People love their sofas. Especially those that they bought by themselves, when they moved out from the parent’s home, or those that remind them on some very pleasant moments, like watching a legendary football game, or some more intimate endeavors. The point is, they are often reluctant to sell, or dump an aging sofa. However, upholstery needs care in order to last. If you notice that your friends would rather sit on the floor than on your sofa, it’s time to do something.
Remove the Crusted Matter
This is where it should start. Scrape the old crusty chunks of food or worse with a spatula or any abrupt edge, not sharp though unless you want to damage the material. If you need to remove a stain that is not dried yet, you can use a rubber spatula or a windshield ice remover, but take care not to rub the spill into the hostelry.
Vacuum the Scraped Crumbs
This is where the vacuum cleaner takes over. The crumbs of scraped crusty chunks can linger on and get ground and rubbed over later, so you need to vacuum them. Attach a dusting brush attachment onto the hose if you can find it, or use an old school dusting brush while vacuuming. If you have a steam cleaner, the job will be much easier and effective. As I had to take care of plenty of upholstery, I decided to use a commercial steam cleaner and was more than satisfied with the results. If you are lucky and the stain is on a removable cushion lining, remove it and throw it into the laundry.
Mix Your Homemade Upholstery Cleaner
There is nothing better than natural upholstery cleaner that you make at home. Pour ¼ of a measuring cup of biodegradable dish detergent into a bowl and mix it with a cup of warm water. Use a handheld mixer or an eggbeater to make a warm soapy foam and you are ready to go.
Get Down to Work
Since you have probably lost or forgotten or simply never read the cleaning and maintenance instruction that the furniture manufacturer provided, it is time to get wet. You will need a soft bristled brush to gently rub the foam into the stain and try to lift the dirt out of the fabric into the foam. When the foam gets dirty, remove it with a rubber spatula and repeat the process.
Rinsing
After you are done with foaming and removing the stain, dampen a clean white cloth with fresh cold water and use it to rinse the spot you cleaned by removing the foam and dirt remains. Rinse the cloth when it gets soiled and wipe again. When the foam is removed and the spot half dry, inspect your work to see if the process needs to be repeated again.
Drying the Upholstery before Use
Once you have cleaned your furniture, it will probably still be wet. This is a scenario when the mildew might set in, ruining your beloved piece even more. Remove the cushions and pillows to allow them to dry faster. When everything is absolutely, and I mean absolutely dry, put everything together.
Precautions
There are several things to be kept in mind when cleaning upholstery if you don’t want it damaged. First, use only natural cleaners. In this way you will avoid toxic and hazardous substances that many commercial products contain, as well as carcinogens like nitrilotriacetic acid. Also, use water sparingly, so you avoid it to set deep into the cushioning. Be sure to wipe all the excess water from metal surfaces.
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