Sunday, June 29, 2014

My Furniture is Stuffed with WHAT?

This post will serve as a bit of a quick upholstery lesson for those who may be interested. It happens quite often that some of our clients are shocked by the fact that a chair or sofa could be stuffed with straw. Most people know about horse hair, but there is a wide range of materials used to stuff upholstered pieces, and the point of this post is to just quickly explain a few of the most common ones. The stuffing materials discussed here mainly pertain to antique pieces older than 1950.

Bottom layers of stuffing:

STRAW:
By far one of the most popular stuffing materials (which has been used for centuries) is straw. When I first started working for Pierre at Lefebvre's Upholstery, I wasn't really aware of just how common it is to find straw in upholstered furniture. I had assumed that straw was mainly only used in cheaper pieces, but that isn't the case. While better pieces will have more hair or moss than straw, straw is still often used as a base layer, and can sometimes be the only stuffing material used along with some cotton.

Here is an early 1900s chair with a straw and cotton stuffed seat (the webbing and springs have been removed, and the seat pad is flipped upside down):



The advantage of straw is that it's very durable, cheap, and it was readily available. If the chair or sofa is properly maintained, it can last well over 100 years. It doesn't last forever, though, and on heavy wearing pieces, it will eventually wear itself into dust.

Disadvantages: It's messy, and a good bottom fabric must be used to prevent dust and fibres from billowing out of the chair or sofa bottom. It can also cause allergic reactions to some people from the fine dust.

Some clients prefer to have the straw replaced with foam, but in most cases, the straw is reused.

The last bit of info I want to pass along is that there IS a difference between straw and hay. They are not the same thing, and you can't use hay in upholstery.



COCONUT FIBRE:
Coconut fibre is much less common on antique pieces. Over the past year, I have seen it only once or twice, and in both cases, it was added by a later upholsterer to "fill-in" bare spots, or to add a bit of additional padding. The fibres are somewhat "crunchy" feeling, and offer a decent amount of resilience. Coconut fibre is often used in place of horsehair.

EXCELSIOR:
Excelsior is also known as "wood wool" and it was originally invented as an alternative stuffing for mattresses. It dates back to the 1840s, and it's basically thin wood shavings produced by machine. It often resembles straw, and it is found occasionally in chairs (particularly Victorian ones) in place of straw.

If you're curious, you can read about the entire history of wood wool here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_wool

MOSS:
Second to straw, the second most popular stuffing material found in antique pieces is moss. This is not the kind of moss you would find on the forest floor. The moss is actually Spanish Moss that has been treated to produce a dark curly stuffing material similar in appearance to horse hair. It is usually called "black fibre". I have seen sofas almost entirely stuffed with this material. From what I've seen, this material is very long lasting, and other than leaving a small bit of black dusty residue, I haven't really noticed any excessive wear to it, even on pieces over 100 years old.



CURLED HAIR:

Horse Hair: Horse hair is by far the best material to be found in antique upholstery, and it is usually a sign of a quality piece. The hair is a rich black, and has a very springy "plastic-y" feel. Because it was expensive, it will often be found only as a thin top layer over a cheaper stuffing (such as straw and moss), or mixed together with cheaper curled hair.

Horsehair and moss stuffing on the back of a settee:



Light Curled Hair (usually hog hair): Several other types of curled hair are also used in upholstery, and are nearly as good as horse hair. They range from nearly white, to light yellow, or brown, and are always worth reusing.

Here is a small wing chair primarily stuffed with mixed hair:



Rubberized Horse Hair: Rubberized horse hair is usually found in the form of a mat of hair cut to suitable shapes. It is simply curled hair that has been coated with a rubber material (as the name suggests). You can see an example of this hair in the 1962 Wing Chair that we worked on last year. In the photo you can see rubberized horse hair on the wings and deck.





Outer layers of stuffing:

Lastly, we have the outer-most stuffing materials, which usually consist of a layer or two of cotton or felt, or sometimes Kapok on smaller chairs. The outer layer of cotton is often covered with a thin cotton fabric (a rough cover).

COTTON:
Cotton used in upholstery is supplied in large rolls, and it is about 1" thick when not compressed. The cotton is soft and fluffy, but it contains lots of little flakes and imperfections. Older cotton tends to be more dense (from compression), and with fewer imperfections. The cotton is used over top of all previously discussed stuffing materials, and it helps to even-out any small bumps and imperfections from the layers beneath it. It is absolutely essential over curled hair, since it will prevent the hair from poking through the finish fabric. Cotton that is still in good shape is reused, but if it has become too lumpy, torn, or soiled, it is replaced.

