Cleaning Guides
How to Get Red Wine Out of Sofa
Cleaning Guides
How to Clean Upholstery
- Published: Feb 17/2020
- Last update: Mar 16/2023
- 6min read
- Views: 360
The sofa is the centrepiece of any living room. For that reason, it’s also why it gets soiled the most frequently and easily. Fear not, as in this article you will learn how to maintain and spot treat your precious upholstery.
So if you:
Then read along!
Before starting any kind of cleaning, you need to know what material your sofa is made out of. Based on this knowledge you can determine the appropriate cleaning method. The label is usually located either under a cushion or at the edge of the sofa. In some cases underneath the item.
Always tackle individual stains before you start the general upholstery cleaning.
Never rub any fresh stains into the fabric. That will make them that much harder to remove later on. Instead, blot and then blot some more.
For fresh liquid spills, such as wine or juice, blot as much as you can with paper towels.
Solids such as cream or mayonnaise should be carefully lifted away with the edge of a dull knife. If you have dried spills, loosen them up with a soft-bristled brush.
If your upholstery allows cleaning with a water-based solution, then mix some dishwashing liquid and warm water in a cup, then pour the mixture into a small bowl.
Dip a clean cloth into the solution and gently blot the stain. Always use a clean side of the cloth, so the dirt would get transferred on it and not the other way around.
Now you have to blot away any cleaning solution that might be left in the area you just cleaned. It’s easy, just dip a clean sponge in water and blot the cleaning solution. Give it time to dry on its own before proceeding to the next steps.
Fabric sofas are more permeable than leather and vinyl ones, so they absorb smells more easily. Unless the furniture is heavily soiled, it shouldn’t be too much trouble to deodorise.
Learn what other cleaning services we provide, by visiting our web page.
Always use white rags to avoid potential discoloration.
The market is full of numerous commercial cleaners for both W and SW marked sofas. Whichever you choose, make sure to test it out on a small hidden spot first, to make sure it won’t bleach the sofa colour. And always follow the instructions.
For this method, you would need baking soda and warm water. For tougher stains, you might try adding white vinegar to the mix.
If the stain is still there, repeat this time by adding white vinegar. Mind you, the mixture will froth up as the two ingredients reach with each other.
Some stains can be quite stubborn and require special care, like blood stains, for example. To find out how to remove blood stains from upholstery items, check our dedicated post.
When you have a sofa with the S symbol, go with a water-free solvent. Make sure the room your couch is in is well ventilated. Apply the solvent onto a clean towel and apply it to the surface by blotting the stain. Do not rub. Turn the cloth as you go, so you’re always using a clean part. Repeat until the stain is gone.
Leather chairs and sofas come in a wide variety of finishes and each one requires a cleaning approach of its own. The methods discussed here are mainly for protected leather as it is the most common.
Generally, you don’t need a commercial product to clean stains off a leather sofa. However, one might come in handy for tough spots and really soiled areas. All you need to do is apply a small amount of leather cleaning solution to a towel and gently rub the dirty area. Afterwards wipe away the dirty foam and leave the spot to dry. That’s it.
If you have a sofa with unprotected leather, see the manufacturer’s suggestions for cleaning. Also, be sure to apply leather conditioner cream every 6 to 12 months, to keep your sofa soft to the touch.
If you feel like spot cleaning your sofa is not your thing and you’d rather spend your time on something else, then book a cleaner with Fantastic Services. The technicians we work with are experienced and always bring their own steam cleaning machines and detergents. All you need to do is point us to the dirty sofa and let us do the rest.
Fantastic Services is here for you!
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Do you have your own tips and tricks for upholstery cleaning? We’d certainly like to know in the comment section
Image source: Shutterstock / Africa Studio
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