Martindale and Wyzenbeek
Everyone picks a fabric based on colour and feel. Fair enough, it's the fun part. But there's one number that tells you whether your new sofa will still look good in five years, or start showing wear in five months: the rub count.
What is a "rub count"?
It's a durability score. Labs test fabric by rubbing it thousands of times with a machine until the threads start to break. The more rubs it survives, the tougher it is.
There are two testing methods you'll come across, Martindale and Wyzenbeek. They use different machines and different motions, so their numbers aren't directly comparable, but both tell you the same basic thing: how long your fabric will last under everyday use.
The numbers that matter
Martindale rating:
- 20,000 rubs: good for everyday residential use
- 30,000+ rubs: commercial-grade, built for heavy traffic
Wyzenbeek rating:
- 15,000-20,000 double rubs: good for everyday residential use
- 40,000+ double rubs: commercial-grade
If you have kids, pets, or a sofa that gets used daily (let's be honest, most of us), aim for the higher end of these ranges. If it's a formal lounge room that sees light use, you can comfortably go lower.
Why this matters more than the colour
A beautiful fabric with a low rub count will pill, thin out, and look tired within a year or two. A fabric with a strong rub count, even in a more understated colour, will still look sharp years down the track.
The takeaway
Before you fall in love with a fabric, ask one of our team for its Martindale or Wyzenbeek rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the difference between a sofa that looks great for years and one that needs replacing sooner than you'd like.