Upholstery is the main element of any seating furniture. It adds to the beauty, improves the functionality, and makes the furniture piece more comfortable. So, it is the most crucial element for the furniture. Like other interior elements, upholstery also gets dirty and stained. Meanwhile, many fabric upholstery also accumulate allergens with time. This will ultimately cause problems for asthmatic patients.
For this purpose, cleaning the upholstery is very important. The most common question people ask is how to clean upholstery. This article is for you if you are also looking for the same answer. This blog will explain the cleaning method for sofas and chair upholstery. Meanwhile, we also explain mistakes to avoid during the process. So, let’s get started.
Significance Of Deep Cleaning The Upholstery
Before directly addressing the concern of how to deep clean upholstery, you must know its importance. Check out some of these points below.
Improve The Hygiene
Cleaning the upholstery will remove mites, dust, allergens, and bacteria. This practice can reduce the chances of respiratory issues and allergies by up to 30%. Additionally, it can also reduce the smell that mostly comes after spills. The upholstery cleaning lessens the chances of mold and mildew growth that can usually happen due to excess moisture and organic matter.
Enhance The Appearance
If you want to make your furniture look new again without spending much money, cleaning the upholstery will help. Deep cleaning will remove stains, dirt, and grime from the furniture, ultimately making it look cleaner and elegant. A fresh look for furniture can optimize the style of your house.
Extend The Furniture Life
Deep cleaning of the upholstery every 25 to 30 days will help reduce the wear and tear of the fabric and structure. This will allow you to enjoy the furniture’s functionality for more than 20 years easily.
How To Clean Upholstery Yourself- Comprehensive Guide
There are mainly two types of upholstery. The first one is fabric upholstery, designed primarily using wool, cotton, silk, etc. Meanwhile, the second type is luxury leather upholstery. Fabric upholstery is a bit cheaper than leather. The cleaning method of both of these upholstery is different. So, it is crucial to know what you are working with. Let’s start our learning with the cleaning method for fabric upholstery.
Deep Cleaning The Fabric Upholstery
Here is the easiest method for cleaning fabric upholstery. Follow all the steps carefully to avoid any hassle.
Material Required:
First of all, let’s check out the materials that are required for the process.
- Vacuum Cleaner
- White Vinegar
- Water
- Detergent
- Soft Fabric-Cleaning Brush
- Clean Cloths
- Dry Towel
- Bucket or Bowl
Step-By-Step Guide
- The first step in cleaning fabric upholstery is vacuuming all the debris and dust from the furniture. This practice prepares the upholstery for deep cleaning to remove stains and spills.
- Here is the pro tip for vacuuming the dust: Attach the brush attachment to the vacuum cleaner. Now remove the dust from the seams, crevices, under cushions, between buttons, armrests, and backrest corners.
- Must clean the upholstery first if it has any stains. To this end, take a bowl and mix an equal amount of water and white vinegar. Soak the stain in this solution for 10 to 15 minutes. After that time, blot it thoroughly.
- At this stage, we are ready to deep clean the upholstery. To make the cleaning solution, mix the detergent and warm water until they form a homogeneous mixture.
- Use a fabric cleaning brush with soft bristles and dip it in the cleaning solution. Scrub the upholstery with the brush in a circular motion.
- Now, use a wet cloth to rinse the upholstery thoroughly. After thoroughly rinsing, use a dry towel to remove the excess moisture from the upholstery.
- Turn on the fans and open all the windows to let the furniture upholstery dry completely.
Deep Cleaning The Leather Upholstery
The cleaning method for leather upholstery is different from that for fabric upholstery. If you have furniture with leather upholstery, follow this method.
Material Required:
These are some tools and supplies that you will need to deep clean the leather upholstery.
- Vacuum Cleaner (with brush attachment)
- White Vinegar
- Water
- Leather Cleaner
- Clean Cloths (for dampening and wiping)
- Leather Conditioner
Step-By-Step Guide
- The first step is the same as for fabric upholstery. You need to vacuum the dust from all the furniture surfaces thoroughly with the brush attachment.
