Whether you have brand new upholstery furniture or older, you’ll need to know how to care for it properly and ensure that it lasts as long as possible. Most upholstery cleaning might seem simple but there’s a lot of different upholstery cleaning codes around, so it’s easy to get confused.
How to Identify Your Fabric
Do you have a stain on your sofa or couch? A dirt spot on your chair? It can be difficult to know the best course of action for upholstery. Luckily, most coverings are labeled with a cleaning code and once you understand those codes – mild cleaning is manageable yourself. We’re going to take a look at what those cleaning codes mean as well as some best practices so that your upholstery looks great for years to come.
The fabric code for your furniture is important. It will tell you how to best wash it, how it should be ironed, and if certain substances are safe around the fabric. It’s great having a piece reupholstered but you want to make sure that the new upholstery is also safe with whatever products you use. Always check with the manufacturer as well if you can as information about fabrics tends to fade over time and different cleaning methods may need to be applied for more stability in the future should problems arise unexpectedly out of nowhere!
W stands for Water based cleaners – and these require the least amount of effort when it comes to getting stains out. This is not the same as being machine washable, however. This code means that you can spot clean your fabric using a water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. You can use a brush to agitate the cleaner or even an upholstery attachment on a carpet cleaner. Be careful to avoid over-wetting the stain.
Anything with “S” in the labeling and/or care instructions should be cleaned by a trusted cleaner since they are sensitive fabrics. You can spot treat stains with a solvent cleaner or dry-cleaning product, but be sure to use these sparingly. It is best to use them in well-ventilated areas and avoid using them around open flames. Avoid using petrochemical products that contain the pair of chemicals known as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).
“W/S” W/S stands for “water soluble,” and in dry cleaning nomenclature, it means that a combination of cleaning agents that can be mixed with water may be used. These fabrics can be spot cleaned with a mild detergent, upholstery shampoo, foam from a cleaning spray or mild dry cleaning solvent. This is a case where the pre-test using water is especially important. For overall dirt or grease, call a professional to clean these fabrics.
“X” Code X fabrics are referred to as safe fabrics because they don’t pose any kind of danger to the users when it comes in contact with clothing, body, or any items around them.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Upholstery Cleaning
Furniture can get dirty. Even if you do everything you can to take care of your furniture, there may be times where it just needs cleaning! There are a few different options you can go with to get your furniture cleaned, but here are some do’s and don’ts of upholstery cleaning. First, know that upholstery cleaning is really not that difficult, but there are definitely some things to keep in mind before choosing a method. Do make sure you know what type of upholstery you have and what the best cleaning method is before you start so you don’t ruin your furniture! Don’t forget to protect the floor underneath your furniture by putting down a tarp or something similar so you don’t get a mess on your floor!
How to vacuum your upholstery furniture
Here are some tips to keep your upholstery furniture clean for years to come! First, use a vacuum that has a hose and attachments to clean the furniture properly. They’re usually a bit more efficient. Then, use a damp cloth or sponge that has some liquid dish soap on it to wipe off dust that couldn’t be sucked up. You may also want to use a cleaning spray that is safe for your upholstery. Then, wipe off the furniture with a clean damp cloth that has been wrung out.
How to spot clean your upholstery
Upholstery is tricky to clean because it consists of a bunch of different fabrics. The best way to clean it is to spot clean it. First, vacuum up any large debris or mess that might be there. Then, mix up a solution of warm water and soap. Use the solution to spot clean the area where the dirt is. Don’t let the dirt set for too long. If the dirt is dried on, then use a soft bristle brush to loosen it. If you don’t think you can get the area clean then call a professional upholstery cleaner. It’s not worth the risk of ruining an entire couch.
The Right knowledge will help keep your upholstery clean
With the right knowledge and the right products at hand, cleaning your upholstery will be more simple than you think. Cleaning your upholstery might seem like a huge task but it doesn’t have to be! You can give Unique Upholstery, Rug & Carpet Cleaning a call for professional upholstery cleaning.