The method of applying the dye to the fabric also has a lot to do with its color fading characteristics. If a carpet or upholstery fabric is made from a solution dyed fiber (one where the pigment is added before the fibers are formed, sealing in the color) it will tend to resist color fading better than a fabric dyed after the fibers are made. However, in my experience, most upholstery (drapery and carpeting also) fabrics are made of materials which are not solution dyed.

Unfortunately there is no way of correcting ultraviolet light damage to upholstery or any other fabric. Even if there were a way to re-dye the faded areas of an upholstery, this would not address the fiber deterioration which can occur as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light. If you suspect that your upholstery fabric has areas which have deteriorated from the sun, make sure when you have it cleaned you point this out to the technician. These areas are very delicate and require special treatment to avoid harming the fabric.

At this point, before I talk about preventative measures which can be taken to avoid ultraviolet light damage I would like to contradict myself. I said above that there is no way to correct fading, however, there is one upholstery material (anyone want to guess) on which color fading can be corrected. Of course I am speaking of leather, this is the only material which can be effectively re-colored after the sun has faded the original color. With a very delicate process, the results which can be attained when undertaken by a trained professional are nothing short of remarkable.

There are several steps which a homeowner can take to insure that the potential for ultraviolet light damage is minimized. These include:

Place upholstery out of direct sunlight - try and arrange your rooms to give your upholstery minimum exposure to direct sunlight.

Close draperies - during the brightest part of the day, closing your draperies help protect your upholstery and other fabrics.

Protective window treatments - ultraviolet blocking window coatings are now widely available. They can be applied at the factory on new windows or on the panes of your existing windows. The newer window treatments need not be tinted, unless that is the look you like. Several companies now offer clear ultraviolet protective coatings for windows.