Types of furniture cleaning products
By nature, cleaning can be emergency or regular. In the first case, it is carried out in order to get rid of suddenly appeared contamination, for example, a spilled liquid, and in the second - for the purpose of constant care of the product. And if in an emergency only a cleaning agent can solve the problem, then electronic assistants such as a vacuum cleaner or steam generator are also suitable for regular maintenance. They help not only to get rid of dust and small debris, but also to destroy small insects and household mites, if present.
A vacuum cleaner is great for regular upholstery care.
Furniture cleaning products can be purchased at the household chemicals department or prepared yourself. They can have varying degrees of concentration. It all depends on how serious the pollution is. In some cases, only professional furniture cleaning services can help.
Dry cleaning standards for leather furniture
Dry cleaning of upholstered furniture made of smooth leather is carried out using a technology different from cleaning furniture made of textile upholstery. Compliance with all stages of cleaning leather furniture guarantees excellent quality of dry cleaning and long-term operation. Category: dry cleaning of leather furniture.
Dry cleaning of upholstered furniture made of nubuck and suede is the most difficult, labor-intensive cleaning; the technological feature is that both nubuck and suede have a structure different from smooth leather, which significantly complicates the cleaning process and requires special expensive technology, equipment and solvents.
Professional products
Professional cleaning products for upholstered furniture are available to any housewife today. Their range is so wide that you can choose the type that suits you, not only depending on the upholstery material, but also on price. They also differ in the form of release.
Powder
A quick and easy way to clean, it does not require the use of water. The principle of its use is as follows: the product is poured in an even layer onto the stain or over the entire surface, and then wait a few minutes. During this time, the powder reacts, which can sometimes be judged by its changed color. After time, the remaining product is removed; it is most convenient to use a regular vacuum cleaner.
The disadvantage of this option is that it is more suitable for surface, non-ingrained dirt. Old stains may not be suitable for the powder.
Shampoo
Shampoo, unlike powder, provides wet cleaning. To do this, it is mixed with water in the proportions specified in the instructions, forming a cleaning foam. Apply the product with a sponge and wait until it dries, after which its remnants are removed.
As a rule, products in the form of shampoos cope even with old stains. But they are not suitable for materials that are afraid of moisture. For this reason, before starting cleaning, you should make sure that this method is acceptable.
Spray
The main advantage of this form of release is convenient application. The spray bottle allows you to distribute the product evenly over the surface of upholstered furniture. Using a brush or sponge, you can make rubbing movements to ensure penetration of the product into the lower layers of the material. After the time specified in the instructions, the remaining substances are also removed using a sponge and a small amount of clean water.
Foam
This is an excellent option for furniture whose upholstery is made of non-moisture resistant material. It can be tapestry or velvet. The cleaning agent is applied to the upholstery, after which it is distributed with a sponge using light movements. The foam breaks down dirt well without creating a wet effect. After a few minutes, when the product has already taken an active effect, it is carefully removed from the upholstery.
Foam is an excellent option for furniture whose upholstery is made of non-moisture resistant material.
There are several ways to clean stains:
• Wet is the most effective type of cleaning, which removes even heavy dirt and multiple stains. However, after wet cleaning, you should wait a few hours until your furniture is completely dry. Another disadvantage of this method is that the luxury fabric deteriorates after wet cleaning.
• Dry – removes greasy stains and greasy upholstery. After this type of cleaning, the furniture gets rid of various allergens and dries in a short time. Dry cleaning is ideal for surfaces made of expensive fabrics, silk and wool carpets.
• Combined – suitable for removing small stains from the surface of upholstered furniture. The combined method is also suitable for cleaning furniture and carpets made of fabric that quickly absorb water (velor, cotton).
Home Remedies
Cleaning upholstered furniture with traditional folk remedies does not lose popularity, despite the abundance of household chemicals in stores. Many housewives fundamentally prefer to care for upholstery using proven products that are available in any home. And it must be said that such methods often show good results.
Soap solution
This is the easiest way that even a child can do. To do this, rub a little soap into a container of warm water and mix everything thoroughly. A rag soaked in the resulting solution is used to clean the furniture. The cloth must be wrung out so that it is sufficiently damp, but not wet.
Soap solution is one of the means for cleaning upholstered furniture
Vinegar and salt
A solution using these two components has a good cleaning effect. To do this, add 1 tablespoon of table vinegar and table salt to half a liter of warm water. Blot a clean towel in the thoroughly mixed mixture and use it to clean off dirt. This method can also be suitable for upholstery made of delicate materials. It is enough to apply a dampened towel to the stain and carry out knocking movements.
