Many people try to find the easiest or fastest way to cleaning the sofa, but this is not the best approach. It’s quite simple – some sofas are easy to clean; others require more effort. And different upholstery needs to be treated differently. So the right question is, “What’s the most effective way to clean my sofa?”
Check the materials your sofa is made of
First, DO NOT try to clean your sofa without knowing what fabric or fiber blend you are dealing with. It is very easy to ruin your upholstery beyond repair. The best thing you can do is look for a cleaning code. This should be on a sticker attached to the frame under your couch’s upholstery. It is not required by law for a manufacturer to put such a code on their furniture.
If it does, read it carefully. Somewhere on the bottom of the sticker is one of 4 codes:
“W” – stands for wet or water. You can safely apply moisture.
“S” – stands for Solvent Only. Dry cleaning only, NO WATER!
“S/W” – stands for Dry Foam. Safer than S, but still better not to take a risk and opt for dry cleaning.
“X” – stands for vacuum cleaning only. Do not try to wash by yourself. This is a very rare code.
If there is no code sticker, it is better to leave the decision on the most appropriate cleaning method to a professional. Cleaning upholstered furniture is a delicate task. There is no universal method to clean all types of furniture. The material will determine which treatment is best and how well it removes certain stains or soils. Remember that spotless doesn’t always mean the furniture will look good after treatment. Explain your exact expectations to the technician before he starts cleaning. Ask him for a free trial cleaning. If you are not satisfied with the result, do not waste money and refuse the procedure. Unfortunately, the fact is that some materials cannot be fully cleaned after a certain period of use.
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Clean your couch yourself
Assuming you haven’t found a code, feel the fabric with your hand. If it is smooth, almost silky, you can most safely dry clean it. These fabrics are usually more decorative and look a little shiny. If the cover feels rather rough or plush (like the fabric of a car seat), you can most likely steam clean it. If in doubt, test an unseen area with a few drops of water. Most fabrics to dry cleaning are not absorbent and will repel liquid or bead up. Water treatment of dry-cleaned upholstered furniture can cause color loss or bleeding, shrinkage, or water stains (yellowish or brownish rings like those that appear when a child wets the bed).
Most rings of liquid are known as water spots). Once water stains occur, they are usually permanent. There is another good way to check your upholstery. If the fabric already has water stains, it is very likely that it needs to dry clean. DO NOT USE A MOISTURE METHOD. Water stains can appear on some upholstered furniture in a matter of minutes or even a few hours. If you think your sofa upholstery needs dry cleaning, don’t try it yourself. Usually, dry cleaning products are only good for superficial dirt. It is quite ineffective for old stains and really visible differences. Dry-cleaned upholstery fabrics do not absorb water and therefore do not clean well, even if moisture is added.
If you find that your sofa is suitable for steam cleaning, then you are in luck. You can rent a steam cleaner or use your own portable steam cleaner, but professional units do a better job. Optimal pressure is around 300 PSI, but no more than 400 PSI. A smaller portable steam cleaner may only reach about 100 psi. Don’t use a lot of detergents. If it is foam or soap-based, it will leave an unwanted residue or film on the fabric. This residue will attract dirt in a short time and may stiffen the upholstery somewhat.
The concept of steam cleaning (which is extremely hot water at very high pressure) is to break up and pull out dust and dirt, so the extra cleaner doesn’t matter much. Go over your entire couch with the steam cleaner. If you apply the moisture evenly and soak up as much as you can, you should be fine. If you notice stubborn stains, put a few drops of cleaner directly on the affected area and go over it with several short passes.
However, never use too much detergent; regular steam cleaning is more effective and safer than using too much detergent. For stain removal at home, white vinegar mixed with water is safe. Just stir it up a little with a brush beforehand. However, there is no magic mixture that you can use as a stain miracle. Most effective stain removers are highly acidic and should only used by a professional with the proper equipment. You must keep in mind that some stains can be permanent. In some cases, cleaning may not produce the expected results despite your best efforts. As a rule, light color stains are the worst. Mustard, urine, fruit juices and other light colors will stain the upholstery fabric. When you’re cleaning, leave the windows wide open so the sofa dries quickly.
Cleaning leather sofas
If you have leather sofas in your home, you need to know how to keep them clean. Having a leather sofa in the house is a luxury that many people only wish for. Therefore, those who have them should be grateful and take good care of them. Taking good care of them will ensure that your sofas always look good. You need to know what kind of leather you have before you try to clean it. Because different leathers should cleaned in different ways.
If your leather is very soft and made of suede, you need to be extra careful because this type of leather stains very easily and is also the most difficult to clean and maintain. They have the right machines, supplies, and chemicals that you don’t normally have at home.
If you have genuine leather or any type of leather with a finish, you will be happy to know that they are the easiest to clean. When you buy them, they usually indicate that they are water repellent, and in most cases, you will get a special sofa cleaner as an additional gift from the store. If you’re not sure what soap or sofa shampoo to use, just use water as long as the sofa has a finish. Take advantage of a leather sofa by keeping it clean. You’ll be happy to see it shine and enjoy having it.
For more information regarding sofa cleaning services from professionals in Sydney, please visit our website: https://www.cleancouchessydney.com.au/