Here you can see cotton batting being applied to the arms of a wing chair:



KAPOK: Kapok is rarely seen, but makes an appearance here and there. It is a silk-like fibre obtained from the large seed pods of the Kapok tree native to Mexico, and areas near South America. The fibers are similar to those that you would find in milkweed pods. They are used in pillows as an alternative to down, or they are compressed into a felt-like padding used on chair seats, usually Victorian occasional chairs, or dining room chairs.


EDIT: I keep receiving a lot of questions and comments from people asking for information about some of their antique pieces. It's impossible for us to help you without seeing photos. There were millions of chairs, sofas, and other various upholstered pieces made over the past few centuries, and there are too many variables to base anything on just a description. Even when we do have photos, it can still sometimes be difficult to estimate a date on a piece, especially if it doesn't follow a specific furniture style or period (Renaissance Revival, Gothic, Art Deco, etc). If you would like to make an inquiry about a piece, we'd be happy to take a look, but please realize that we will not provide any kind of appraisals or valuations, and that our information is simply our best estimate based on the style, materials used, etc. I can be contacted by following the "JC" link at the end of the post, or Pierre can be contacted here: http://lefebvresupholstery.com/site/en/contact-us/

84 comments:

  1. Is it possible to determine the age of a chair by it's seat filling? I bought a chair that is filled with a combination of cotton batting and horse or hog hair. I assumed it wasn't an old chair because it is covered in vinyl - not real leather. It's quality vinyl - but vinyl all the same. It needs re-stuffing and I would prefer a fabric seat but I don't want to ruin a quality piece of furniture with my DIY upholstering!

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    1. Hello Jill, It's difficult to date a chair simply by its stuffing, because very old chairs can have new stuffing (if the old was replaced), and likewise, newer chairs could be re-stuffed with new traditional stuffing (this is far less common). From your description, it sounds like you have a fairly old chair (a photo would help). The chair can be reupholstered in fabric without changing the original stuffing, just be sure to discuss this with your upholsterer (I'm not sure where you're located, but if you're nearby we'd be happy to help you with this project). Visit http://lefebvresupholstery.com/site/ for more details.

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  2. I am trying to determine the age of a chair that I believe has moss and straw under cotton. It had claw feet but a low back. I thought it was a Bishop Chair but because of the low back I am not sure. I don't think it is horse hair because it has like a plant feel to the hairs. Help??

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    1. Hello, moss and straw under cotton is very common on older pieces, and it was used for a long period of time. It's very difficult to date a piece just by the stuffing materials. It's usually easier to estimate a date when looking at the entire piece. What kinds of springs were used, the type of wood and joinery in the frame, the overall shape of the piece, etc.

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  3. I purchased an old chair at a thrift store recently for $7! I am trying my hand at reupholstering. During my research I found the EXACT chair on a blog that stated it was from the 19th century. I have removed the fabric. It looks like the original fabric was covered up when it was last reupholstered. The stuffing material looks like cotton batting and curly horse hair. The seat/back are actually stuffed channels and then stapled on to frame. I was planning on making it one solid piece with out channels (not using any of the current stuffing materials of fabric). Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!

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  4. wondering how to post a pic here.....

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  5. I have a child's platform rocker with padded seats, arms and back. I believe the stuffing is cotton and straw. Can I send a pic? I would love to know it's age and anything else you can tell me. What would it sell for (in case I go that route).

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  6. Hi I'm doing some research for a project, was wondering if you could tell me what stuffing was most common in upscale 19th century furniture please? In particular in chairs, any help would be greatly appreciated.

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    1. Hello Bethan, It depends on the company, and on the quality of the piece. If you're talking about only high-end pieces, the larger upholstered items tend to have mainly moss (as the base), black horse hair (middle layer), and cotton over the top (top layer). For an example of this, you can take a quick look at "Wonderful Antique Sofa - Bold Orange & Dark Navy Print" (March 2 2014), however, the padding wasn't really shown in the photos. On even higher quality pieces, the stuffing can be entirely horse hair, with cotton over the top.

