How to Deal with Upholstery Stains
A lot of people like to have a rest on the sofa and have a snack in the same time, or sometimes your kids sit and play on it with muddy shoes. Stuff like that cause some really tough upholstery stains. They probably look quite horrible and are tough to clean. Well, that is not such a big problem. Here are some tips how to deal with upholstery stains.
The first thing you need to know when you clean your upholstery is the type of fabric you are dealing with. The best way to find out what you need to do and how you need to clean it is by checking the furniture tag. There are letters which will tell you what kind of cleaners you need to use on your upholstery. Here is what they mean:
S means you need to use a solvent. You should know that if you use it, you need to work in a well ventilated area.
W means that you need to use a water based cleaner. You can also use a solution which contains some liquid detergent.
SW means you can use both water based cleaners and solvent.
X means that the upholstery is not appropriate for any cleaning solution. You can only vacuum your furniture.
Another thing that you need to know about upholstery cleaning is that it is best to try and remove as much of the stain as you can before it dries. This way you will have less trouble than trying to clean a dry stain. If you have spilled something on, blot it with a cloth, otherwise use the vacuum to suck up as much of the stain as you can. You should remember to blot the stain and not rub it, otherwise you risk spreading it and making a bigger mess. Cleaning services within Fairfield say that this rule does not refer only to mud stains. They are much easier to clean once the mud has dried and hardened. Then you simply need to vacuum it. If the spill has a thick consistence, scrape it off with a dull butter knife or a spoon. Use lifting motions, so that you do not damage the fibres.
Before you use a cleaner on your upholster, the best thing to do is to test it on a small and inconspicuous area of the upholstery. This way you prevent discolouring and damaging the fibres.
Never over-wet the upholstery. If you do that it might not dry properly and it might start smelling bad. It is best to work from the outside of the stain towards the centre. This way you will not leave any rings and you will not spread the stain. When it is time to rinse the solution off, the easiest way to do that is with a dampen cloth or a sponge. Make sure you wring out the excess water, so that it is not dripping. Then blot the area until no more solution transfers to the cloth.
When it is time for drying, it is best to air dry your upholstery. If you need to speed up the process, you can put a cotton towel over the wet area and press it down with something heavy on it. This way the towel will absorb most of the water and when you remove it, the upholstery will easily dry. Another thing domestic cleaning services suggest you can do is to use a fan. Simply aim it to blow towards the wet area and it will make the drying faster. You should vacuum your upholstery regularly. This way you will collect all the dust and dirt from it and you will surely prolong its life.
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cleaning, cleaning tips, cleaning tricks, upholstery cleaning
