Upholstered furniture is no exemption from taking a lot of wear and tear. Mistakes like spills and stains happen even if you are extra careful. You do not have to restrict food and things that cause the furniture to be dirty. You just need to know what to do when there are discolouration or stain marks. Here are some tips you need to know about upholstery cleaning that will help you keep furniture longevity for years to come.
Vacuum Your Furniture Often
First and foremost tip, vacuum your upholstered furniture often. Aside from affecting the appearance of the furniture, dirt can also cause fabric fibres to wear out. Hence, you must invest in a good upholstery vacuum cleaner to loosen dried-up dirt. Vacuum at least once a week and use the crevice tool to access hard-to-reach spots and ensure that no dust is missed. Regularly vacuuming your furniture prevents dirt and crud from penetrating the fibres and ruining them.
Use Baby Wipes For A Quick Clean
Baby wipes are unexpectedly effective for a quick upholstery cleaning. These wipes offer a gentle soap and water solution with little moisture, making them great for leather, cotton, or polyester. Keep a pack in the living room so that spills may be cleaned up right away. They are also ideal for spot-cleaning carpets since the stains from spills and drips get removed before they even set.
Learn the Fabric Cleaning Codes
One of the best ways to clean your upholstered furniture properly is to refer to your fabric sofa’s label for its cleaning code. You must consider four (4) cleaning codes: W, S, W/S, and X.
W: Water-based Cleaning
Fabric sofas with this cleaning code are simple to clean as you will only need water-based cleaners or just water. You can remove the cushion covers and wash them according to the instructions. For spot cleaning, use a brush together with the water-based cleaner and clean directly onto the stain without over-wetting it.
S: Solvent-based Cleaning
Only solvent-based cleaners (e.g., alcohol) or dry cleaning products can be used for cleaning the fabric sofa. Ensure that the room is properly ventilated and stay away from open flames before using non-water-based solvents.
W/S: Water- or Solvent-based Cleaning
It is a combination of the first two cleaning codes. W/S indicates that water- and solvent-based cleaners can be used in cleaning. For spot cleaning, you can use upholstery shampoo, mild dry cleaning solvent, or mild detergent.
X: Neither; Vacuum or light brushing only
It indicates that you can only clean the furniture or sofa by light brushing or vacuuming as they are not suitable to be cleaned with water- or solvent-based cleaners. Also, they are the most challenging to maintain.
Consider a Fabric Protector
Prevent stains on upholstered furniture by applying a fabric protector if it does not come pretreated with one. If your furniture was already treated, ask the manufacturer how long it will last so you will know when to reapply to retain its stain-fighting powers. Maximise the life of your furniture by keeping it treated to repel stains.
Avoid Water-Based Approach As Much As Possible
Other people believe that the more water you use, the better. This only sometimes serves to be true. Try specially formulated solvent spot removers and upholstery sprays, as they work well on stains. But if you are more on a water-based approach, use it sparingly.
Do Not Scrub
Do not scrub your upholstered furniture if you are dealing with tough stains. Doing so could push the stain further into the fibres, damaging the fabric. Let the stain remover set, and then you can gently blot it away using a soft, microfibre cloth instead of a bristle brush or a coarse fabric. Use a soft brush to loosen the fibres if they are stiff after cleaning.
Try Hand Vacuums & Furniture Brushes For Pet Hair
Put on rubber gloves and run them over the furniture to remove pet hair. The static created pulls the hair off to the edge, where you can easily vacuum it. You can also mix water and a few drops of fabric softener. Spray the solution onto the furniture and wipe the hair with a cloth. Furniture brushes and hand vacuums are also effective in removing fur from upholstery as they are designed for pet hair.
Tips for Removing Stains and Spots
You have better chances of removing a spot or a stain if you treat them immediately. You can treat it by blotting using a microfibre cloth. Try these tips for removing stains from upholstered furniture:
- For general upholstery stains, gently dab a club soda with a clean cloth. A mixture of mild dish soap and water will do the trick, or leave a little vinegar to sit for about 15 to 20 minutes before blotting with water.
- For grease or oil stains, sprinkle with salt and dab it with soap and water after several minutes. Alternatively, rubbing alcohol can be used.
- For coffee stains, blot with water, vinegar, and a small dish soap.
- For crayon stains, dab with non-gel toothpaste and rinse with water.
- For blood stains, blot with hydrogen peroxide and water.
Conclusion
Upholstery is an essential aspect of your home decor. However, upholstery accumulates dirt and stains over time, taking away its shine and freshness. Detergents and stain removers can damage the upholstery if incompatible with the fabric. A professional upholstery cleaning service eliminates stains by utilising specialised procedures and products, making your upholstery look new again for less than the cost of replacement.
