How to clean upholstered furniture? Let’s face it. The best time to clean upholstered furniture is as soon as the stain happens, but that isn’t always doable. Sometimes a stain goes unnoticed {kids at work!}. The following method will help you remove stains from your upholstered furniture, even if you’re not sure when they got there.
The first thing to do before cleaning, as well as part of your regular vacuuming of your floors, is to also vacuum your furniture. Vacuuming helps keep the fabric in the best shape possible. Dirt and debris will wear down the fibers if left too long. Vacuuming also helps reveal how bad {or how minor} the stain actually is. Vaccuum before you begin!
Real Simple recommends using a product called Capture Soil Release Pre-Mist for spot removal of stains. It’s available at Amazon for under $12. Be sure to test the product on your upholstery in an obscure spot before using it all over.
Now cover the stain with a dry cleaner like Capture Carpet and Rug Dry Cleaner and rub it into the stain with a dry cloth. Vacuum the powder up thoroughly. Repeat this step once more if the stain is not fully gone. If after repeating the process the stain remains, stop and call a professional for help so you don’t risk damaging the fabric.
If your upholstery has a W or WS on the tag, you are safe to use water to clean with. This is when you could try a steam machine if you have one–it’s great at loosening tough stains. You can also put some water in a bucket and add a little dish soap. Agitate the water to make suds, and then dip an upholstery brush in the suds only. Apply the suds to the upholstery and brush gently to clean. Once you’re done, wipe away the suds with a clean, damp cloth. Allow the furniture to dry before using.
Note: If the tag has an S, then skip water or steam because it isn’t safe for the fabric, but you can spot clean with commercial products. If you should see only an X on your tag, that means vacuum only. {Call a pro for stain removal!}.
To clean microfiber furniture, check out this post from 101 Days of Organization.
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