How To Clean A Fabric Sofa:
The Secret. Stains on sofas are never easy to remove. Especially if you have kids and pets in the house, it’s a recipe for disaster. However, with a few quick tips, you can maintain the beauty of your couch. Get to the stains as soon as they happen. Before you use any cleaning products or disinfectants, check the Upholstery Cleaners recommendations for recommended care.
Tip One – If the stain is on a fabric, such as velvet or silk, you should first try to determine the cause of the stain. It may be a combination of food residue, pet hair, and other sources. In most cases, upholstery cleaning can help to remove the food residue or pet hair. But if the stain is stubborn, it may be difficult to remove. If the pet hair is not easily removed, use a mild dish soap, and add half a cup of bleach to the water used to wash your fabric, and work the solution into the fibers.
Tip Two – If food or pet hair is not the problem, consider what kind of material your upholstery fabric is. Some fabrics are more delicate than others. For example, cotton has some incredible properties, such as moisture resistance, and will take one of those stronger cleansing agents that you would use on your upholstery cleaning tables. Linen is another wonderful fabric, as it maintains its shape and will not allow stain to penetrate.
Tip Three – If cleaning a fabric sofa by water is out of the question, you may need to purchase a special fabric sofa cleaner. Water-based cleaners are easier to apply than solvent-based cleaners. However, the cleaning action of a solvent-based cleaner can actually damage your furniture’s finish. If this is the case with your sofa, consider using furniture cleaning products that contain alcohol instead of water-based products.
Tip Four – One popular product for cleaning upholstery fabric is baking soda. If you find baking soda in your kitchen, you also have a great product for removing stains from your fabric sofa. Add a few drops of the baking soda to a bucket of hot water, and pour the solution into the stain receptacle.
Tip Five – Always test any new household item before actually using it. While vacuuming your sofa cleaning furniture, place the item you are about to vacuum under a light. If there is a visible color in the air, or if the light bounces off the fabric, then you do not want to use that particular vacuum cleaner.
Tip Six – Do not try to do a DIY cleaning project on an already-stained area of fabric. Always first place a drop of dish washing detergent onto a clean cloth and then apply the cloth to an area of the fabric that has a discoloration. Let the cloth sit for five minutes, then vacuum. This is a preventative measure so that you will not ruin the garment before you start. It is also a good idea to place a small amount of Teflon tape on the area where you are planning to vacuum.
Tip Seven – Do not let any spills or stains soak into your vacuum cleaner. Always pick up the loose particles immediately. If they become stubborn, you will have difficulty getting them out. Also, be sure to thoroughly dry yourself off after any DIY cleaning activity.
Tip Eight – For most stains, baking soda works well to get rid of them. You should mix the baking soda with some water to make a paste. Then apply it to the stained area using a clean white cloth. Rubbing the baking soda will loosen the binding agents, and eventually remove the stain. Be careful not to use too much baking soda as it may leave a residue behind.
Tip Nine – Hanging a wide-toothed hairbrush over the sofa and pressing down firmly will dislodge most anything that has been stuck in between the slipcover and the upholstery. This technique does work on all fabrics but especially well with water-based upholstery shampoo products. Be sure to do this before using a stiff brush to scrub. The brush can move the loose particles around and actually cause new stains to form.
Tip Ten – If the above techniques do not work or the stains have proven too stubborn to remove, you may want to contact a professional upholstery cleaning service. They are experienced at removing pet hair, mud, food stains, and other stubborn stains from upholstered furniture. Just be sure to use only the safest and approved cleaning products for fabric or upholstery cleaning.