      When you mention "chairs" it's harder to give you an answer without knowing exactly what type of chair you mean. A high quality Victorian arm chair with a tufted back would have the same kind of treatment (moss or straw, hair, & cotton), with mostly hair used on the back. For an example check out the seat on "Antique Arm Chair - Light Blue (Project of the Month July 2014) " (Jan 3 2015).

      If you mean something like a plain dining room chair with a flat seat, then it may just be a thin layer of straw, with a good amount of cotton over it, and nothing else.

      On something like a Chippendale upholstered dining room chair (with a square seat), it would have a double stuffed seat: webbing, a base of either straw or curled hair, hand stitching (to form an edge roll), a second stuffing layer (more hair or straw), followed by cotton, a rough cover, and the finish fabric. The treatment would be nearly identical to the chair in the link above. Hope this helps.

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  7. Thanks so much, your knowledge is impressive! Sorry, I should have been more specific about the chair, but never the less, your answer has really helped.

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  8. Any possibility of dating a chair if I email or send you a picture?

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  9. Hi JC,

    I have an old divan with horsehair on it I would like to reupholster it with the same material, how much in kilograms I will need for the following measurements: base w140cm by h65cm and the back support w50cm by h65cm?

    Segards

    Sara

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    1. Hi Sara, I'm not exactly sure how to help you with your sofa. If it already has horsehair on it, then you should definitely keep it and reuse it. We never replace horsehair unless our client specifically wants it removed. We also don't carry horsehair, so I've never had to estimate how much to use for a particular piece. Horsehair is very expensive (about 30-40$ per pound), and for a whole new piece, it could easily cost about 1000$ in new hair. This all depends on the style of the piece, and how much hair is used in the stuffing and foundation. Even if I had a photo of your sofa, I'd only be guessing.

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  10. A church in Toronto I attended years ago had pews with horsehair stuffed cushions. The cushions were made in 1939 but only because a year before there was a fire that destroyed most of the building. All the pews were replaced (the original were solid Walnut) and in a cost saving measure the horse hair was removed from the old cushions, cleaned and re-inserted into the (then) new cushions. ($1000, 1939 dollars were saved doing this) The original horse hair stuffed cushions were made in 1875 and after 141 years use and a devastating fire the horse hair is acknowledged to be good as new and not one hair has been known to ever penetrate the 1939 cushion top. I have no reason to doubt they'll be much worse for wear when they're 200 years old. A quality purchase made in 1875 is still paying dividends for this church to this day

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  11. I purchased a small bench from Habitat Restore that has a seat with burlap straps holding in horsehair filling. The cotton on top had disintegrated. I am wondering about simply replacing the horsehair and cotton, but would I devalue the piece? The bench is wonderfully crafted and obliviously a quality piece. Thank you for your expertise!
    Colleen

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  12. I have a sofa , purchased at a used store, for $100. It has horse hair cushions, but the fabric is parcially redone. I wondered when it was first made. It has beautiful cut out walnut wood as a frame. If I sold it, & it is in good condition,how much can I charge for it?

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  13. Hi JC, great blog. I have an arm chair more than seventy years old. Beautiful but cushion in severely sunk on one side and the stuffing is shedding from the underside. No experience, but I want recover it myself, but the stuffing is making me itch. I live in an apartment so i can only work on it in the corner of my bedroom where its been sitting for a few years now. Any suggestions. It has a great frame. Would like to save it if possible. Cant afford to send it out. Thank in advance for your respone! :-)

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    1. There's a fairly steep learning curve when working on antique pieces. Learning to tie springs, applying burlap, and hand-stitching can all be challenging. It can definitely be done, but I would suggest watching several online video tutorials. The stuffing may itch simply because it's releasing a lot of fine dust. Try to have ventilation, or if possible, wait until the spring/summer and work on it outdoors (in the parking lot or on the balcony) at least for just the base stuffing and rough covers. Sorry for the late response.

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  14. Hi JC- Very informative blog so I hope you can help me. I tried re-cover an antique pianola stool but there were so many tacks and nails in it that there was no room for any more. So I took the previous cover off and found 3 more covers underneath and also the original stuffing. I am not sure what it is made of. It is brown and quite hard but very dusty and crumbly and I don't think I can re-use it. Is it ok to replace it with HD foam before putting on the new cover?
    Thanks

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    1. It's very common to find stools and small chairs where the upholstery has been layered on like an onion, instead of having it removed and upholstered correctly. All the old tacks and staples, and all the previous covers need to be removed. From your description I am not too sure what the stuffing material was. It sounds like it could be a type of felt/cotton blend. We sometimes keep this if it's still in decent shape, and we'll add fresh cotton to it, OR we replace it with a foam.