Alcohol solution
One of the popular home methods for cleaning upholstered furniture is a solution based on regular alcohol. It is especially effective against pen stains or makeup marks. In order to prepare such a cleaning product, it is enough to add tablespoons of alcohol to 200 ml of water at room temperature. The solution is applied to the stains using a clean sponge.
Dishwashing liquid
In some cases, this product can show really good results, for example, with chocolate or jam stains. Apply a small amount of detergent with a sponge or cloth, rubbing in with light movements, and after a few minutes, remove its residue. Some housewives also use shaving foam for this purpose. It claims to be able to remove grease stains.
Vinegar and ammonia
Both of these components have a fairly active effect, due to which you can expect them to clean even heavy contaminants. The product is made by mixing vinegar and alcohol in equal proportions, after which it is applied to the site of contamination.
Selection rules depending on the upholstery
The material from which the upholstery is made plays an important role in choosing a furniture cleaning product. Moreover, it can dictate the choice of brush stiffness or the possibility of using a vacuum cleaner.
Types of upholstery
Caring for flock furniture
Flock is one of the most popular upholstery materials, which is not only pleasant to the touch, but also perfectly conveys any pattern and design. During the use of furniture, dirt in the form of stains may form on its upholstery. Visually, they may resemble abrasions, as small fibers stick together and lose their original shape.
For cleaning flock sofa upholstery, cleaning products containing the following are prohibited:
- Alcohol. The weakest solutions are allowed;
- Solvents: acetone, gasoline;
- Chlorine.
Since flock has small fibers, it cannot be dry cleaned by mechanical action of a brush without the use of special products. Otherwise, the material may be damaged. Any contamination must first be dissolved and then removed from the surface with a brush or sponge.
For flocking, you can use both purchased products in the form of shampoos or foam, and self-prepared solutions based on soap and lemon juice.
Velvet and plush upholstery
If the house has furniture upholstered in velvet or plush, then you should forget about using a vacuum cleaner to clean it. Otherwise, the material will quickly lose its appearance, taking on a shabby appearance. For the same reason, you should not use brushes with hard bristles or any products containing aggressive components.
In order to get rid of stains on velvet or plush, you need a slightly unusual approach. Initially, the area of contamination is treated with a sponge or rag soaked in gasoline. When the surface is completely dry, carefully wipe the stain with ammonia.
If you need to choose a purchased cleaning product, it is better to choose a foam or spray. Shampoo and powder in this case can harm the fabric if used incorrectly.
How to care for chenille?
Shannil is a fairly picky material that you can safely use a vacuum cleaner to care for. If stains appear on it, then a regular soap solution can help. Any type of cleaning products can also cope with stains: shampoo, spray, foam. If the stain is greasy, it is best to use an ammonia-based aqueous solution of 6%.
Cleaning velor
Velor furniture is always beautiful and stylish. But if contamination occurs, cleaning must be carried out in 2 stages:
- The stain is treated with a brush. Her bristles should be of medium hardness. This will prevent damage to the material;
- Soak a sponge in a solution of table vinegar and wipe the surface with it.
All that remains is to wait for the furniture to dry in order to evaluate the result. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.
Cleaning faux nubuck
Nubuck is an analogue of suede. Artificial material is used for upholstery of upholstered furniture. Its advantage is that it is fairly easy to care for; it can be cleaned with almost any product sold in the store. The main criterion in this matter should be the absence of too aggressive components that could damage the fabric.
A cleaning brush should be chosen with soft bristles. If you wish, you can purchase a special brush designed for cleaning nubuck.
Cleaning genuine leather
Upholstered furniture made from genuine leather is usually much more expensive than models made from other materials. For this reason, caring for it should be regular and careful. You can use a vacuum cleaner, but the brush must have soft bristles, otherwise you may scratch the surface.
You should wipe the furniture with a slightly damp, plain flannel cloth. Under no circumstances should large amounts of water come into contact with the skin. Over time, it will cause the color to fade. If a stain appears, you can also treat it with a soft cloth, but already moistened with a small amount of alcohol.
In order to maintain the shine of leather furniture, treat it once every six months with special products.
The shine that natural leather has is ensured by the presence of fat impregnation in it, but over time it tends to dry out. This may adversely affect the appearance of the furniture. In order to preserve it for as long as possible, it is recommended to treat the skin with special products every six months.
Artificial leather care
Caring for furniture made from artificial leather is not much different from furniture made from natural materials. She also does not like large amounts of water and hard bristles. You can wipe such furniture with a soft cloth soaked in a soap solution you prepare yourself. After which the surface must be wiped dry.
