How to Clean Upholstery the RIGHT Way
In most homes, the living room is the most frequently used room in the house. After a while, that can be reflected in your furniture. Giving your upholstery a regular cleaning can greatly prolong the life of your furniture. And who doesn’t love curling up on a clean couch! We’ve compiled a how-to’s of our favourite (and speedy) methods to clean your upholstery – and most of the products you probably already have at home!
1. Vacuum
The first thing you need to do is vacuum the furniture. You would be amazed by how much of a difference a good vacuum can do! You will instantly see the colours become brighter once all the hidden dirt or pet hair is removed from the surface. Doing this regularly will also help prevent the dirt from burrowing deeper into the furniture. It is important to know what type of fabric you are dealing with and do your research. This will affect the amount of suction and technique used.
2. Pick your Cleaning Solution
Again, it is important to do a bit of research on what type of fabric you are working with. Cleaning information can commonly be found on manufacturer care tags on the cushions. For most fabrics, our favourite cleaning solution is to combine 2 cups of warm water, 3 tablespoons of plain dish soap and 3 tablespoons of white vinegar. Whisking the
ingredients together works well. Ultimately, you want to create a lot of bubbles on the top as that’s what you’re going to use. Scoop out the bubbles from the top of the mixture and spread over the entire couch. It is important to use the bubbles to control the amount of liquid that is allowed on the fabric as too much can create obvious water spots. This is also why it is important to spread the bubbles over the entire piece of furniture and not only focus on a single stain.
If you’re working with microfiber upholstery, the best cleaning solution is mixing warm water and rubbing alcohol. We like to combine them in a spray bottle. It is an easy way to again, control the amount of liquid used on the cushion. Microfiber is very sensitive to water stains, so even the cleaning solution must be used lightly and scrubbed out well to avoid leaving water stains or edges. It is a good practice to spot check your cleaner on a hidden section of your fabric to ensure there is no damage or colour loss. It is better to be safe than sorry!
3. Removing the Dirt
Once your upholstery is covered in your cleaning solution, it is time to start scrubbing. We recommend using an absorbent, white cloth. It is important to use white to avoid any colour transfer. Dampen the cloth in warm water before scrubbing at the solution. Using a white cloth is also rewarding because you can easily see the amount of dirt you are removing from your furniture!
4. Let it Dry
Once you’re satisfied with your scrubbing, allow the upholstery to fully dry before using it again. A damp cushion is quite vulnerable to stray dust or hair sticking to it. Its helpful to aim a fan towards the cushions, or open a window close by. Once everything is fully dry, sit back and enjoy!