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  15. Hello,
    I live in Germany and recently had a neighbor set an old chair out by his garbage. I quickly ran over and grabbed it with the hopes of reupholstering it. The neighbor stopped by and said the chair had been sitting in his shed for ages and he had gotten it from an old man, so it could potentially be very old. Today I started to take the fabric off, and found it was filled with straw or hay or something. It also has metal springs inside the back and a metal type of wiring underneath. Is there any way I can send you pictures of the chair to get a little more information? This chair is very unique looking and my mom and I have never seen anything like it!
    Thank you, Megan

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    1. You can try sending photos to myself or Pierre. I've added a note at the bottom of the original post.

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  16. My daughter recently purchased a french provincial three piece sofa. The tag says Body rubberized hair pad. Horse Hair 15 percent; Hogs hair 85 percent; shredded latex foam rubber 20 percent, blended cotton felt 50 percent. We are just trying to figure out when this piece may have been made. The tag says New York in several places, but with the exception of where it states the furniture is in compliance with certain acts dated 1923, 1926 and 1929, there is no other identifying names or years. Any ideas?

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    1. Normally when there are tags with several dates, you can somewhat safely assume that the piece was made within a few years after the most recent date. If the last date on your sofa is 1929, I'd say that it was likely made in the early 1930s. There are of course exceptions, and without a photo, this is the best info I can provide. The fact that is says rubberized hair makes me think it could be slightly later.

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  17. I just purchase a loveseat that appears to be very old. It very dark wood and the cloth is somewhat a large paisley print. It is padded with what appears to be coconut fiber and it has springs that are connected to a metal bar underneath. I was wondering if you could tell approximately the age of it.

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    1. It's impossible to estimate any kind of date without a photo.

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  18. Hi there. I've just posted elsewhere for information on dating an oak dining set from the Victoriaville Furniture Co. Here's the link: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4740802/m=23/help-in-dating-an-oak-dining-set-with-grass-in-seat-padding

    Curious to hear your thoughts!

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    1. Hi Mz. Whitney, it looks as though you already have a pretty good idea of the date from your research (1903-1920). A date of around 1910-1920 seems perfectly within range based on the wood used, and the style. The leather seats with thin padding (probably excelsior) over a feathered-edge plywood (or solid board) is typical of the early 1900s. These sometimes have just a thin layer of felt or cotton instead. The padding can be added-to (with something like cotton) or a newer foam can be used. The set looks quite nice, but it isn't a valuable antique, so stripping and refinishing it shouldn't be a problem. I'd suggest sticking with leather or black vinyl to match the period style, but any decent fabric would also look nice.

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  19. Hi - I just bought a chair at a garage sale... it's kind of half way between a chair and a couch, its wooden with upholstery (I wouldn't have a clue what to call that style of chair, but I would imagine it is used in entry ways). I wanted to reupholster it so I started tearing off the old upholstery - and a friend suggested I try and find out how old it is. There isn't any screws on the piece, and one of the tacking nails that I pulled out looks quite old fashioned. The stuffing was straw and cotton (and it smelled pretty dated). There isn't any branding/dating marks on it. Photos posted on my gmail account https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/UmuEEE

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    1. Hello K A,

      What a beautiful find! You have an old settee, which was probably once part of a set (there is usually a plain chair and a rocking chair in the same style). It is Eastlake style, and in walnut, and it probably dates to around 1880-1890.

      This is a similar piece we did a few years ago:
      http://lefebvreupholstery.blogspot.ca/2014/04/fully-restored-eastlake-settee-red-toile.html

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    2. Hello, I have the complete set of settee, rocking chair and plain chair. They are all stuffed with horse-hair and the outside is black leather and walnut. They are in excellent condition. I'm looking to either sell them or give them to a museum. I want them to have a good home.

      Any suggestions? I can send an excellent photo.

      Please respond.

      Sandi



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  20. Would it be possible to add a link on my website to this article about stuffing?

