Upholstery care

Question 12 "I’ve seen many tables with cracked vinyl - what causes this, and how can I avoid it happening to my table?"
Answer. Vinyl is by nature a stiff product that is made soft and pliable by the addition of plasticisers. These plasticisers can migrate out of the vinyl due to a number of factors. If the vinyl does not have sufficient UV inhibitors, then the harsh Australian sunlight can rapidly dry out the plasticisers and cause the vinyl to crack. Quality vinyls are specially designed to cope with the Australian climate and many of them are actually used in the manufacture of boat cushions. Even so, it is best not to leave any table exposed to prolonged sunlight such as on the back seat of a car on a hot day.
The other main factor causing vinyl to crack is lack of attention to cleaning the table after use. Body oils, perspiration, and massage oil residues will all draw the plasticisers out of the vinyl if they are allowed to dry on it. The damage may be imperceptible at first, but with time the vinyl will be irreparably damaged. There are also certain chemicals and solvents that damage vinyl, however if you follow the vinyl manufacturers care instructions you are unlikely to have a problem.
The answer to cracked vinyl is to firstly ensure that you purchase a quality table that is manufactured with vinyl suited to Australia’s climate, and secondly to ensure that the vinyl is cleaned properly and regularly. The simple cleaning instruction is to use a pH neutral cleaning product such as the yellow laundry soaps, e.g. Sunlight, Velvet or Preservene (or the specially designed treatment table cleaning solutions that are pH neutral). The table should be thoroughly washed down with warm soapy water, paying particular attention to the face hole where oils and perspiration tend to build up, rinsed off, and then towelled dry. Water does not damage vinyl in any way. Stubborn stains can be removed with a soft bristle brush. Alternatively there are some completely neutral, natural vinyl cleaners that can be used. Check with the table or vinyl manufacturer for details on removing specific stains. Insist on getting vinyl maintenance instructions at the time you purchase your table. Reputable table manufacturers will give you this information as part of their service, without having to be asked! A high quality fully fitted towelling cover (particularly the type with the in-built draped section to protect the face hole), is an essential element in extending the life of the vinyl on your table. Thin "terry towelling" covers, although cheaper than proper pure cotton bathrobe quality towelling covers, are a complete waste of time, since massage and body oils penetrate straight through them. You would be better off using normal bath towels than these inferior products. The suitability of your protective towelling will have a big impact on how frequently you need to thoroughly clean your table. With minimum protection you should probably clean it at the end of each day’s use. With maximum protection you may be able to go for a couple of weeks even in a very heavy-use environment.
Remember the vinyl is normally the only part of the table not covered by the table manufacturer’s warranty, so it pays to look after it. Clean it regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions and never use your table for any modality without the protection of a quality towelling cover (or at least thick bath towels that fully cover the table). Don’t assume that because you work in a modality where no massage oil is used (e.g. medical practitioner, reiki, chiropractic or shiatsu, etc.) that your table does not require regular cleaning or the use of a cover. Human body oils, perspiration, etc. are still deposited on the table, and will eventually cause vinyl degradation if the table is not protected and cleaned regularly.
[Q12.2] Vinyl Colour
Some manufacturers of tables offer a very limited range of colour choices. Colour is very much a personal decision but a few observations can be made. Physiotherapists and beauticians tend to choose white as their first preference. Chiropractors and doctors like black.
Many bodywork practitioners choose soft muted colours and those who have studied colour therapy often choose shades of green (which is considered to be a healing colour). Green is in fact, the most popular overall colour by a wide margin.
It can be said that the very light colours do tend to get "grubby" looking much easier than the darker shades, but this is easily overcome by regular cleaning and/or the use of a towelling cover. Having the dirt show up clearly on a lighter table is often a good prompt to clean the table more regularly!
This is one area where we cannot give you a definitive answer. Colour is a very personal matter!