal shape. As air begins to circulate around the suite, the leather will relax and fall into its original shape.

Regular Maintenance

·          Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and only use products that they recommend.

·          Try to plump and turn cushions daily. Certain fillings, including fibre, will lose up to 20% of their volume through normal wear and tear. By plumping the cushions daily, you will help ensure that they last longer.

·          Use the upholstery attachment to vacuum your upholstery weekly and reduce the abrasive effects of dust and crumbs. Avoid brushing upholstery, as it can cause damage to the pile and affects its feel and durability.

·          We recommend that fixed cover fabric suites be professionally cleaned at least once a year.

·          If you spill anything, blot up the excess immediately. Avoid the use of detergents, which can cause permanent damage. If you have purchased Guardsman, contact them immediately for advice.

·          If you have any doubts about how to care for your furniture and are unable to find the manufacturer’s instructions, please do not hesitate in contacting your local Cargo store.

Making It Last

·          Avoid placing your furniture too close to direct heat or air conditioning, as it can cause joints to dry out and squeaks and creaks to develop.

·          Do not sit on the arms of the sofa or allow children to jump on your suite. It will dramatically reduce the life span of your sofa.

·          Try to place your furniture away from sources of bright, direct sunlight. This will help in ensuring that your upholstery does not excessively fade.

·          Cut off loose threads with a pair of scissors – by pulling them you could create a hole.

·          Heavy perspiration can affect the long-term durability of fabric suites. We recommend that you invest in arm caps to protect your furniture.

·          Avoid leaving newspapers and magazines on your furniture, as the ink can stain the cover permanently.

Leather Care Guide

·          As a natural product, leather will often bear the marks of its natural origin. These “hallmarks of life” make each hide and therefore each piece of furniture entirely unique and are not detrimental to the wearing properties of the furniture.

·          It must be remembered that at least eight hides are required to produce a suite. Whilst every attempt is made to achieve uniformity, some colour variation may occur.

·          You may find that leather will stretch with use, which can give the seat cushions a slightly baggy appearance. To restore the original look, simply smooth the cushion surface down the rear of the seat cushions at the end of the evening’s use.

·          Human perspiration damages the finish on leather and must be removed weekly. We recommend that you wipe over the areas where you rest your bare arms and hands with a damp cloth - this also applies to areas rubbed by pets.

·          Cargo recommends that you keep your leather free from dust and dirt using a soft untreated cloth, or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment. Use a leather protection cream to protect against stains and dirt. This also improves durability and helps keep the leather soft and supple.

On Delivery

·          If you have wooden floors, use protective felt on the feet of your new furniture to prevent scratching.

·          When rearranging your room, find someone to help you lift and carry. Failure to do so could result in injury or damage to your property.

·          Before the delivery team leaves the premises, take a few minutes to check that you are completely satisfied with your purchase.

·          Leave at least a 1” (2.5cm) gap behind freestanding wardrobes or wall units to allow air to circulate freely.  

Dining and Bedroom Furniture Care Guide