Tips for Cleaning Upholstered Furniture.

Upholstery Cleaning and Stain Removal Tips

If you have a sofa, chair, loveseat, or some other type of upholstered furniture that is in good condition but just dirty, these upholstery cleaning tips will save you money and time shopping for new furniture.

Considering that people sit on it and sometimes our pets lounge on it, it’s no wonder upholstered furniture gets dirty. Even simple aged furniture can benefit from a good cleaning. When you clean an existing piece of furniture you might just be totally amazed at how incredible it looks when you’re finished.

The key with upholstered furniture is choosing the appropriate type of cleaning method. For example, if you have an antique chair that is hand embroidered then it would require a different cleaning technique than a sofa that was store bought.

In this article, we will walk you through several upholstery cleaning tips and remember with any stain, some stains can be a bit tricky, but definitely not impossible with the right cleaning approach.

Getting Upholstery Stains Out

Maintaining a clean home is part of having a happy home where people enjoy living. With furniture, upholstery is just one aspect but an important one. Think about all the times people have eaten on the sofa, dropping bits of food or drink that leave stains. Then you have the dirty feet, dirty clothing, and just everyday wear and tear that can leave upholstery looking dirty and drab. As you are about to discover, getting those stains out does not have to be painful.

The most important thing to remember when cleaning upholstery is to consider the fabric. If you are unsure, you can check with the manufacturer’s information.

Other things to keep in mind are:

• As with any stain, the sooner you address the stain, the better chances are of completely removing it.
• Before you start cleaning a large stain, we recommend you work first on an inconspicuous area to ensure no discoloration or damage is done.
• Always blot stains, never rub the stain as this can cause the stain to spread.
• Avoid harsh chemicals.

With that done, the following are a few of the more common stains found on upholstery and methods for removing them.

Removing Butter Stains from Upholstery

The family sits around to watch a movie and in comes the hot, buttered popcorn. Although everyone is careful, pieces can fall on the furniture, you don’t notice it and now you have a grease stain. Thank goodness a few pieces of popcorn doesn’t leave a big mess behind.

• Apply original blue Dawn dish soap to the stain. Just a drop will do for this small stain.
• With a wet; not soaking or dripping, clean cloth, gently blot the dish soap over the stain.
• With a clean section of the cloth, use water only to wipe any soapy residue away.
• Cover and let dry.

Cleaning Oily Melted Cheese Stains

Melted cheese is another food product that we’ve spilled on furniture. Again, things like nachos are a favorite snack food but the cheese will leave stains behind.

For cleaning up the cheese:

• First, carefully lift any melted cheese you can
• Mix one tablespoon of liquid dish washing detergent with 2 cups cool water
• With a clean cloth, blot the cheese stain with the cleaning mixture
• Repeat until the cheese stain is removed
• Finally, blot the stain with clean water to remove any cleaning solution
• Cover with a clean cloth until the area is dry

Removing Ink Stains

The key with any ink stain is to be patient and persistent, as ink stains can be stubborn. Just make sure you only blot. Rubbing could cause the ink stain worsen. And remember, test in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it does not pull any color from the item.

Here is an article to look at for getting rid of ink stains.

• Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol.
• Blot the stain with the cotton swab, continuously use a clean piece of the swab.
• Continue this process until the ink is removed.
• Blot the area with a clean white towel or paper towel to dry the area.
• Use a clean white rag dipped in cool water and blot the area to remove any residue.
• Cover with a towel until dry.

Cleaning Coffee Stains from Upholstery

Sipping coffee on an upholstered chair or sofa is an everyday occurrence. To get rid of a coffee stain, mix one teaspoon of a mild, pH balanced detergent with one cup of warm water, then blot from the outside in.

Follow this with blotting the stain with a mixture of one-third cup white vinegar with two-thirds cup water. When finished, use a clean, white towel to absorb any excess, allow the area to dry.

Regular cleaning to keep your upholstery looking and smelling clean is essential. Typically, you can use your regular vacuum cleaner with the appropriate attachment to keep it clean. Just keeping the dust off will help your furniture last much longer. With this, you can enjoy your favorite sofa or chair without having to spend hard-earned money on new furniture.