How to Clean Upholstery Furniture
Cleaning upholstered furniture is not difficult, as long as you catch spills as they happen instead of letting them set to dry. Some may think it's complicated, since you can't exactly pick up your sofa and throw it in the washing machine. However, you can clean an entire chair in about 15 minutes and a sofa in 20 to 30 as long as you go about it the right way. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Vacuum cleaner Commercial upholstery cleaner or liquid laundry soap 3 or more cotton cloths Fan or hairdryer (optional)
Instructions
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1
Remove the cushions from the furniture if you can and vacuum all of the crevices with a handheld vacuum or a stand vacuum with a fabric attachment. Then vacuum the legs, arms, top and back. Finally, vacuum the cushions themselves.
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2
Spray a 1/2 tsp. of your upholstery cleaner on an inconspicuous area of your furniture, such as on the back near the floor or on the underside of a cushion, and let it set for 2 minutes to ensure the color doesn't run. If it does, repeat the same experiment using a mixture of 1/4 cup liquid laundry soap and a cup of warm water. If your furniture passes either test, proceed to Step 3 using the approved solution. If not, have your furniture professionally cleaned to avoid ruining the fabric.
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3
Spray your cloth with 1/2 tsp. of the upholstery cleaner or dip the cloth in the detergent solution and wring it out thoroughly. Keep the upholstery as dry as possible, since excess water can get absorbed into the furniture. Gently rub the upholstery with the cloth using a circular motion. Use another cloth to wipe up suds as they begin to accumulate.
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4
Rinse the upholstery with a third cloth by holding it under the tap and wringing it out, and then rubbing the furniture like before. Let the furniture air dry, using a fan or hairdryer (on the cool setting only) to speed up the process if you wish. Replace the cushions once everything is completely dry, never before.
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Tips & Warnings
If your cleaning cloth starts to look soiled, start using a new one. If you don't, you could transfer dirt back onto the upholstery. Use baby wipes for quick touch-ups between cleanings.
Read the care label on your furniture before you start cleaning it. Cleaning it in an unapproved manner could void the warranty.
