Since upholstery on furniture is a fabric, it is susceptible to damage caused by oil from skin, dust, food, spills, pets, hair, and a myriad of other common environmental grime. Therefore, after a while, it may start to look unsightly. Rather than calling in a professional furniture andupholstery cleaning service, you may be able to do things yourself, assuming the conditions are right. This can end up saving you a lot of money.
However, before you decide to do it yourself, you will have to check the label on whatever you’re about to clean. This may be located on the bottom, or under a cushion. Look for the code on the label. If it says W, that means “water based” cleaning is necessary. S means “solvent based.” WS, is, you guessed it, “water or solvent.” However, if you see X that means that professional upholstery cleaning is needed.
Assuming there isn’t an X, by following the instructions in this article, you’ll be well on your way to having a fresh piece of furniture that your friends, family, or colleagues won’t feel gross sitting on.
Preventative Cleaning
The best method is to preempt having to do a thorough cleaning at all. By making sure that your upholstery is well maintained in the first place, this will ultimately save you a lot of time and effort. A simple wipe down once a week can do wonders.
The Best Way to Clean Furniture of Dirt
Using an upholstery attachment on your vacuum, suck up the first layer of dirt. Make sure to do this in a uniformed, controlled way, so that you hit all spots. If there are hard to reach nooks or crannies, you can switch to an appropriate attachment. While you are refreshing and cleaning your furniture, another cleaning project to consider is your windows. Our post of window cleaning may help answer some of your questions.
Cleaning Furniture with A W or WS Code
Assuming you have a W or WS designation, fill a container with semi-warm water, and add a little bit of dish detergent. Using a soft brush, carefully go over the entire surface. Pay special attention to not let the water pool, as you want it to dry fast when finished. This pooling could cause color to fade, or, worse, mold and mildew to grow.
After applying the soapy water, use a moist cloth to remove excess soap. Make sure to let it dry in the air entirely before use.
Although tempting, you may want to apply external heat, like with a hairdryer. This is ill advised, as this could warp the fabric. A good substitute is to use a fan, or open a window. If you have cushions, make sure to do one side at a time, as you don’t want the side facing down to be less exposed.
Cleaning Furniture with An S Code
If the code on your cushion, or underneath the piece has an S, you should only use solvents to clean it. If you use a process like the one above, you will probably damage it. A good dry cleaning solvent can be found at most department stores.
Before cleaning, you will want to make sure there is good airflow wherever you are working. Get a rag, and add the dry cleaning solvent to it. Then start gently brushing over the affected areas on your upholstery. Pro tip: use a soft-bristled brush to work the solvent deeper into more affected areas. Wait until it is fully dried before use.
Cleaning Furniture of Stains
The longer you leave a stain after a spill, the greater chance you have of it sticking. Therefore, right as this happens, make sure you get yourself a clean rag. Wet said rag, and start blotting. Make sure not to rub, as this will move the stain deeper into the fibers of the fabric. Once you have blotted away as much of the stain as possible, you may have to employ a dry cleaning solvent, or whatever is code approved for the fabric to remove it. If the stain is serious, you can rent, or buy a spot cleaner. However, if the code on your furniture is W or WS, you can use the W or WS method above to remove the stain. Repeat this process of blotting, spot cleaning, and drying, until the spot is removed. However, if this problem persists, it may be time to hire an upholstery cleaning service.