When it comes to cleaning a sofa at home, then, of course, first of all, the owners of upholstered furniture think about what is the best way to do this so as not to harm the upholstery. Most household chemical products are quite aggressive in their composition, so you need to approach your choice very responsibly. Among buyers who have already used ready-made store-bought formulations, there is a strong opinion that not all products are suitable for cleaning a sofa. How can you clean upholstered furniture without harming its appearance?
General recommendations
In order not to spoil the upholstery, you need to choose the right cleaning product and method, and also take into account the nature of the dirt and how old the stains are. Basic Rules:
- Before cleaning, get rid of dust - vacuum the sofa using a special nozzle or cover it with a damp sheet and knock out the dust with a cracker.
- Stains are cleaned from edge to center, without pressure, using a sponge or soft bristle brush.
- Do not wet the sofa too much - excess moisture can lead to the formation of mold and mildew.
- Be sure to test the cleaner on an inconspicuous area of the furniture. Some formulations have a bleaching effect or may damage fabric fibers.
- Do not use white on light upholstery or white fabrics - it will corrode the fabric.
- Do not use a brush on leather and leatherette: replace it with a sponge or rag. The leather is not afraid of wet treatment, so at home it is cleaned with soapy water or lemon juice.
- Soft fabrics - velor, silk, suede and wool - do not tolerate water well. They may shrink or fade, so dry cleaning is best for sofas with this type of upholstery.
- Flock upholstery cannot be treated with alcohol solutions, so as not to damage the texture of the fabric. Stains can be removed with a soap solution, and the flock must be smoothed after cleaning so that the pile does not wrinkle.
- After cleaning, let the sofa dry, and then vacuum again, removing any remaining product and dirt particles from its surface.
Features of care and protection
Upholstery products should be properly cared for. If you have children, to protect the furniture it is more profitable to put removable covers or blankets on top that are easy to wash. They are also convenient because they fit harmoniously into any interior. The covers are changed, thus you can profitably update the design of the room.
Master classes on sewing covers for upholstered furniture for needlewomen
If protective covers are not used, furniture should be cleaned frequently. It is recommended to vacuum it weekly to prevent dust from accumulating. Any stains should be removed immediately to prevent them from being absorbed. Do not use bleaches or aggressive substances for cleaning. Some materials cannot tolerate alcohol or acids. Do not rub the fabric vigorously during cleansing or use large amounts of liquid. It is advisable to dry a damp sofa, for example, with a hairdryer. Until it is dry, you cannot sit on the furniture.
Removable covers or blankets will protect the upholstery from accidental dirt
To prevent dust from accumulating, it is advisable to clean upholstered furniture at least once a week.
Do not use bleaches or aggressive agents to clean upholstery.
Folk remedies for cleaning a sofa from stains and dirt
Laundry soap.
Dissolve some shavings of 72% laundry soap in warm water. Dampen a sponge or soft cloth in the resulting liquid and wipe the sofa. During the cleaning process, periodically change the water and carefully wring out the sponge or rag. Then wipe the upholstery with a dry cloth, removing any remaining soap solution.
Dishwashing liquid.
The product copes well with greasy stains. Add a few drops of liquid to a small amount of water, whip up a foam and apply it to the contaminated areas for 5-10 minutes. Clean the surface with a soft brush and remove any remaining foam.
Soda.
This universal product is used for both dry and wet cleaning. Dry powder is used to clean upholstery that is sensitive to moisture. Apply it to the surface, leave for an hour, and then vacuum up. For wet cleaning, add a few drops of water to the baking soda to make a paste. Apply the product to the upholstery, wipe with a damp sponge, and remove any remaining soda with a vacuum cleaner.
Ammonia.
Ammonia copes with stains and eliminates unpleasant odors. Wipe the stains with ammonia and leave for half an hour. Then treat the surface with soapy water and remove any residue with a soft, clean cloth. Do not use on flock upholstery.
Hydrogen peroxide.
This product effectively removes stains from wine, blood, and berries. Treat the dirt with peroxide, then wipe with soapy water and clean water.
Salt, glycerin and soap.
To prepare the solution, mix 1 tsp. salt and a few drops of glycerin. Apply it to the stain. Then wipe it with a soft sponge soaked in a soap solution - you can use laundry or tar soap.
Lemon juice.
Citric acid disinfects upholstery, but has a whitening effect. Therefore, the product is not suitable for colored materials. Concentrated juice can remove stains from red wine, tea or blood, and for a more gentle effect, dilute the juice with water.
Vinegar.
Vinegar cleans greasy areas well, refreshes the color of upholstery and removes unpleasant odors. To clean the sofa without streaks, mix 150 ml of vinegar, 1 tsp. soda and grated laundry soap. Gently spread the resulting mixture over the contaminated surface, then wipe with a damp cloth until completely clean.
How to get rid of odors
To remove odors from food or drinks, you can use special shampoos for cleaning upholstered furniture. The product must be diluted according to the instructions and the upholstery must be washed. However, in some cases the smell cannot be gotten rid of so easily. In particular, urine and beer eat into the sofa very persistently. The smell from beer can be easily removed with a vinegar solution (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water). It is more difficult to remove the unpleasant odor of urine; there are several folk remedies:
- tincture of iodine (20 drops per 1 liter of water);
- a solution of vinegar with lemon juice;
- potassium permanganate solution;
- vinegar 9% in water (1:3), then treat the area with soda and spray with hydrogen peroxide, leave it like that for a while, dry it with a hairdryer.
