Five Things I Learned About Upholstery Cleaning By Watching TV
Date: Thursday March 25, 2010Posted in: Home & Garden
Who doesn’t find upholstery cleaning to be a thankless task? Which is why it is too often relegated to the to later list right? Well, why don’t we see if we can’t make it somewhat easier with these proven couch or sofa cleaning tips.
Problem - Stubborn Pet Hair: Nasty stuff that can take over a room by ending up on everything.
Given not everyone is a fan of hairless cats have you tried a lint roller? This works best for mild hairy infestations. Now for more serious cases masking tape or a moist rubber glove that can be run over the upholstery may do the trick. Approach this task with one of those plastic grocery bags so you have someplace to stick the hair you’ve liberated.
Make It Easier Next Time: Buy one of those commercial sprays that cuts down on the static or get a throw that can be thrown into the washer for your pet’s favorite chair.
Problem - Seat Crevices Filled with Dirt, Dust and Debris: Ugh! Where does this stuff come from?
Keeping the surfaces clean helps prevent excessive wear and tear. So first shake the cushions off outside. Then attach your upholstery accessory to your vacuum and have at the dust, dirt and debris. Just watch so you don’t wear away at the fabric as the bristles on some of these are stiff enough to do permanent damage.
Remember to: Check for loose upholstery buttons or threads before unleashing the vacuum.
Problem - Crumbs Everywhere. Setting and enforcing a no-food-on-the-sofa rule can help. That and vacuuming the crumbs that mysteriously do show up can keep the problem to a minimum.
Problem - Stubborn Stains: It’s true that spills precede stains. And are going to happen despite your best intentions. Jumping on any spill before the stain has a chance to set is the key to avoiding permanent reminders.
Like I said spills happen. It’s what you do next that counts. First you want to blot up the spill best you can. Just don’t start rubbing away at the spill thinking you’re doing your fabric any favors. As such actions only drive the spilled materials deeper into the fibers themselves. For fabrics that aren’t water safe reach for the dry cleaning solvent and apply sparingly. Otherwise use a few drops of dish washing soap diluted in a cup of water and dab at the stained area being careful not to overwet things.
Problem - Deep Cleaning: Good to do every once in a while.
Be careful to use the right cleaning product. The labels are on your sofa can give you clues what to do. Plus it is always wise to pre test any kind of cleaner somewhere out of plain sight. Remembering that with any type of shampoo, solvent or cleaning solution less is typically more. And that you want to give any treated area time to dry thoroughly before someone sits on the piece.
Granted, keeping upholstery nice and clean requires time and effort. But these five tips should help make upholstery cleaning a snap. I mean regular vacuuming of the cushions alone along with dusting any hard surfaces can take care of more than half of your furniture care chores. While faithfully getting to gathering animal hair, grime buildup and spills before they set in can help to keep your upholstered fresh and spotless.
Maybe you need to know if the best priced Dyson vacuum cleaner is any good for vacuuming hardwood. Or if HEPA vacuums are preferred for cleaning deep pile carpeting. Or what model of Hoover bagless vacuums may be best for lugging up stairs. That and more can be quickly found at AskTheVacuumGuy.com.
