Tips on Keeping your Upholstered Furniture Clean
So you’ve made a big purchase of some new upholstered furniture pieces and you’ll proudly show them off for the holidays. But now it’s time to take a few simple steps to make sure your investment stands up to the test of time. There are some easy things you can do to keep your upholstered furniture clean and looking new. We’ve put together a simple guide for you to implement into your weekly, monthly and seasonal cleaning rituals.
Vacuum – When clients ask me what’s the best thing to keep their new furniture looking great they don’t expect me to say vacuum it, but it’s true! (Yes, that’s what those little accessory tools were that came with your vacuum are for :). Regularly vacuuming your furniture is the easiest way to keep your furniture clean. Don’t skimp - take the cushions off and vacuum all sides. If you have microfiber, give it a brushing before you vacuum, as this will loosen any dirt that may be there.
Check the tags on the furniture. First, read the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning. If your furniture needs a solvent-based cleaner, you’ll want to purchase and utilize that; if your furniture calls for water-based cleaner, you can easily make that at home. Below are some common codes you may see on your tags:
W - Use water-based detergent.
S - Clean with a water-free product, like dry cleaning solvent.
WS - Either a water-based cleaner or a water-free cleaner is appropriate.
X - Professionally cleaning only, though feel free to vacuum it.
If your fabric calls for a water-based cleaner you can actually create your own using water and few drops a dishwashing liquid like Dawn. Fill a spray bottle with water, then add the dish detergent. For odors, you can add a pinch of baking soda or a little vinegar. Make sure you test your mixture on a spot that is not seen, under the bottom, or deck, etc. This way you can make sure it won’t visibly damage or discolor your furniture. If you are unsure, always have a professional clean your furniture.
Use a damp sponge when dealing with stains. You can use the same cleaner mentioned above, taking more time on the stained area with a sponge and then patting the stained area dry. You can let the detergent sit on the stain to soak in before sponging.
Clean up spills and stains immediately. Instead of dealing with the stain a week or two later, you will get better results if you tend to any dirt or spills immediately. Norwex is a great all-natural product that I use and keep readily available for those instances.
Don’t’ be fooled into thinking the newer “performance fabrics” don’t require any maintenance. You should still vacuum regularly and blot up spills quickly!
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