How to Clean Upholstery
Every different upholstery fabric has its special process for cleaning. This article details a few easy rules to ensure that upholstery is well maintained.
Required Materials
Peroxide
Vinegar
Baking soda
Cornstarch
Required Tools
Lots of clean pieces of cloth
Rush to Clean
You may need to rush in order to clean up any stains that are caused on items of upholstery. This is the most important rule to getting a stain out, the faster the better. A damp piece of cloth may be good enough for the task.
Apart from knowing what caused the stain, you should also know about the affected fabric. You should be aware that warm or hot water for cleaning could cause more harm than good. Warm or hot water should be used only when cleaning stains caused due to enzyme-based agents like blood. Otherwise, cold water should be put to use to remove the stain.
Fabric Types
When in doubt read the manufacturers guidelines for cleaning the upholstery. A simple wipe up with a damp cloth will solve almost any stain. Other more traditional fabrics may require dry-cleaning and do not want any clean up past getting a pile of spaghetti off it.
Commercial Cleaners versus Household Items
There are many commercial cleaners available in the market today, for example, the strong peroxide-based ones. However, there should be enough items already in the household to do the job of stain-removal. Keeping some white vinegar, salt, baking soda and cornstarch around can prove just as effective with most stains as commercial cleaning agents.
White vinegar can be used along with water to remove different types of stains. It not only cleans, but also disinfects, deodorizes and bleaches the affected part of the fabric. If used to wash and rinse the stained area, it can safely cause stains like those of **** and coffee to fade away.
Salt is effective for getting rid of stains due to red ****, tomato sauce or even blood. If natural fibers like cotton and linen are affected by bloodstains, you can soak them in cold saltwater and then wash with warm water. Red **** stains can be removed by simply covering the area with salt, then scraping it off and washing with cold water.
Baking soda can help dissolve stains in water and safely get rid of them.
Another item that can prove very useful is cornstarch, a thickener for cooking. It is particularly effective for sopping up grease and oil stains. Cover the oil stain with cornstarch. Let it stay for 15 to 30 minutes, after which you should vacuum, to complete the cleaning process.
Make Sure to Dab Gently
When it comes to cleaning upholstery, you should remember an important rule: always dab gently with a cloth, rather than wiping or rubbing. This is necessary to prevent damage to the upholstery fabric. The stain should fade as you continue to dab.