Remember the pride you felt when the new sofa you had painstakingly chosen was delivered to your home? In such situations, pride always goes hand in hand with a firm determination to do everything possible to keep your upholstery looking new.
Over time, however, the new look of the wallpaper is replaced by a dull layer of dust that has settled on the surface. And as frustrating as this can be, inevitably something spills and leaves a dark stain on the fabric, which is ugly and unsightly. That’s where upholstery cleaning comes in.
What is the best way to clean the upholstery?
While it’s virtually impossible for the new look to last forever, as a homeowner, you should definitely consider cleaning your furniture regularly, either by yourself or by hiring a specialized service provider. Whether you do the cleaning yourself or hire a professional upholstery cleaning service Cammeray, some steps remain the same.
Vacuum Cleaning
Vacuuming is always the first step in cleaning upholstery. This involves vacuuming the entire fabric, including crevices, seams, and upholstery.
One day you look at your sofa or couch and notice that it is too dull and faded. This is due to a layer of dust that may have settled over several days, or dirt that has accumulated due to many factors such as children, pets, guests, etc. The objective of vacuuming is to remove as much dust, dirt, and pet hair as possible without wetting the surface so that these contaminants do not dissolve in water and sink into the fabric.
Spot cleaning
Since your upholstery is a reservoir for a variety of stains and droppings, spot cleaning is an important part of upholstery cleaning, treating individual stains one at a time.
A useful DIY tip in this regard recommends wiping the fresh stain immediately with a white cloth so that most of the liquid is absorbed before it enters the upholstery. Most people make the mistake of rubbing or blotting the stain with a damp cloth, which not only spreads the stain but also penetrates deeper into the fibers of the upholstery.
Dampening is an important part of upholstery cleaning because it confines the stain to a specific area where it can be treated by the homeowner or removed by a professional cleaner by applying an appropriate detergent.
Choosing an Upholstery Cleaner
The choice of cleaner depends primarily on two factors: First, the type of upholstery material.
Determining the material of the upholstery is probably the most important step in cleaning furniture because it determines not only the choice of cleaner but also the cleaning technique. Fabrics range from cotton to wool to silk to viscose to acrylic to leather, and each fabric must be treated differently because of its unique properties. For example, the detergent and technique you use to clean cotton furniture differ from that used for leather furniture.
Generally, reputable and reliable couch cleaning service providers know the differences between fabrics due to their training and expertise in this field. The homeowner, on the other hand, may not be as knowledgeable and should definitely check this aspect before acting. In this regard, labels can be extremely informative when it comes to the do’s and don’ts of upholstery and should be considered a valuable guide by any homeowner.
Stain Removal
The type of stain is another factor that determines which cleaning product to use. As with upholstery, there are different types of stains, which are basically categorized by their cause, e.g. food, beverages, oil, grease, urine, etc. Since each person needs a different cleaner, it is up to each person – the professional or the homeowner – to find the best solution.
Not only should the cleaner be effective in removing dirt and grime particles from the interstitial space, but it should also not have a negative impact on the environment.
Important advantages and disadvantages of cleaning upholstery
- Whenever possible, upholstery should be kept out of direct sunlight. As this can cause fading and discoloration that affects the overall appearance.
- If you use candles, keep them away from the upholstery if possible so that the wax does not come in contact with the fabric.
- Applying a protective product to upholstery will keep it looking clean and fresh and protect it from stains.
- It is advisable not to use too much water to clean upholstery, otherwise, the fabric will stay wet longer and be susceptible to germs, mold, and mildew.
- After cleaning the upholstery, it is important to ventilate the room well by turning on fans and opening windows so that the drying process is quick and efficient.
Organic cleaning and its importance
We live in a world where consumerism is an important economic factor. People tend to buy more and more things and throw away everything they consider unnecessary. If this threatening lifestyle continues, an even bigger problem awaits us: toxic waste. Toxic waste is very bad for the earth and its inhabitants. It is a major cause of species extinction and even an unstable ecological system.
Avoid harmful products
To completely eliminate toxic waste from our world, everyone has a role to play. Toxic chemicals are ubiquitous, with the main source of harmful toxins in our homes being cleaning products and solutions. Most cleaning products on the market today are made up of harmful and toxic chemicals. Buy dishwashers and cleaning products that do not contain harmful chemicals. Buy cleaning products that are labeled by OSHA as the safest.
Another major source of household chemicals is house cleaning, which includes cleaning carpets, sofas, mattresses, rugs, and furniture. Use only organic household cleaning products or use a cleaning company that uses only natural and organic cleaning products.
What is organic cleaning?
Let’s take a closer look at the term “organic”. Organic cleaning refers to a cleaning method that does not use harmful chemicals that pollute the environment. Organic cleaning agents are biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and enzyme-based, they are not harmful to you or your family. By using biological cleaners, you can control the huge amount of toxic waste in your home. To protect you, your family and your environment from any disaster, safe and appropriate cleaning services should be used.
Steam cleaning
When it comes to interior cleaning, the most popular service is steam cleaning. Which uses the power of steam to remove all unwanted dirt from your household items. Try to offer steam cleaning as one of your main cleaning services. There are many other cleaning services, such as dry cleaning, detergent cleaning, etc. Avoid using these methods and services.
Keep our environment clean and toxin-free
Harmful exposure to toxins can affect our future generations and lead to the total extinction of the human race. Therefore, it is our duty to keep our environment clean and live toxin-free. You don’t have to deprive yourself of anything because there are natural alternatives to solve all your problems. By using green cleaning services, you can preserve our homeland for future generations.
Conclusion
How often you clean your upholstery is up to you. But it is highly recommended that you stick to a regular schedule if possible. Weekly vacuuming is definitely effective, but it can’t remove the dirt deep within the fibers. Deep cleaning at least twice a year will not only keep upholstery clean but also extend its life.
You can also be judicious in your choice of cleaning products. Preferring organic and environmentally friendly products over those that use harsh chemicals. Chemicals can be effective, but they also give off fumes that can be dangerous if inhaled and should be avoided.
Upholstery cleaning is an important aspect of home improvement that no responsible homeowner can ignore. Knowing the steps involved in cleaning upholstery will help you make an informed decision. About which cleaning products and methods to use.
Read: Consider microfiber, leather or washable sofas for easy cleaning
