Fabrics - How To Clean Your Upholstery

You’ve just bought a brand-new set for your living room, and everybody loves it. A beautiful piece of furniture will add definition to any home and lighten up the place, but it also needs to be cleaned and taken care of properly, otherwise you will have a grungy, scruffy couch squatting in the middle of your living room before long. There are a few basic steps that everyone can follow to make sure that your furniture will look great and last long enough for everyone to enjoy.

Basically, you just have to remember two general rules for cleaning upholstery. Loose dirt and stains are the two most common culprits in dirtying your furniture, so knowing how to deal with these two will allow you to clean them up easily and painlessly. Cleaning up loose dirt can easily be done by vacuuming or just brushing away the dirt. You have to do this as soon as possible, though, before the dirt gets embedded in the fabric. Stains and spills can be dealt with by using a dry cloth to wipe them away and soak up the liquid.

But the best way to learn about proper cleaning of upholstery, however, is to first learn the cleaning codes. There are individual cleaning methods recommended for each type of fabric, so you have to know what they are. There should be cleaning codes in one of the tags attached to your furniture, so try to look for them. If there are no codes, you can always try spot-cleaning an inconspicuous area of the furniture first, to test for compatibility. There are four cleaning codes currently used by the upholstery industry. I will tell you about them, as well as the recommended procedures related to each code.

W – Vacuuming and light dusting are recommended. Remember to use only water-based cleaners or foam from mild detergents.

S – Vacuuming and light dusting are recommended. Use water-free cleaning solvents or dry-cleaning solutions for spot cleaning. Avoid using products with carbon tetrachloride. Use a soft cloth and clean the upholstery in a well-ventilated area. Getting the services of a professional cleaner is also recommended.

WS – This is quite easy, since you can practically use any of the recommended methods above. Make sure to work in a well-ventilated area if you’re using solvents or dry-cleaning products. Avoid products with carbon tetrachloride.

X – Vacuuming and light dusting only. Do not use liquid cleaning agents of any kind. Using water-based cleaners or solvents may cause shrinking or damage the appearance of the upholstery.

Use the arm rest and headrest covers for your furniture if you have them. They can prevent body oils and other dirt from staining your furniture. Flip over any removable cushions you have once a month to even out any wear and tear. It would be nice if you could give your furniture a thorough cleaning at least every two to three months, to keep them looking fresh and clean.