Upholstery Cleaning DIY

Compared to cleaning upholstery, most other household surfaces are a breeze. Floors can be mopped, bathtubs can be scrubbed, and windows can be sprayed with a cleaner to remove any dirt. Cleaning upholstery, however, is an entirely different story. Upholstery is a broad term, and can refer to virtually any type of fabric, leather, or vinyl that covers a piece of furniture, such as a couch, sofa, bed, or chair.

There are many reasons why cleaning these fabrics can be such a difficult process, and still more why it is a good idea to enlist professional help if your upholstery is beginning to look or smell less than fresh. However, there are some things that you can do by yourself - become a do-it-yourself upholstery cleaner. If you're looking to get rid of the soil that has built up on your upholstery, look here.

Getting Rid of the Soil

There's nothing like looking up in your kitchen's ceiling and seeing all of those cooking grease spots. Let's face it, it can be downright embarrassing. Or what about when you invite your friends or family over, and you want them to sit on the sofa or love seat. But they're dirty. We have some tips for you to prevent these embarrassments from occurring in the first place.

To prevent oil spots from sticking to your walls or ceiling, use a range hood and clean your furnace filters. Use covers on your headrest and arms of your sofa, love seat, and chair. Use throws or sheets to prevent body soil from accumulating on your outside furniture.

Cleaning Your Upholstery

You can use commercial upholstery shampoo products for cleaning your upholstery or you can make your own upholstery cleaning solution. Do the following:

• Mix ¼ cup of liquid dish or laundry detergent and 1 cup of warm water.
• Use a hand mixer to whip until dry suds form. (Note: Don't mistake this for the real thing, but these will look like whipped cream.)
• Dip your soft brush or cloth into your solution. Apply the solution on a small area of your upholstery. Lightly scrub the area. You're testing this area just to make sure your solution won't damage it.
• Let the area dry.
• If your solution didn't damage the area, you can now clean your entire upholstery furniture.
• Use a rubber scraper or spatula to get up the dirty suds.
• You may have to clean your upholstery one more time.
• Get a clean cloth. Dip it in clean water.
• Wring out the excess water.
• Wipe your upholstery.
• Let your upholstery dry.

For quickly drying your upholstery, you can do one or more of the following:

1. Open your windows.
2. Turn on an electric fan.
3. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier.

Removing Nail Polish from Your Upholstery

You might need to remove nail polish from your fabric. Here is how you do it:

1. Use a non-oily acetate nail polish remover. Saturate the area.
2. Use a clean, white cloth to blot it up. (Note: You may need to repeat these steps.)

If you have acetate fabrics, use chemically pure amyl acetate.

Leather Cleaning

You should clean your leather upholstery furniture approximately every three months. You can use leather cleaning products from the store. Or you can make your own. Follow these steps:

1. Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of food grade linseed oil.
2. Use a white lint-free cloth to spread the solution on your leather.
3. Let the solution stay on your upholstery overnight.
4. Polish your upholstery the next day.

Your leather should now have that luster look.

Because there is no one-size-fits-all method for cleaning upholstery, the process can be tough. We know that owners want to avoid damaging their furnishing, but also desire upholstery that looks, smells, and feels clean. At Cleveland Carpet Cleaning we have the knowledge, products, and equipment to accomplish this task for you quickly and efficiently, so you can once again enjoy sitting on your favorite chair or sofa.

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