Saturday, March 21, 2009

How to Clean Upholstery

By Marc McDavis

While the look of a new furniture set is its major appeal for most people, what many fail to take into account is that knowing how to clean upholstery is important for keeping it looking fresh and new. It's important to use good upholstery care techniques to keep your furniture in good shape.

It's quite easy to work upholstery cleaning into your regular housework routine. As you vacuum your floors, take a few moments to vacuum your upholstered furniture as well. Your goal should be to do this at least once per week.

Vacuuming is essential for proper upholstery care, because it removes dirt from the surface so that it won't become embedded deep in the fabric fibers. As an alternative to vacuuming, you can also use a soft bristle brush to sweep dirt off the surface of the furniture.

Another important task is to regularly fluff and turn loose cushions. It's simple to do this each week as part of your household cleaning routine ? simply flip the cushions when you vacuum your upholstery. This will ensure even wear and tear and help avoid unattractive ? and uncomfortable ? indentations in the cushions.

Each week when you vacuum, flip, and fluff, you should also move the cushions around to a new position. Most family members have a favorite spot to sit, and some cushions will take more abuse than others. Rearranging the cushions helps to even out wear and tear.

Another important upholstery care technique is to keep furniture away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can fade or fry your furniture. Also, try to minimize exposure to smoke and cooking fumes. While cooking fumes can often permeate the house, keeping the room properly ventilated can help.

Prevention is often the best medicine when it comes to upholstery cleaning. To keep stains and dirt to a minimum, come up with house rules and make sure everyone knows and follows them. For example, don't allow eating or drinking on the sofa, loveseat, or chairs, and make sure there are no shoes allowed. You can have people take off their shoes upon entering the house, or at the very least, before sitting down. As a bonus, this will help keep your floors in better shape too. Keep dogs and cats off the furniture, or even out of the room entirely, and use washable covers for dining room chairs and other chairs with fabric cushions.

Don't overlook the power of a good stain protector for upholstery cleaning. This can sometimes make stain removal a simple process of blotting up a spill. Whether you use a fabric protector or not, you should promptly treat and remove stains. Blot up as much of the liquid as possible with a clean cloth. Don't rub; this will deepen the stain and damage furniture. Use a spot remover designed particularly for upholstery. Be sure to observe all of the manufacturer recommendations, and test the product in a hidden area to make sure it won't damage the fabric. Work the cleaner in with a soft brush in a circular motion, then vacuum the spot after it dries.

Understanding how to clean upholstery is important for keeping your furniture looking nice and extending its life. You may also want to hire a professional cleaner every couple of years to treat deep down dirt that may become embedded in the furniture over time. By taking good care of your furniture and having it professionally cleaned every couple of years, you'll keep your upholstery looking fresh and new.

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