Upholstery cleaning is an essential part of any home care routine. Every time you sit, lie, plop or move around on your upholstered furniture you release dust, dirt, mildew, mold spores, bacteria and dead skin cells into your home’s air. While good air filters and house plants help reduce some of those contaminants, removing them from your upholstery completely is critical to a healthy home.
Professional upholstery cleaners use many techniques to remove dirt, stains and allergens from furniture. They usually begin by vacuuming the surface of a piece of furniture. If the fabric has a nap, or is textured, they might brush it with a soft-bristled brush to loosen dirt. They may then use a special attachment to vacuum the fabric, sucking up both dirt and dust. If the furniture is upholstered in leather, they might rub it with a cloth to smooth out the surface and then vacuum it again.
If the upholstery is fabric, a light vacuuming will often remove most surface dirt and soil. For more serious dirt and stains, however, an upholstery cleaning Eagle ID machine might be needed. These are small, handheld machines that lift stains with cleaning solution and water, scrub the fabric with brushes, then vacuum up the liquid. Many are effective and affordable, although the best ones come with a wide variety of accessories that make them more versatile. If you choose to use an upholstery cleaner, be sure it is designed for your type of furniture and read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Before you start cleaning a stain, it’s a good idea to blot at it with an absorbent cloth to quickly lift moisture. This prevents the stain from getting “rubbed in,” which can actually cause it to soak deeper into foam layers of your furniture’s fibers. If it’s a liquid spill, blotting also helps eliminate any excess moisture before it can set into the upholstery.
For solid stains, start by trying to remove as much of the substance as possible with paper towels or a brush. Next, treat the stain with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar or Totally Awesome cleaner. If you have a spray bottle, mix one cup of each with clean water, shake it well and apply the cleaner to your fabric furniture. Finally, rinse the upholstery thoroughly with clean water.
Once the surface of your upholstery is clean, it’s a good idea to get it dry as quickly as possible. Damp fabrics promote the growth of all manner of microbes, so a thorough drying is a must. If you can, place the fabric on a flat, covered surface and use a box fan or ceiling fan aimed at it to speed up the process. If the weather permits it, sun-drying your upholstery is another option.
After your upholstery is clean and dry, it’s a good idea to treat any remaining odors with a fresh baking soda paste. To make a baking soda paste, dump 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl and add a few teaspoons of water until you have a thick but spreadable consistency. Spread it over odor-causing areas and let it sit for about two minutes before scrubbing gently with a brush or sponge.