When your goal is to keep the furniture in your home looking great for as long as possible, upholstery cleaning will be required from time to time. Spills, stains and spots will show up on upholstery no matter how hard you try. The good news is, there are methods for cleaning your furniture on your own that almost anyone can use.
Related: How to Properly Remove Pet Urine From Your Carpets
Knowing how to clean upholstery, including what products and solutions are okay to use can help you stay ahead of the game when it comes to keeping your furniture fresh and clean. Here are a few tips:
Before Using Cleaning Solutions…
The first step in cleaning your upholstery is to vacuum it. This helps to remove dirt and dust which can only make things worse when you start applying wet solutions. Be sure you vacuum all of the cracks and crevices as well as each cushion.
You’ll also want to remove as much pet hair as possible. If your vacuum doesn’t seem to be able to do this on its own, you may want to try another type of pet hair remover.
For Fresh Spills…
If a spill has just happened, be sure you do whatever you can to soak up the spill as quickly as possible. The last thing you want is for that spill to soak into your furniture anymore than it already has. Be careful not to run or scrub the spill, but simply blot or soak up the liquid with a dry cloth or paper towel. This helps to lessen the spread of the stain and can also prevent bacteria growth.
Safe Cleaners to Use…
When it comes to choosing the right product or solution for cleaning your upholstery, it largely depends on what type of fabric the upholstery is made of and what type of spill or stain has occurred. There are many types of fabrics that are used in upholstery, including cotton, wool, silk, linen and acrylic to name a few. Fortunately, the furniture industry has created a universal code to help you know what cleaning solution to use:
· W – Clean upholstery with a water-based detergent
· S – Use a water free product, such as a dry-cleaning solvent
· WS – Either a water-based cleaner or water-free cleaner can be used depending on the stain.
· X – This upholstery must be professionally cleaned. You can vacuum and brush it, but never use any type of cleaner.
These codes can be found on the upholstery tags that can usually be found hanging in an inconspicuous place somewhere on the piece of furniture.
If you are ever worried or having second thoughts about how to clean a piece of furniture, don’t hesitate to give Dr Chem Dry a call. We’ll gladly pass on our advice.