But you should understand that the smell of urine from upholstered furniture does not go away immediately; sometimes it is necessary to repeat the cleaning procedure several times for it to completely disappear.
Professional products
Special products for cleaning upholstered furniture effectively remove grease and stains from upholstery without damaging the fabric. But when using them, be sure to follow all the instructions.
Tuba
Universal cleaning foam that does not leave streaks after use and is suitable for natural and synthetic materials. Tuba is economical: to clean a stain, spray the product onto the surface of the sofa, wait 3-5 minutes and wipe off the dirt. After an hour, vacuum the sofa.
Vanish
The product is suitable for all types of upholstery - it removes stains and traces of grease well. Apply to the sofa with a soft sponge, wipe thoroughly and remove any remaining Vanish with a vacuum cleaner. It should not be left on the surface of the furniture for more than 5 minutes, as the fabric may lighten.
Norland
Used for cleaning sofas and carpets. Norland quickly penetrates deep into fabric fibers and removes even stubborn stains. This product has a strong odor, so wear a mask when using. Shake the can and spray the foam over the surface of the sofa, spreading it with a soft sponge. After drying, vacuum the sofa and repeat the procedure if necessary.
Is it possible to clean a sofa with a vacuum cleaner?
Answering the question: “Is it possible to clean a sofa with a washing vacuum cleaner?”, the question is unequivocal - it is possible, but in this case the upholstery will come into contact with water, and in some cases it will get very wet. Therefore, before using this cleaning method on your furniture, determine what material the upholstery is made of. As a rule, it is not recommended to use the device for the following fabrics:
If you decide to take a risk and still wash such upholstery with a vacuum cleaner, then be sure to carry out a preliminary check. Try cleaning the back of the furniture with the wet method, wait until the upholstery dries, and evaluate the effectiveness. If you notice that the fabric has deteriorated even a little, then it is better to refuse cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner.
How to remove stains from fabric upholstery
How to remove stains from a sofa:
- Coffee - glycerin or dry soda.
- Tea - with a napkin soaked in vinegar.
- Blood - cold water with vinegar diluted in it.
- Urine - soda or a solution of lemon juice and vinegar.
- Chocolate - shaving foam or dishwashing liquid.
- Ballpoint pen - a napkin soaked in alcohol.
- Beer - a mixture of salt and soda or a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Grease - with crushed chalk followed by dry cleaning of the surface.
Basic operating rules
Products of expensive breeds look beautiful, expensive and stylish. But such an interior, especially one made from solid real wood, reacts poorly to negative external influences. In rooms with high humidity, bubbles and spots appear, and the color fades. Dry air, too high and low temperatures are the cause of small cracks, and from direct sunlight the varnish gradually ages and loses saturation.
Caring for natural wood furniture begins with creating optimal indoor conditions:
- air humidity – 40-65%;
- temperature – above +15 degrees;
- distance from heating devices at least 1 meter;
- no exposure to direct sunlight (avoid installation near windows, frequently opening balcony doors);
- location on flat planes to avoid breakage, displacement of hinges and deformation of the shape of the boards.
Excessive dry air and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight harm not only the fibers of valuable species, but also the upholstery of furniture, especially leather. It is strongly recommended not to place leather sofas, stools, armchairs and other products near fireplaces, radiators, heaters, air conditioners, open window openings, or balconies.
Tip: To humidify too dry air in a room, it is recommended to install an aquarium or vase with water.
Responsible manufacturers provide their products with instructions on how to care for natural wood furniture. General recommendations include the following:
- 1
using a product for the gentle care of wooden furniture without hard abrasives, chlorine, ammonia and acetone; - 2
rubbing with a soft cloth made of rags, suede, flannel; - 3
replacing wet cleaning with dry cleaning, and if water is used (for example, to remove complex stains), everything is wiped dry.
The production process uses whole valuable species, as well as consumable raw materials such as chipboard and MDF. Wooden furniture can be veneered, varnished, painted, or film. It is necessary to select compositions for cleaning and polishing in accordance with the type of raw material and rock. It is also important to remember that if moisture gets on the surface of valuable wood or chipboard, MDF, it must be eliminated in the next few minutes. Seeping through the top coating and getting to the fibers of the raw material, the liquid can forever ruin the appearance of your kitchen set, leading to the appearance of blisters, peeling of edges, paint or varnish.
Instructions for cleaning furniture sets
To properly clean the furniture surface, you should follow the following procedure:
- Remove dust. Vacuum the upholstery, focusing on the joints and corners. It is better to use a special furniture attachment with a brush. Knock out the fleecy sofa. Wet the sheet with water or soapy water and wring it out. Cover the furniture with a cloth and vigorously beat out the dust with a carpet beater. Using a sheet, you can remove dust without raising it into the air.
- Manually remove any hard dirt if there is any. You can clean it with the blunt side of a knife, a spatula, or any other object with a blunt edge. Do not use this option for fabrics with pile - the dirt must first be softened with soap foam.
- Clean the upholstery from stains and grease. To do this, use a suitable household chemical for cleaning sofas or a traditional method.
If the soft set smells, you can additionally treat the upholstery with a water solution of soap or shampoo with a pleasant aroma.
For fluffy sofas, cleaning is completed by passing over the entire surface with a soft or medium-hard brush. This procedure will refresh the color and add volume to the pile.
