5 Tips to Clean Your Upholstery 🛋️

Hello Clean Freak Family! Happy Cleaning Tuesday!

You may want you to sit down for this… Today we are going to talk about Upholstery Cleaning!

Cleaning Upholstery can be challenging. Sometimes it is like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold you are digging up last week’s French fries and discovering ‘mystery Cheerios’ from the 1980’s! Other times it is like a pet that does not need to be fed or walked but somehow ends up looking and smelling like it was running outside in a rainstorm. Also, Upholstery comes in all different types of colors and fabrics, so proper cleaning can vary with each item.

But the best part for us as Clean Freaks? The before and after Transformation!

So put on your cleaning gloves, grab your trusty cleaning tools… It’s time to give your couch and/or chair the makeover and refresh it needs!

Today we are going to discuss 5 tips to help clean your Upholstery

1. Check the Clean Code on the Tag

 Many people are not aware that upholstered furniture typically has a ‘Clean Code’ on the tag.

W - Means that it can be cleaned with Water

S - Means that it HAS to be cleaned with Dry Cleaning Solvent

S/W or W/S Means that it can be cleaned with Water or a Dry Cleaning Solvent

X - Means Vacuum ONLY - Call a Professional or the Manufacturer For Cleaning Guidelines

What if my furniture doesn’t have a Tag with a Clean Code?

In this scenario it is best to contact the Manufacturer for Cleaning Guidelines or contact the Retailer where you purchased the piece of furniture. If it is an older piece of furniture you will definitely want to test a small inconspicuous area with the product or solution you are using before cleaning a larger area of fabric.

2. Give IT a Good Vacuuming!

Vacuuming removes Dry Soil - aka crumbs, dust, pet hair, people hair, potato chips, and coins! Removing as much dry soil as possible before you use a cleaning product helps you get better results in the end!

Caution: Always use a crevice tool when vacuuming in hard to reach areas. Sometimes sharp objects can be lurking below! Staples, nails, even pins or needles… so be CAREFUL!

Pro Tip! If the fabric on your couch or chair is pilling try a Fabric Shaver to remove the pilling! Just be careful... it's extremely satisfying and fun too. See it in action here!

3. Choose the Right Cleaning Product

Here is where we put the Clean Codes to use:

If your Clean Code says W 

Here is a great DYI mixture for cleaning:

• 1 Cup Rubbing Alcohol

• 1 Cup Water

• 3 Drops Dish Soap

If your Clean Code says S

This is a product we recommend HERE (Follow the instructions: Only use clean, white towels to ‘extract’ aka wipe the surface and remove the dirt and soil)

DO NOT EXTRACT SOLVENT WITH WATER!

People always ask…What if I use water on an S Code Fabric?

If you use water on an S Code Fabric you may get water spots, browning, discoloring, even puckering and/or shrinking. Unfortunately, the damage can be permanent.

4. Clean and Extract… ahh the Transformation!

This is for W - WATER Clean Code ONLY.

Spray the cleaner on and then gently scrub it with a bristle brush or white towel. Then come through with a spotter machine or carpet cleaning machine with an upholstery attachment with water only in the machine. Thoroughly flush the entire piece working in sections. This removes the residue of the cleaner and the embedded dirt and grime.

5. Get it DRY Fast!

The longer the fabric stays wet or damp the greater the possibility for unexpected issues. Turn on ceiling fans. Turn on the furnace if it is damp and cool- Turn on the air-conditioning if it is hot and humid. If it is 70-72 degrees, breezy with low humidity you may want to open some windows. We also recommend using a small fan to speed drying.

Here is the small Fan we recommend!

To see all these tips in action check out our Upholstery Cleaning video HERE

Last but not least, if you have any hesitations or concerns about your piece of furniture it never hurts to call a Professional to get a second opinion. ( Especially, if you can’t find Clean Codes or Cleaning Instructions)

There you have it…Cleaning Upholstery can sometimes feel like trying to tame a wild animal. One minute it is soft and fluffy then the next it’s covered in food, fur and dirt. However, with these 5 Pro Tips you can give your couch or chair the ‘spa day’ it deserves!

Shop our entire upholstery cleaning kit here!

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💚 Brandon & James

P.S. If you're new here and want to catch up on previous editions of the Clean Freak Weekly you can find them here!

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