- Here, you have the choice of using a DIY cleaning solution or a leather cleaner available in the market.
- To make the DIY cleaner, mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in an equal amount of water in a bowl.
- Use a clean piece of cloth and dip it in the cleaning solution. Now, wipe the leather upholstery with it. Clean the upholstery in small segments, making sure not to soak the leather.
- Use a towel and clean the moisture from the leather upholstery.
- When the leather upholstery is fully dry, apply the leather conditioner. It will help to keep the upholstery shiny and clean.
How To Clean The Sofa Upholstery?
The sofa is a widely used piece of furniture in any living space. Due to its wide use, its upholstery gets stained. Here is a step-wise guide to clean sofa upholstery.
- First, remove the covers from your sofas and wash them. This will help you clean the sofa upholstery efficiently.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove all the dust and debris from the surface. Don’t miss the crevices and stitched seams.
- Unfortunately, if there are any stains on the sofa, treat them first with a mild stain-cleaning solution. Do not rub; bolt for better cleaning.
- Now, make a cleaning solution with detergent and warm water. Alternatively, you can use any cleaning solution available in the market.
- Identify your upholstery type and follow the steps mentioned above effectively.
- Clean the headset and armrest of the sofas more accurately during deep cleaning of the sofa upholstery.
How To Clean the Chair Upholstery?
Like the sofa, the chair is another widely used furniture piece in both residential and commercial places. Here are the easy steps to clean the chair upholstery.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove dust from the chair’s sides, back, and seat.
- If any stains are present on the upholstery, pre-treat them using a DIY cleaning solution. You can make it by mixing an equal amount of water and detergent.
- Now, use a brush and dip it into the cleaning solution. Scrub the chair upholstery in small sections. Be very careful not to oversoak it.
- Dampen a clean white cloth with water to remove the soapy residue from the upholstery. After thoroughly rinsing the upholstery, take another dry cloth and absorb the excess moisture.
- Now, leave the upholstery to dry under the fan to reduce the chances of mold and mildew growth.
Mistakes To Avoid While Upholstery Cleaning
Here are some common mistakes that most people make while cleaning upholstery. Avoid them for effective cleaning.
Using Wrong Cleaner
Around 60% of people use the wrong cleaner for cleaning upholstery. This can ultimately damage the upholstery’s color and fabrics or leave the stain as it is. So, research properly before using the cleaner over the upholstery.
Over-Wetting The Fabrics
Minimal water is more than enough to clean the upholstery. Most people make the mistake of overwetting the upholstery, which ultimately causes mold and mildew growth.
Scrubbing Too Hard
People often think that aggressive scrubbing will remove stains from upholstery. However, this practice damages the fibers and spreads the stain. The right practice is to blot and dab the stains gently.
Not Performing Test Spots
Many people start cleaning upholstery directly without performing test spots, and in most cases, they end up with discolored upholstery. So, it is recommended that you always test the cleaner on the hidden area of the upholstery.
Skip The Vacuuming
People think vacuuming the furniture surface before upholstery cleaning is an optional step, but it is the most crucial step. Skipping this step can ultimately push dirt deeply into the fabric, so it is always better to vacuum it first.
Final Words
That was all the discussion about how to clean upholstery. While the task might sound tricky, following the above-mentioned steps makes it easy and fun. If you can’t manage the time to clean the upholstery, you can hire a professional cleaner. Make sure to check the customer reviews before hiring someone for this task.
Commercial Upholstery Solutions
Cleaning your upholstery can be very helpful to renew your furniture cheaply, but if your furniture has old upholstery you can renew your upholstery from the best upholstery service providers.
Most people ask us questions about furniture improvement tips which are living in top-notch areas like Dubai, UAE, and multiple statuses in the USA. We always recommend them to find a perfect to get the best service of upholstery in Dubai. And if you are living in the USA you can find furniture service providers near you easily.