How do you clean upholstered fabric?

We all know you can use a vacuum to clean upholstered fabric, but it’s not ideal, nor is it always effective. There are many other ways to clean your upholstered furniture. It will make the process more efficient and do a better job of cleaning your fabric. Here are some tips to help you do a better job of cleaning upholstered fabric.

Whether you have a couch, chair or a bed in your home, you want to keep it in pristine condition. Unfortunately, upholstered furniture is a real challenge to keep clean, especially if you have pets, kids, or a messy lifestyle. This is especially true if the fabric is stained, has food particles, or is otherwise not that clean. It also helps to have a great upholstery cleaner.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming is an excellent option to effectively clean upholstery. Many people enjoy the benefits of this method because it offers a friendly alternative to rejuvenating your fabric-based furniture. It is both a simple and easy task to complete. When cleaning your vacuum, the key is to suck out all the dirt. We want to grab hold of the upholstery attachment and set it to a minimum.

This will be important to handle delicate fabric. When vacuuming the upholstery, ensure that you only use short strokes. We want to apply a sustained amount of pressure to a surface when using this method. Combining short strokes with this technique will increase both heat and suction. It is best for materials that are well known to hoard dirt more than others. This includes suede, velvet and corduroy.

Spot Cleaning

Cleaning spots off upholstered fabric requires a little bit of investigation. Most different types of furniture will have cleaning codes that will offer you premium advice on the best way you can handle any spots that have appeared on the fabric. It will tell you the different stains that you can easily clean with something as simple as water. However, what is expected is that with all the types of fabric that have been upholstered. 

In this situation, you must do a simple spot test on only part of the fabric that is not easily visible to you or any visitors. It would help if you tried to clean this spot with either water, vodka or vinegar. It is always advisable to go down this road before using any heavier chemicals, as these can lead to discolouration.

Steam clean the fabric

Steam cleaning upholstered fabric is a safe way to go about the procedure. This is because it is unlikely that water will harm any delicate fabrics. The steam works very well because it heats up and loosens the dirt particles until they can be easily brushed off or vacuumed out.

If you have a steam cleaner, then this is a convenient time to bring it out. Steam the stain for five seconds at a time and then dab it with a clean cloth to pull off the dirt. If you are currently not in the position of a steam cleaner and a minimal surface needs to be cleaned, you can try using your iron. Irons have a steam function that is also quite powerful.

Professional Cleaning

The professional cleaning of upholstered fabric is reasonably necessary sometimes, especially if you have the budget available. This is something that you can consider doing after an extended period, such as once every year. This is because the amount of work and consideration involved in deep cleaning your upholstery it’s pretty significant.

You will have to be very aware of any microorganisms that could be living deep within the fabric. Professional cleaning is recommended for upholstery that is used by a lot of people. Office furniture in the waiting room at a doctor’s office is an excellent example of this. Upholstered fabric such as this will often not suffice with just surface cleaning. Professional cleaners have the necessary equipment and solvents to bring your upholstered furniture back to a brand new state.

Best methods for keeping your upholstery clean

  • Vacuum and Dust the fabric.

It is good that you make an effort to clean the fabric once every two weeks to prevent it from getting very dusty and dirty, and this will lessen the cleaning workload and improve the hygiene of your home/office. 

  • Rotate the cushions

This is an effective way to spread out the time in between cleanings for your upholstered fabric. If one section of your cushions has become dirty, it is OK to flip it to the other side. Doing this will mean that you can clean the entire cushion when it is time to clean instead of dealing with the dirty side.

  • Regularly apply a fabric protector.

A fabric protector is an excellent way to go to maintain and clean your upholstery. It becomes beneficial in the long term when you notice that slight discolouration has taken place in your fabric. It will also become conductive when it is time to clean. Instead of the dirt forming directly on the fabric’s surface, it will begin to start on the cleaner. When it is time to clean, all you have to do is steam and wipe the fabric protector with the dirt, and it will come off.

Can I put upholstery in the washing machine?

Some items of upholstery can go into the washing machine whilst some cannot. To make this distinction, you must go and check the instructions placed on the upholstery sticker. This information will often contain critical indicators on what temperatures the fabric can handle before discolouration takes place.

If it says that you can place the upholstery in the washing machine, then be sure to adhere to the temperatures prescribed. If the upholsters you have purchased do not have this indication, it is best to know what kind of material you’re dealing with before trying.

How can I clean my fabric sofa naturally?

One of the best recipes that you can use to clean your sofa naturally is also one of the most effective. You will need about 1/4 cup of vinegar, a three-quarter cup of warm water and one tablespoon of dish soap. When putting this concoction together, place it within a spray bottle and ensure that you lightly glaze over the soiled area.

You should notice that the dirt should become looser within a few minutes, and you will be able to scrub this off with a soft cloth. This option is the one that you should start with before you move on to any heavy chemicals. This natural mixture can often deal with common house stains.

Elissa Smith
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