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  21. Hi!
    Thank you so much for offering your opinions to people like me who are seeking information about the age or potential history of their pieces.
    I have two chairs I’d love your opinion on. They can be found at https://plus.google.com/u/0/
    The Morris chair is a family piece that I think dates around the late 1890’s. This is based on other furniture it spent its life with and newspapers found stuffed in those other pieces. The Morris is stuffed with cotton as near as I can tell and the original leather was too far gone to save.
    The tufted chair is stuffed with cotton and I think horse hair. I was told it is pushing 200 years in age but this sounds a bit unbelievable to me.
    It looks original.
    Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!
    Thanks!
    Kyle

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    1. Kyle, your link doesn't work.

      Delete
    2. So sorry!
      I tested the one below. Should work now.
      Thanks!
      https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/114006641359931376055/album/6493335179697308497/6493335178635881986?authkey=CLPzh_Xmk5SjxgE

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    3. The tufted chair is harder to date without seeing the interior construction and the way it's sewn (inside), the kinds of springs, etc. It could be as old as the 1840s, but also as late as around 1890. It's a nice quality piece. I think it probably had casters.

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    4. Thank you so much. I appreciate your expertise!

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  22. Hi,

    Could I have your opinion on a set of used dining chairs I just bought? I was taking them apart to reupholster (the seats were sinking) when I got a surprise. The inside was stuffed with what my mother tells me is horsehair, covered by muslin (machine sewn) and cotton batting. Instead of a board for support, there is some kind of webbing. I've attached a link with pictures. https://www.facebook.com/deborah.spier/media_set?set=a.1947948858556383.1073741828.100000238634579&type=3&uploaded=4. Any idea of how old they are? I don't want to damage their value but I need them to be usable for my dining room. I'd appreciate any information you could give me. Thank you.

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    1. Hi Deborah, You have a very nice set of antique chairs. I don't think they are genuine Chippendale chairs from the 1780s, but they look very well made, and I think they might be from around 1900. Even if they were much older, reupholstering the seat doesn't normally affect the value. I would just stretch some new webbing, reinstall the horse hair, the cotton, and your new fabric.
      -JC

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  23. Thank you so much! I also meant to ask if you can tell the wood. The seller told me she thought they were either cherry or mahogany but didn't have any info on them. Is there a way to tell? When you say reupholstering probably wouldn't affect the value does that include replacing the stuffing? I hate to sound crass but the horsehair is very uncomfortable and crunches when you sit on it.

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    Replies
    1. Well, removing the horsehair (in my opinion) would definitely hurt the value. Horsehair is extremely expensive, and lasts for centuries. That said, they are your chairs, and you can have high quality foam pun in them if you wish, but I would suggest padding them with additional cotton batting over the original horsehair instead. You can add as much of the cotton as you want (an inch or two, even). Alternatively you could add a thin layer of foam over the horsehair.

      As for the wood, it's too hard to tell from the photos what wood was used. It certainly could be cherry or mahogany, but it could also be deeply stained birch or maple (though that's less likely). I don't see much visible grain pattern so it's really inconclusive. I'd need a close-up to give you a better idea.

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  24. I'm going to try to take your advice. I don't think I can do it myself so I'll see how much it would cost to have it professionally done. Here is a link to a better picture of the wood. Can you tell what it is? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1949554655062470&set=p.1949554655062470&type=3&theater

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  25. Thank you so much for all your help.

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  26. The horse hair that I removed from my 100 year old dining room chairs was in bad shape. I have redone the jute web and have found a rubberized horsehair online. I am trying to decide if I should use that or foam, and should it be 1 or 2 inch. If foam, is the "high density" that is sold in fabric stores supportive enough? Thanks for your advice!

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  27. Hi, please forgive me for additional enquiry amongst the already long list posted on this site. A wingback chair has just been acquired by myself as a first time project for restoration. However, other than websites and YouTube, my inexperience and lack of knowledge in this craft sought me seeking some advice or guidance on tackling this as a first time restoration project. Thus my decision to restore the chair, the leather fabric and filling, with mostly cheaper materials such as faux leather seems to me a sensible alternative to learn from. Any thoughts or knowledge, both for and against, on this idea will be greatly appreciated. Ideally, the best would be the best, but my inexperience with a finite financial resource allows more towards practicality. Many thanks already for this website full of knowledge.
    Best regards
    Michael Lisher

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  28. I love the information in your blog. I have just finished a chair that is approx 100 years old with the help of an upholsterer from a community education class. It has been a grand learning experience. I had straw that he had me fluff and put back on. We added coconut fiber and did a light sanding of the wood. I wanted to keep its rustic charm.
    I am currently redoing two cushions from another chair that was given to me - it has a marshal unit in the back cushion and a wire box spring unit in the seat.
    I love putting stuff back the way it was.... straw and springs. Trying to stay away from the foam. Love the art ....Thank you.

