Every type of fabric has its specific cleaning requirements. Polyester makes no exception. The material is widely used in interior design because of its advantages and availability. If you have any sort of furnishing that contains polyester it is best to correctly inform yourself on the materials exact washing specifications so you can maintain its good condition for a longer time.
So, if you:
- Haven’t cleaned your polyester furniture in some time;
- Are looking for tips and tricks on how to clean it;
- Want to know the benefits of polyester upholstery,
Keep on reading!
In this article, we will explain the whats, wheres, whys, and whens of how to clean polyester upholstery.
What is polyester?
Generally polyester is a fabric made from strong, synthetic fibres. It’s durable and sturdy, which makes it a preferred furniture material option by many. The sun doesn’t affect it as much as it does natural materials and it has a longer lifespan.
A polyester holds colour well, meaning that it won’t fade over time. Furniture that is made from this type of fabric won’t look saggy after continuous usage because of its resilience. On the negative side, due to its artificial nature, it is more vulnerable to heat and burns. Polyester comes in many forms such as microfiber, canvas, certain faux leathers, velour and satin, tweed, twill and textured finishes.
Tips for cleaning polyester furniture
Clean your polyester furniture every six to twelve months.
Cleaning regularly your furniture expands its life while keeping it looking new and fresh. It’s common sense that the dirtiest piece of the interior is the one you use the most. In this case, that’ll be your comfy sofa. The sitting area gets tortured every day by spillages, greasy food stains, pet hair and more. Your children make a trampoline out of it and your cat sleeps there 14 hours a day.
So, how often should you clean your polyester furniture? To keep your upholstery in top-notch shape, we advise you to deep clean it professionally every 6 to 12 months. Over time your sofa builds up a lot of dust and grime that can be bad for your health. It is a well-known fact that dust is a major allergy trigger. If you decide to clean it yourself, it is best to vacuum it weekly and give it a more heavy scrub every two weeks.
What about polyester interior
The same thing goes for the polyester interior in your vehicle. The cleaning process there should be far more gentle, because of the electronics integrated into the seats (especially the front ones). Car interiors should be cleaned regularly, even more than the domestic furniture because it is easier to get them dirty. Now you can book a mobile car wash visit as well as mobile interior cleaning service. The cleaners will come to you and perform the same level of service!mo
What kind of detergents and equipment you should use
You can clean your polyester upholstery only using things lying around your house such as plain dish soap, baking soda, and your trusty vacuum cleaner. You can visit the store for some extra options like a furniture freshener.
How to clean a polyester couch
You can hand wash your sofa fairly fast and easy. First, you have to vacuum the surface of the furniture, removing any food crumbs or stray hairs. Don’t forget to suck up the dirt from under the cushions. If your sofa has developed some unpleasant smells over time, apply baking soda and leave it to set a couple of hours before hoovering it.
After that, you can proceed to clean the couch by whipping it with a dampened sponge. You can water down some dish soap and use it as a cleaning solution. Be extra careful when using water. You have to keep the moisture from penetrating the padding because it can damage it. Finally, spray some furniture freshener.
That was the manual way to clean polyester furniture. If the sofas covers are removable, you can cut the cleaning time in half by putting them in the washer. Always follow the tag’s instructions, so you don’t shrink or damage the cases.
Life-hacks on how to clean polyester furniture
- Use shampoo to clean stains;
- Kill bacteria and get your sofa smelling clean with lemon juice;
- For normal stains apply cold water, for greasy ones – warm;
- Use a squeegee to remove pet hair;
- Plug in a fan to speed up the drying process.
How to remove stains from polyester furniture
Here is a list with the most common stains, ranked from “OK-ish” to “Ewww”:
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How to clean pet pee from a polyester sofa?
If your beloved pet has decided to make a toilet out of your furniture you have to move fast. Urine stains are easier to remove while still fresh. If you leave them to dry, the hormones from the pee will get locked inside the fabric’s fibres, leaving a funny scent. Still, there are times when you haven’t noticed the mischief and the pee dried out. Here are the solutions for both scenarios.
Fresh pet pee
Ok, first you need to blot the stain with a paper towel. Make sure to use gentle patting motions. Don’t rub in the pee, it will make sink into the padding, making it even worse. Sprinkle the wet area with some baking soda and apply white vinegar over it. Leave the mix for as long as possible. Hoover the dried out soda. If there is any moisture left from the vinegar, again, carefully blot it. That’s it! You are done.
Old pet pee
This method is a little bit trickier and its success depends on the age of the stain. The older the spot is, the lower the chances to get it out of your couch. So, in a spray bottle mix 300 ml of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with 3 tablespoons of baking soda and then add 2-3 drops of dish detergent. Shake the bottle until a homogeneous liquid is formed. T
est the solution on an invisible part of the furniture. See if they are changes in the colour of the fabric, if not, proceed with to apply the mixture on the affected areas. Repeat the process until the stain disappears.
How to spot clean polyester from stains and spills?
Like with pet stains, you got to work fast and careful. To rub in any type of spilt substances will do more harm, than help. Ketchup, milk, or coffee, it doesn’t matter, just do your best to gently dab the surface with a paper towel or cloth.
Then cautiously work in a mixture of vinegar and water. Make sure not to drench the couch in the solution, just a sprinkle on top of the stain will do the job. Use light circular movements, working in the DIY detergent from the periphery of the stain to its centre. Blot any excess moisture. Let the area dry and repeat the process if needed.
Benefits and disadvantages of polyester fabric
The good side of polyester is that is easy to clean, some types are even stain-resistant. The synthetic material is very strong and durable. It holds colour very well. Generally, it’s a low-maintenance and budget-friendly material.
On the other hand, manmade materials like polyester are made from plastic, which makes them non-compostable. This raises the question “Is polyester bad for the environment?” The answer is yes. Synthetic fibres don’t break down as well in the soil like natural ones do.
It is always better to get your upholstery professionally cleaned
Like with every other more complicate the home task, to get an expert to perform it for you saves you time, energy and more important – guarantees you better results. This is where we come in. We here at Fantastic Services offer a professional upholstery cleaning service service for all types of fabrics. From cotton to polyester, you name it, we clean it. Our high-quality equipment and detergents can bring back to life your well-loved furniture. And how do we do it?
When we work on synthetic materials like polyester, our weapon of choice is the hot water extractor. It is the most effective upholstery cleaning method to date. The cleaning process goes like this:
- First, the technician inspects the surface on which he is going to work on and pre-treats any existing stains with a variety of detergents specialised for different types of spots
- After the pre-treatment is completed, a next-generation professional machine injects hot water between the fibres of the material, removing any grime and dust.
- The nozzle of the hot water extractor has the function to suck out about 95% of the moisture from fabric, taking away the dirt with it.
What you are left with is a perfectly cleaned, stain-free, and deodorised sofa!
It gets even better. You can combine your upholstery cleaning service with a special stain protector option and save some money. This way you make sure that the results from the hot water extraction last you a long time. You just have to become a member of our Fantastic Club family!
Takeaways
- Polyester is a durable fabric, generally made from strong, synthetic fibres.
- Polyester furniture should be cleaned at lease 1-2 times a year.
- You can use household products, such as baking soda and vinegar, to clean your polyester upholstery and remove nasty odours.
- Polyester furniture is sturdy, low-maintenance and easy to clean.
- To be on the safe side, consider hiring a professional to clean it for you.
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