Tips and Tricks for Effective Furniture Cleaning

If you own any furniture, you likely know that spills on upholstery should be cleaned as soon as possible so you have the best chance of preventing a stain from setting in. But what about the old stains that you didn’t notice or weren’t able to clean right away? What are the steps you can take to remove those older stains from your upholstery?

Here’s a quick overview of the steps you should take in safely cleaning upholstery in South Amboy, NJ:

• Vacuum: The first step is to vacuum the upholstery. You might even find that simply vacuuming the furniture will help you fade the stain away. But it’s also helpful to vacuum so you can keep the fabric in good shape and prevent dust and crumbs from settling into the upholstery, where they will become more difficult to remove. This should always be the first step in dealing with a stain so you can get a sense of just how bad it actually is, and how deep it’s set in.
• Read the instructions: Your furniture will have a tag somewhere on it that will contain a full set of cleaning instructions. It might be inside the upholstery covers, or underneath the cushions. There are some pieces that might be able to be cleaned with water, but others might need solvents for cleaning. Whatever the instructions dictate, you should first test on a hidden piece of the upholstery to make sure you’re able to get the cleaning done without doing any additional damage to the surface of the furniture.
• Use steam: If your furniture is capable of being cleaned with water, you might first try using steam to loosen up the stain, which can help make it more responsive to the next steps you use for treatment. You can fill up your iron and use the steam button—you don’t have to use a steamer for small stains.
• Begin the cleaning process: Follow the cleaning directions provided on your furniture. If you’re using water and a cleaning solution, be careful to blot the stain rather than rubbing it. If you rub or wipe, you don’t necessarily need to worry about the stain setting in deeper any more, but you will start to weaken the fabric, which you absolutely don’t want to happen. If you can’t use water to clean your furniture, you can try vodka or vinegar to blot at the stains. Don’t worry about the smell—it will disappear once the area dries.
• Heavy cleaning: If gentle cleaning doesn’t work, you’ll need to use some tougher cleaners. Just make sure you don’t use any particularly abrasive cleaners that could damage your upholstery—if possible, it’s best to find green cleaning solutions that won’t weaken the fibers of the fabric.
• Rinse and repeat as necessary: Remove the cleaner and then repeat as necessary if the stain is fading, but still present.

For more information about safe upholstery cleaning in South Amboy, NJ, we encourage you to contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today.

Categorised in: Upholstery Cleaning

This post was written by Writer