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    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  33. I have a vanity seat that had the brand name fitsus tag w/ I believe black horse hair any ideas?

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  34. Hi there! I have a chair that I’m working on and I’ve discovered a layer of stuffing that I can’t identify. The bottom is a plastic mesh, the next layer appears to be coconut fiber or hog hair, and the top layer is cotton. But the middle layer is very strange. It’s green, and there is a layer of fine green dust on the frame under it. What could this be? Please tell me I’m not looking at some form of arsenic or chemical fire retardant. Actually, please tell me if is so I can protect myself accordingly! Thanks!

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    1. It's impossible to tell without a photo. It could be green coloured foam, green tinted rubberized hair, some kind of coloured felt, etc. If the chair is old, I would doubt that it has anything fire retardant in it, or dangerous, but again... impossible to tell without a photo or a better description.

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    2. Here's a link to a blog post with pics.
      https://laurenwasinger.wixsite.com/thefuniture/home/chairs-say-the-darnedest-things
      I think it's rubberized hair... but would LOVE your input!

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    3. Hi Lauren, I had a look, and it definitely looks like a regular pad of rubberized horse hair. I believe the green dust is the rubber coating on the hair starting to fail after a few decades. As for whether or not it contains any fire retardants or harsh chemicals, that I can't say for sure. You can definitely take it out side, beat the rest of the dust and powder out of the pad and re-use it. If you're very worried, you can replace it with new horse hair (hand-bunched in place to form a new pad, or as a pre-purchased pad). Alternatively a layer of foam the same dimensions could be used there. I would keep the original stuff, but it's entirely up to you.

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    4. Thanks JC. I feel pretty comfortable with it, now that I think I know what it is. I was actually pretty impressed with the quality of the stuffing, so I really want to use it. Thanks for weighing in!

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  35. Thank you so much this has been very helpful 🐾🐾

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  36. I have an old recliner. When I purchased it in the early 70’s it had a tapestry type of fabric cover. I removed the fabric and recovered it. 40 + years latrer the stuffing which I believe is horsehair has begun to decompose and turn to dust. I have now taken the seat apart and am not sure how to restuff it. I was wondering if cotton batting might be a good alternative since I have no experience with horsehair or where I would get it. I will try to attach some photos. Any information you can give me would be very helpful. I have no idea how old this is but the woman I purchased it from collected antiques.

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  37. I recently bought a brand new sofa. It is an Ashley brand
    Shortly after I brought it home a throw pillows was torn a bit and I was shocked to see brown hair for the stuffing. So I unzipped the cushion on the leanback and they are also stuffed the same thing. No problems but I didn't know they still use this type of stuffing now a days. I can send you some of you would like to be able to confirm it. Just thought it was a bit odd. Thanks for listening
    Linda Miller USA

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  38. Very, interesting article. My dining chairs have a crunchy sound when you press on the seat cushion.

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  39. Thank you for the great information! I’m trying to fix my great-grandma’s chair. It is at least 100 years old, and has a beautiful needlework seat and back. The webbing underneath split earlier this year, and I’ve decided to replace all the burlap in the seat. It’s stuffed with horsehair and possibly curly hair mixed. I’m reusing that, but the cotton padding is soiled and getting thin. Is there a way to clean it? Or should I just replace it. I’m not sure where to find cotton to replace it with. I’m also wondering how to clean the needlework before I put it back on the chair. Any thoughts? It appears to be yarn. Thanks!

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    1. The needlework should be fine to hand wash. I know it can probably even be tossed in the washing machine, but I would advise just gentle hand washing in the sink. For the cotton, I guess you could try to clean it. I f you're going in that direction it could be difficult. You don't really want to mess with the shape much, so you almost need to wet the entire thing and just carefully pad it and squeeze it. Not sure how well that might work. It would also take hours and hours to dry properly. The cotton batting is available to purchase, but usually comes in a giant roll. If you have a local upholsterer they might be able to sell you some. Be warned that learning to use it takes practice as it's very easy to make lumps and bumps. Generally you only want to lay it down and carefully pull and feather the edges. Hollow areas need more thin layers built up (underneath if possible). Use hand pressure to gauge the feel and feel for low spots. I would say you need at least 2-3 layers if using all new cotton, since it compresses down a lot.

