The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Upholstery

Date:

02/17/2022
cleaning upholstery

Buying furniture is an investment, with a mid-range sofa costing between $1,000 and $2,000. How much you spend depends upon your budget, but no matter how much your furniture costs, you want your furniture to last for many years to come. Any piece of furniture in your home that gets used on a regular basis needs consistent maintenance and cleaning. 

Cleaning upholstery doesn’t have to be complicated. There are a few pointers to keep in mind before you start spraying any fabric cleaner you have on hand onto your upholstery. 

This guide will discuss the Dos and Don’ts on how to clean upholstery. 

Don’t Use Bleach

Don’t use cleaning products that contain bleach when cleaning upholstered furniture. Bleach can sometimes make the stain worse, even making the affected area bigger. Using bleach can also affect the color of your furniture, resulting in you needing to purchase a new piece. 

Do Act Quickly

One of the best upholstery cleaning tips is to act quickly to get rid of a stain. Moving fast prevents the stain from getting absorbed into the upholstery fibers. It also deters it from seeping into the padding underneath the fabric. 

Stains become more difficult if they have time to set into the fabric. The longer you want to clean the stain, the less likely it’ll be that you can remove it. 

Don’t Scrub or Rub

Vigorously scrubbing or rubbing an upholstery stain forces it further into the fibers. It can also cause the material to start to wear down. If your scrubbing is powerful enough, it can cause the stain to become chemically bonded with the fabric. 

Rubbing can also result in the pile of your fabric getting distorted. Instead of scrubbing, scrape up whatever part of the stain you can with a spoon. You’ll then want to blot it with a clean towel. 

Do Test Your Upholstery Cleaning Solution 

Choosing the wrong stain remover or cleaning solution can make a stain worse. It can also result in the upholstery fabric getting damaged or fading. Test whatever stain remover you purchase on a small, hidden area of the fabric before you apply it to a larger section. 

Sometimes a stain remover requires specific methods to apply it. Read all of the labels of any product you purchase before you use it. You’ll also want to check your furniture itself to see if it has special care instructions.  

Don’t Use Any Heat

Hot or boiling water can sometimes cause more damage than good. That’s because hot water can affect the stain’s chemical structure, resulting in the stain bonding to the fabric. Blood, food, and protein stains are more susceptible to heat. 

Vinegar and other types of acids can also act as heating agents. Make sure you use warm or cool water on stains. 

Follow Our Tips for Cleaning Upholstery 

You can follow all the rules for cleaning upholstery and still be left with furniture that’s stained. Before you rush out to purchase a new sofa, contact a professional upholstery cleaning company. We have the skills and expertise to help rid your furniture of any stain. 

Give our office a call to learn more about our services.