How to Repair the Material Used to Cover Furniture Springs

The thin fibrous material that covers the springs of furniture seems strong, but it can develop holes that expose the springs and can cause significant damage. This same material, which is known as cambric, is found beneath the frames of box springs, and it comes off fairly easily since it’s typically secured with staples. This material is simply a dust cover that protects furniture cushions from coming in contact with springs, batting, and fabric. It really doesn’t take much for this material covering furniture springs to become damaged beyond repair, but it can be replaced without professional help.

When my son was a toddler, he loved to take the cushions off the couch and walk on the springs. I corrected my son whenever I noticed the cushions off the couch, but it was a constant battle. I knew the material that covered the springs wasn’t strong enough to hold his weight, and it eventually developed a couple of holes. In addition, the same material that covered the bottom of his box spring partially came off during a move. Our curious cat helped the material off the rest of the way. This prompted me to look for easy ways to replace the material that covers the furniture springs as well as the underside of a box spring. I knew I could do it myself.

Cambric

As previously mentioned, cambric is a material that’s often used to cover furniture springs and the underside of box springs. It can be found at fabric stores, upholstery shops, and furniture repair shops, but it isn’t exactly cheap. Search online or shop around locally to find the best price. This material is meant to protect cushions and keep dust from accumulating under box spring frames, and it isn’t meant to be seen. Chances are you’ll find one of the following alternate materials cheaper and just as effective when completing a repair.

Landscaping Material

A variety of materials can be used to replace missing or worn cambric that covers furniture springs or hides the springs in a typical box spring. I’ve found landscaping material that’s used to cover the ground in the prevention of weeds to be very easy to work with when completing a repair and a good choice for covering furniture springs. Visit your local home improvement store, discount store, or garden center to price this option. I used landscaping fabric to cover my couch springs, and it proved to be very strong and easy to work with for the repair. My son is older now and no longer stands on the couch, but the landscaping fabric has held up very well, and I haven’t had to repair it further.

Cotton Sheets

If you’re looking to save money and want to replace the fabric that covers couch springs or the underside of a box spring, try using an old cotton sheet. It can be trimmed to the proper size and attached in the same manner as cambric, and it’s just as effective. The cotton will allow air through the material, and it will hold up well against ordinary wear and tear. I used an old cotton sheet to replace the material under my son’s box spring, and it held up very well. I’m glad I chose an inexpensive sheet to complete the repair rather than investing in expensive fabric that wasn’t necessary in the first place.

Attaching the Material

If you need to attach material to a wood frame, use a heavy-duty staple gun with staples that will easily penetrate wood. It’s the easiest and most effective way to attach material to the underside of a box spring or the frame of a couch or chair. You might need an extra pair of hands to stretch the fabric you choose, but it will be a quick and easy repair for a very common and aggravating problem. It’s something you can easily do yourself, and you’ll appreciate saving a considerable amount of money and time repairing areas that can’t be seen anyway.