Cooking: How to Clean Your Upholstery -

How to Clean Your Upholstery

Cooking:

You've bought your first furniture set and now you need to take care of it. A beautiful piece of furniture will add definition to any home and lighten up the place, but you also need to know how to clean it and take care of it properly, otherwise you will have a grubby, scruffy piece of furniture squatting in the middle of your living room before long.

Basically, you just have to remember two general rules for cleaning upholstery. Since loose dirt and stains are the most common factors for soiling your furniture, knowing how to deal with these two will allow you to clean them up easily and painlessly. Cleaning up loose dirt can easily be done by vacuuming or just brushing away the dirt. Remember to do this as quickly as possible, though, before the dirt gets embedded in the fabric. As for cleaning up stains and spills, you can use a dry cloth to soak up and wipe away the liquid.

But when you really want to learn how to properly clean a variety of fabrics, however, you need to know about the cleaning codes. There are individual cleaning methods recommended for each type of fabric, so make sure you know about them. Look for the cleaning codes on one of the attached tags on your furniture, as they will tell you how to properly clean your upholstery. If you can't find the code, try cleaning a little spot in an inconspicuous area of the furniture to test for compatibility. There are four cleaning codes currently used by the upholstery industry. I have included them here for your additional information, with the relevant explanation of each.

W ?Vacuuming and light dusting are recommended. Use only water-based cleaning agents or foam from mild detergents or non-solvent upholstery shampoo.

S ?You can also vacuum or dust lightly. Use water-free cleaning solvents or dry-cleaning solutions for spot cleaning. Avoid using products with carbon tetrachloride. Use a soft cloth and clean the upholstery in a well-ventilated area. Getting the services of a professional cleaner is also recommended.

WS ?This is quite easy, since you can practically use any of the recommended methods above. Make sure to clean your furniture in a well-ventilated area if you're using solvents or dry-cleaning products. Avoid products with carbon tetrachloride.

X ?Clean your furniture by vacuuming and light dusting ONLY. Do not use liquid cleaning agents of any kind. Using water-based cleaners or solvents may cause shrinking and damage the surface appearance of the upholstery.

Use the arm rest and headrest covers for your furniture if you have them. They can prevent body oils and other dirt from soiling your furniture. Flip over any removable cushions you have once a month to even out any wear and tear. It would be nice if you could give your furniture a thorough cleaning at least every two to three months, to keep them looking fresh and clean.

Azlan Irda is the co-founder of www.aaafabric.com, which provides high quality fabrics and other products for all your needs. Visit his website to find out more about the latest high quality fabrics for all your fabric needs.