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  40. Thank you so much for this interesting information! Coconut fiber - that's what's in the old sofa I have. How fascinating what materials have been used through time. Appreciate your posting this.

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  41. This information is really helpful. I recently purchased an old chair at an estate sale. I didn't realize at the time it was over 100 yrs old. I found when I got home that the seat was made of a "cake" of what I believe to be cotton, muslin, horsehair, hay and burlap. I had taken it to an upholsterer to have that all removed and reupholstered before I found your website. I realize I need to maintain the historical integrity. My question for you is how to I restore the chairs functionality while maintaining the historical integrity? The Cake is not in great condition as evident by an old rodent nest that used said material. When you restore do you add modern material for comfort? I'd love to send you pictures if you tell me how.

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    1. If some materials are missing they can be filled-in with new straw, new horsehair, or new cotton. In some instances, it may be necessary to disassemble/clean/re-lay the entire cake back down. Generally we tend to in-fill any voids with additional new cotton batting, but it really depends. As for modern comfort it depends what the piece will be for. I have a very tiny livingroom with an antique sofa. It's perfectly comfortable to sit on, but I don't use the livingroom that often.

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    2. Kathleen. July 25, 2020July 25, 2020 at 4:43 PM

      Thank you for your most interesting article in answer to my question about dining chair stuffing. We had to have the seat covers replaced due to wear when we had the "glue"? Replaced on all the pieces. The apolster's called to ask me if I wanted the, horse hair saved. We did. Our dining room suite made from solid Black Walnut and is as you noted over a 100 years old.

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  42. I have an old wooden couch and there is this green stringy material (2" long appx) that lays under the cotton. It looks alot like wood wool. My worry is the green coating that is disintegrating and falling on the floor. Was wood wool ever coated with asbostos or any other hazardous matetials? Thanks

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    1. What you describe sounds like it might actually be rubberized horse hair (which can have a greenish, gray, blue, etc coating which can disintegrate over time. To my knowledge, I don't think it would be asbestos, but there were all kinds of fireproofing materials that were experimented with over the decades. Depends on the age of the chair. If you're unsure, you can always get it tested. Otherwise, it may simply be time to have a new bottom fabric installed (or the sofa redone), and any loose old materials either replaced or at least cleaned/dusted. Even an old straw-stuffed sofa shouldn't really be sifting dust onto your floor assuming it's all sealed-up nicely. Really hard to say for sure. In very broad terms, you would be looking to do maintenance or repairs/re-upholstery on an antique sofa about every 20 years depending on the level of use. The webbing eventually stretches and the burlap wears out. Worn stuffing does eventually build up a thick layer of dust/debris inside.

      If it's actually wood wool (which a wood strips) then I'm not really aware of those ever being coated or dyed with anything. You may need to do some research. Anything is possible.

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  43. Hi there,
    Great article! I've purchased an old French bed with padded head- and footboard. The filling was completely done with straw or hay (looked mostly like hay, tbh). Unfortunately, there were bugs living in it, and I had to remove it. With what can I best replace it with, and how do I prevent this new material (most likely straw) from being infested with bugs?

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    1. If the existing stuffing had insects, I can only assume it was poorly stored in an attic, basement, or garage. New stuffing is up to you. I would use straw again (fresh material) or cotton, but cotton may be more expensive, and won't give the same feel. It's really up to you.

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  44. Hi, I just picked up an ottoman at a thrift store. 18"x18"x12"high. No legs, but they might have been taken off. Covering looks like vinyl. When I went to replace the bottom base, found this piece to be "wood panelling" that I'm sure is from the 60's/70's, and underneath, found wood wool. Thinking the covering might be naughahyde but don't know. The wood wool is all clean, no odour with the wood wool but the covering even after a thorough cleaning smells like its been in Grammy's house awhile. Is this salvageable? Can I get this odour out? Thanks!

