Upholstered furniture can be an expensive purchase. Chairs, sofas, benches, and other upholstered pieces should receive regular maintenance to prevent excessive wear and staining. Due to the price of replacing them, most owners would agree that upholstery cleaning is a much better option with those prized parts than buying new ones. In fact, with proper upholstery cleaning, New Yorkers will be amazed at how easily that dusty ottoman or lounger can be made to look brand new.
Life happens, and with them, accidents. Your upholstered furniture can be a victim of children, a clumsy guest, family pets, or simply the weather. The key to keeping your furniture looking great is treating stains quickly with a proper upholstery cleaning method. For some upholstery cleaning tasks, commercial upholstery cleaning companies are best. It pays to know your fabric: Read the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the material of your particular piece before beginning any work. Also, clean an inconspicuous spot on the part to be cleaned to check for color fastness or any other adverse results. Once you are sure that the cleaning methods and materials are safe for cleaning upholstered furniture, you can proceed.
Grease stains are common enemies of upholstered furniture. Maybe it was the butter dripping on the couch during movie night, or the grease dripping off the pepperoni pizza. Grease stains can be a challenge if not addressed properly. The best upholstery cleaning method in this case? Dry cleaning solution! A dry cleaning solvent can be applied to a clean cloth (white is best) and blotted on the stain. Follow this with an application of a solution of 1 tablespoon mild detergent (Dawn or Ivory soap works well here) and a cup of warm water. Blot the area dry with another cloth and let it dry completely. NEVER use heat, as this can set any residual stains left after treatment. If the culprit is cheese, try treating the stain first with the soap solution and then with an ammonia solution (two tablespoons of plain ammonia to one cup of water). Pat dry and air dry as before.
Coffee and tea are also common stains that require upholstery cleaning. Perhaps you or a guest got a little splashed while enjoying a mug of beer. Or maybe a cup slipped out of your hands and tipped over. Either way, it’s an easy clean-up solution. First blot up as much of the liquid as possible. Then treat the stain with a mild soapy solution (see above). Finally, dry the area with a mixture of white vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 1 part water). Blot again with a clean towel to remove excess liquid and allow to air dry.
A final culprit that requires immediate upholstery cleaning is ink. Pen ink can look especially scary when smeared, but it’s actually not that hard to remove. There are several substances that work well in ink. Apply one of the following to a white towel and blot the stain: rubbing alcohol (not wintergreen or anything similar), turpentine, acetone nail polish remover, or spray hairspray. Commercial cleaners also work well, but are more expensive. Dab, don’t rub. Several applications and touches may be necessary to remove the stain. Then blot up any residual cleaner with a clean towel and running water. Let the stain air dry.
Upholstery cleaning and maintenance can be as simple as regular vacuuming for dusting to something more invasive. However, doing it on a regular basis will go a long way in keeping your upholstered furniture looking its best. The above methods are great for minor stains. However, if the stain is significant, of unknown origin, on an unknown fabric, or does not go away with treatment, a professional upholstery cleaning service may be necessary. Addressing stains as they occur will help extend the life of your upholstery pieces and help maintain their value.
