Essential Upholstery Cleaning Guide to Keep Your Furniture Fresh

Whether it’s your favorite chair, or the family couch, every piece of furniture will need some kind of upholstery cleaning. Dirt accumulates on fabrics, and it can quickly make them look worn and old. Even worse, food and other spills can permanently stain upholstery fabrics if you don't take action almost immediately. Professional upholstery cleaning will make your furniture look much brighter, but you also need answers for everyday cleaning. Here are some handy tips you can use to keep your furniture looking its best, day in and day out:

Clean Off the Larger Pieces

First things first --  if you're made a big mess, you'll need to remove any large pieces before they stain the furniture. Use a butter knife to gently scrape off the excess from the fabric. If the stain is still fresh, use a rubber spatula to remove as much as you can. Take extra care not to rub the stain in further if it is still wet.

Vacuum the Furniture

Most vacuum cleaners come with a brush attachment, which you can also use as an upholstery cleaner. Go over the whole piece of furniture with the vacuum. Don’t forget to remove all your pillows and cushions from the couches and chairs, and vacuum those as well.  Also, go over the area underneath those cushions thoroughly.  Don't forget those cracks in between.

If you don't have the proper attachment for your vacuum, you can use any hard bristle brush to go over your furniture. In a pinch, you can also use a broom to brush off your furniture, cushions, and pillows.  Afterward, use your vacuum's hose attachment to clean up any remaining dirt.

Test an Inconspicuous Area

Most furniture comes with a furniture code that tells you the best method to clean it. However, your furniture may not have this code. To make sure your cleaning the solution is safe for your fabric, you can test it on a small, inconspicuous area of your furniture.

If you don't already have a favorite cleaning solution,  test the fabric against three different types. Use water first, then vinegar, and finally alcohol to test a small spot on your upholstery. Rub a tiny bit of each, one at a time, into the inconspicuous spot. Give each a minute or two, and see how the fabric reacts. Now shop for a cleaner based on the type of solution that worked best.

Using Upholstery Cleaner

You can use a store bought upholstery cleaner, or you can make your own. Apply the cleaner to a soft bristle brush. Gently scrub the foam into the fabric of your furniture. Remove the dirty foam with a rubber spatula. You can use a little extra cleaner for tougher stains, but do not add extra pressure. This can grind the stain further into the fabric. This is especially true when dealing with pet stain removal.

Rinse Away the Suds

Get a clean cloth, and dampen it with water. Rinse the fabric by gently but thoroughly, wiping away the leftover suds. Make sure to rinse the cloth every once in a while to remove excess suds from it.

Dry Thoroughly Before Use

Once you’ve cleaned all the soap from the fabric, your furniture needs plenty of time to dry. Leaving your furniture wet can cause mildew to form. Keep your cushions and pillows out to dry at least several hours before you put it all back together.

Let a Professional Upholstery Cleaning Service Help

If you're pressed for time, or you think your home could use a more thorough cleaning, a professional upholstery cleaner can help. In the Los Angeles area, Naturally Green Cleaning is great at making your furniture look much cleaner and fresher. Naturally Green uses specialized equipment and an environmentally friendly cleaning solution to remove dirt and stains from furniture. Their low-moisture techniques improves indoor air quality, and it also gets your furniture back in service sooner.