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  45. Hi i've just acquired a chaise long that needs some TLC. I've never done upholstery before but looking forward to the challenge. The top layer of stuffing is a black coarse winery material then there is some hessian which is not got good then a layer of i think horse hair that's is also breaking down. Can you advise me what, if any, is the best materials to use. Many thanks Anne

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    1. The hessian (burlap) is usually replaced during upholstery. The spring may benefit from being re-tied. I would always advise to reuse the materials, unless they are so broken down that they are turning to dust. If the materials are quite dusty, they can be shaken out or vacuumed. Alternatively the materials can be replaced (like for like) but layering and padding of the layers takes years of practice to get just right without lumps and bumps. I'm not sure what your "coarse black winery" (wiry?) material on the top is. The very top layer is usually always cotton. It could be a form of felt? If it's felt padding it tends to be multicoloured though, and made from bits of shredded/recycled cotton. Otherwise it sounds like more horse hair, but that would normally be under cotton and a rough cover (thin cotton fabric).

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  46. I found what looks like pine needles in a piano stool. Any idea on the date?

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  47. I have recently bought a chair. After taking the light blue velvet off, I see a horsehair batting and burlap. Very cool would love to send a pic if youre interested. Im excited.

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  48. Hi, my dining chairs are from 1974 and there's an orange powder that leaks from them. Any idea what that could be?

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    1. Yep, that would be the foam starting to disintegrate.

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  49. I have taken a "chaise" apart that was torn up by cat scratching and found what looks like not straw exactly but pine needles (like what comes off a pine tree). I saw an upholstery video on washing moss to reuse and was surprised that could be done. Can I or should I even- try to wash the pine needle stuffing before reusing? There is alot of "dust" but looks to be still viable to reuse. I gather from other posts above that you recommend reusing material if possible. So I am going to apply new webbing and try to tie the springs down. The frame itself isn't in great shape and the wood working is beyond my skill, so this is more just a learning project. Other questions: just wanted to confirm I should reuse the stuffing and cotton batting to the extent possible? In terms of tools, what's your thoughts on using a staple gun instead of tacks and hammer for securing the springs. I assume that would be easier. Also, what kind of needle should I use to secure the springs to the webbing. (I heard on a video 3 inches and the guy was using a straight needle but I seem to find mostly curved needles on the internet). I was going to reuse the springs. Any problem with that? (This wont be used much for actual sitting more for decoration). Thanks very much for any advice. Margaret

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    1. Hi Margaret, I have not heard of pine needles used as stuffing. Some materials can be washed, some can simply be fluffed or vacuumed, and some can re replaced. All depends what you want out of the finished chair. If the upper cotton padding is very soiled it can be replaced or partially replaced with new cotton padding. For sewing the springs, any needle can be used as long as it fits the cord you're using. It can be a carpet needle, tapestry needle, curved needle, or one of the giant 10 inch upholstery needles. Whatever works. For staples VS tacks for spring ties, as long as they are firmly anchored, either will work. Springs last nearly forever so they tend to only be replaced when they are either incorrect (type or height) or broken.

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  50. Just stripped a beautiful antique sofa. I would like to reuse the horsehair, but The guts of this thing smell awful. Is there any way to clean or deodorize the horsehair? I assume the cotton should be replaced as it would fall apart if washed?

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  51. Hi Have just finished stripping this chaise lounge. Am planning on keeping all the original stuffing if possible.( mixture of horse hair and straw? I have washed the bottom layer of stuffing from the back of the chaise. and the same from the arm (horsehair). got rid of a lot of dust and dirt. hand washed a few times then quick spin in washing machine.put it all inside a pillow case and machine sewed it closed before spinning. . came out great . teased it all out on a plastic cloth and left to dry overnight
    1. the top stuffjng that makes the curved back is sewn in layers and I don't want to take them apart but really need to clean this piece.. any suggestions?
    2. there is a rectangular layered piece that goes on the seat below the fabric also sewn in layers of different types of stuffing . ? how to clean it ?
    3. there is a sausage shaped stuffed layered piece that goes around the edge of the chaise. any idea how to clean it ? I would struggle to put it all back together. looks very intricate sewing and really want to keep the original if possible
    I've added a few pics of the various stages of removing the fabric, stuffing etc any help will be greatly received
    do you think this is an old chaise?

    how do I send the photos ?

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  52. Hi there! My church is considering reupholstering 100-year horse hair filled pew cushions rather than buying new ones. If we reupholster, shouldn't the horse hair be cleaned? Who cleans horse hair cushions? What are your thoughts? I appreciate your help!!

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