When you’re doing your spring cleaning, don’t forget your upholstered furniture. Even if you are the solo resident of your apartment, sofas, recliners, side chairs, and cushions accumulate dust and dirt from everyday wear and tear. And if you have a pet and/or kids or eat on the sofa in front of the TV (who doesn’t?) you’ll also have pet hair and stray food crumbs and stains to deal with. Here are some tips for keeping your upholstered furnishings clean, smelling fresh, and looking brand new.
Vacuuming and brushing
For woven fabrics, you can use a brush or lint roller to get rid of loose pet and human hair and a vacuum with the upholstery attachment to remove surface dirt and dust. If you come across any dried food stains, gently scrape them off with the back of a butter knife or spoon. Next, use the crevice attachment of your vacuum cleaner to get between and underneath seat cushions.
Before you use any type of cleaner, it’s important to read the fabric code on the label or manufacturer’s guide, which will clue you into the type of cleaning products that will clean the upholstery fabric without damaging it. One important note is to always test whatever product you are using on an area of the furniture where it won’t show, such as underneath a cushion, to observe how the fabric dye reacts to the cleaner and doesn’t bleach, fade, or run. Use a damp cloth to thoroughly wipe or blot away any excess cleaning product and allow the fabric to completely dry.
Upholstery Codes
W = Water. Use water or a water-based cleaner to spot clean. Examples of “W” fabrics include synthetics such as polyester, nylon, acetate, and olefin. If seat cushions have covers that can be removed and machine washed, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
S = Solvent
Don’t use water, and clean your upholstery with a solvent-based solution such as acetone, methanol, or a dry-cleaning solution. Examples of “S” fabrics include natural fibers such as cotton, denim, rayon, linen, silk, wool, velour, and damask. (For delicate and/or expensive fabrics that are heavily soiled, it’s best to leave the cleaning to a professional)
S/W = Solvent and/or water
X = Do not use solvents or water-based products such as foam cleaners or sprays. Only use a dry cloth or brush and vacuum to clean these fabrics.
Upholstery-cleaning products can be found at hardware and big box stores and plenty of companies offer non-chemical, non-toxic solutions. If you want to make your own upholstery cleaner, you can find plenty of recipes online or mix ¼ cup of dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of water and use an electric mixer to beat it until the mixture thickens and is foamy. Apply it as you would a commercial upholstery cleaner.
A special note about leather/pleather
These surfaces usually need only dusting and vacuuming but if you find stains, they can be carefully removed with a solution of very mild soap and water to spot-treat the stain. Make sure to thoroughly dry the spot.
You can extend the life of your upholstered furniture by spraying it with a fabric protectant that will repel liquids and also use a special fabric refresh spray to remove lingering odors. One more tip is to not place your furniture in areas where it continually receives direct sunlight, as it will fade the fabric and can damage leather/pleather.
Your furniture is an investment and it’s well worth the effort to keep it clean and well-maintained, so it lasts for as long as you wish to keep it.
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