Your carpet is walked on constantly, but your upholstery also takes a regular beating. Clothes get dirty as you go about your day. Over time, the dirt from your clothing transfers to your upholstery. It becomes dull, bland and even embarrassing. You can safely clean the upholstery yourself without having to use dangerous chemicals.
Regular Vacuuming is Golden
Nothing keeps the upholstery looking better than regular vacuuming. Most vacuums come with attachments for cleaning the furniture, and you should use yours on a regular basis. When you are vacuuming the room for the week, take a few minutes to clean the sofa and other upholstered items using the attachment. Remove the cushions, so you can vacuum them on both sides and clean underneath. This will remove most of the loose dirt before it can be ground into the upholstery.
Upholstery Green Cleaning
Liquid dish soap is safe to use, and you can even use it to clean the loveseat. Using a hand mixer, combine equal amounts of water and a high quality liquid detergent until they are frothy. Using a sponge or rag, scrub the mixture into the stains. Rinse gently with fresh water, taking care not to saturate the fabric and soak the padding underneath.
Hydrogen Peroxide Saves the Day
If you are having a party and someone spills red wine, you might decide that your beautiful new couch is ruined. However, you don’t have to go buy a new sofa yet. With hydrogen peroxide, some dish soap and a collection of paper towels, you might be able to save the day and the upholstery. Mix a teaspoon of dish soap with one cup of peroxide. Open the zipper on the cushion, and then place a dry towel between the red wine stain and the batting. Using another towel, gently blot the peroxide solution onto your fabric. Press a clean paper towel on the stain afterward to remove any residue of peroxide. This can make difficult stains like red wine and even ink literally disappear. Peroxide is a form of bleach, so you should spot test this method first, and blot the peroxide up rather than allowing it to air dry.
The Power of Steam
If you have a steam cleaner for upholstery, then you can work wonders without using any chemicals. They are a little bit of an investment, but they are effective for removing stubborn stains and difficult spots.
Never Too Wet
Anytime you are cleaning upholstery, you should take care to avoid getting it too wet. Soaking the furniture is only asking for problems with dampness, mold and mildew. Getting the surface slightly damp will usually be more than enough to clean the furniture and leave it looking fantastic again.
Your furniture is your pride and joy, and you probably paid a good sum of money for it. You want to keep it in top condition and looking beautiful. These green cleaning methods are easy to do, but they can be time consuming. If you are dealing with stubborn stains that have settled in and can’t be removed, or if you just don’t have the time to devote to cleaning the upholstery, then you should trust the job to High Quality Carpet Cleaning. We use green cleaning materials and methods, and we will work hard to leave your furniture looking fresh and clean.