Simple Upholstery Cleaning Tips For Everyday Homeowners

Simple Upholstery Cleaning Tips For Everyday Homeowners was originally seen on: Refresh Rug Cleaning Blog

Everyone enjoys the look and feel of upholstered furniture, but cleaning it is another story. Dirt and filth like to cling to upholstery making it look unpleasant and less alluring. The natural bright colours can become dull and dingy, and clouds of dust float up each time you sit down. Not thoughts that you want when you are trying to sit and relax.

It is difficult to keep dirt away from upholstered furniture, and ends up being a task that becomes many people’s worst nightmare. Even when care is taken not to spill anything on the couch or chairs, dirt and dust will always settle there. There is no need to get rid of your expensive couch because there are a few tested and approved ways that effectively clean your furniture. These upholstery cleaning tips below can be utilized by just about anyone in any home.

1. The type of fabric:

Cleaning processes vary according to fabric type. The upholstery of a common store chair will be different than that of an antique heirloom. If you are not sure what type of fabric has been used, it is advised to check with the manufacturer to discuss cleaning methods.

Most pieces of furniture do come with letters on them to decode the cleaning methods required. A ‘W’ usually means water based cleaning products have to be used. An ‘S’ coding requires cleaning by a professional only. When ‘WS’ codes are used, then you have a choice to clean it yourself or use a professional. A code of ‘X” is important because it means you can only use vacuums and no detergents or solvents.

2. Vacuum before cleaning:

The best thing to do before any cleaning is to vacuum, this moves a large portion of settled dirt and dust. When dirt is left to settle over long periods of time, it can damage the material once it gets wet. Most vacuums have upholstery attachments to make it easy to reach all the crevices in your furniture.

3. Time is of the essence:

When it comes to fresh spills, time is critical. Before letting a spill spread and soak into the fabric, it should be dealt with as soon as possible. If left unattended, it will be harder to clean. Use a cloth to blot at the surface of the spill which will help to keep the spill under control and easier to clean. It is important to remember never to scrub the cloth as this could damage the material and push the liquid further in.

4. Seek professional help:

Many people simply do not have the time or skills to appropriately clean upholstery. There is a lot of information to know; extensive selections of available solvents and cleaners combined with the number of possible fabrics make it hard for the average person know how to clean. The best solution is to avoid the headache and potential damage to your furniture and consult a professional upholstery cleaning company for advice or to just do the job for you.

source http://refreshcarpetclean.com/?p=2718