You use it every day, rely on it to be comfortable when guests come over, and was probably one of the more expensive purchases inside your home. But, keeping upholstered furniture clean isn’t always a priority, unless there has been a spill. There are a few things to keep in mind when keeping upholstery clean and fresh all year long.
Prevention
Think prevention first by deciding on the furniture usage. If you don’t want to have children snacking or drinking on the brand new couch, then make the rule and stick to it! However, if that is the norm in your home, then take time to tidy up a bit on a regular basis by vacuuming the cushions frequently. Many vacuums have a drapery/upholstery attachment, which will suck up all those loose crumbs from the cushion surface gently, and the crevice took will work behind and beneath the cushions where crumbs like to hide.
If your couch has removable cushions, take them off and beat them together outdoors, in the fresh air. When you return them to the couch, rotate and flip them to a different position to make the “cush” last longer on the cushion.
Urgent
Urgent care is needed for spills, to prevent staining or saturation of the cushions. Using a clean, white towel, blot at the spot to soak up as much liquid as possible. The technique is important here, a blotting motion is merely patting at the spill without rubbing it in or around. If you rub the spot, it can easily spread to a larger area. And, if it’s a large spill, work from the outside of the area inward to prevent further seepage, but work quickly so the liquid doesn’t penetrate down through the upholstery and into the cushion.
Spot-cleaning might be allowed on your couch. Most furniture manufacturers have suggested cleaning instructions, and this applies to upholstered furniture as well. Read the label to understand the best method for your item.
A highly diluted mixture of water and white vinegar can be applied to a hidden area first, using another soft, clean cloth. Again, don’t rub while cleaning, but blot a small amount of the solution, using a separate part of the cloth to blot up the moisture right away. Don’t over-wet the area to be cleaned; this tends to spread the spot on the underside of the upholstery, even if you don’t see it on the top side.
When blotting with a cleaning solution, remember that less is more. If the padding under the upholstery gets saturated, it is an invitation for mold and mildew growth, which will spread quickly on the fibers in the couch.
Deep Cleaning Upholstery
Deep cleaning should be planned at least once a year to protect your furniture investment. A professional upholstery cleaner will know the right methods to use, based on the manufacturer recommendations. They will deep-clean the furniture so it smells better and is more pleasant to sit on again.
ServiceMaster by the Border knows how to clean the upholstered furniture in your home as well as your carpets. Call today to schedule this as one part of your seasonal or spring cleaning.