Most of us are pretty good at cleaning our homes to get rid of dirt, dust and germs from surfaces like floors, tables and countertops. But most people pay a lot less attention to their soft furnishings such as sofas, easy chairs and upholstered dining room chairs. OK, you probably vacuum regularly, but how often do you shampoo, steam clean or spot clean your fabric-covered furniture?
Even in a perfectly clean home, soft furnishings will become dirty and grimy with time. If you live in a big city, or smoke, or cook, the fabric will acquire a thin layer of grease, soot and other environmental debris especially quickly. Every time you touch the upholstery with your bare skin, you transfer a small amount of oil, sweat and whatever makeup, perfume or body lotion you might be using, to it. At the same time, minute quantities of bacteria and viruses (such as the flu) are also transferred to the chair from your skin as well as your clothes.
Since these substances can’t be wiped or vacuumed off very easily, the next person who sits down picks up a little bit of this cocktail while contributing a smidgen of their own to the mix, and so it goes on. Then there are the mites, fleas, ticks, bedbugs and other tiny critters that sometimes live in soft chairs, cushions, and even your office chair. A veritable swap-meet for all manner of bugs, germs and diseases, right there in your living room. It’s enough to make you see why your great-aunt Gladys insisted on covering her couch with plastic.
But before you get too grossed out or carried away, you should realize that we humans are very resistant to bugs and germs, which are all around us wherever we go. You can make your own home a lot more hygienic and comfortable by cleaning your upholstery regularly, however. Your chairs and sofas will also look fresh and vibrant again, and stains will be banished. It’s not expensive to either clean furnishing fabrics yourself or have them professionally cleaned.
Doing it yourself
Whether you need to get rid of a stain where your toddler spilled his juice, or you want to give your entire living room set a spring clean, there are many different upholstery cleaning products for sale in furniture stores, supermarkets and home improvement outlets. You should begin the cleaning process by removing all loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner. It’s always a good idea to test your chosen product on a small patch in an inconspicuous area to make sure it won’t ruin the color or texture of the fabric. Avoid getting your furniture too wet, since soft furnishings take a long time to dry if the water has penetrated into the cushions. For this reason it’s best not to use a steam cleaner – that’s something best left to a professional service.
For light stains and grime, especially from pets, try sprinkling a good layer of a mixture consisting of three quarters of a cup of baking soda, two tablespoons of cornstarch and two tablespoons of baby powder on your furniture. After a few minutes, vacuum up with the upholstery cleaning wand, and your chairs should be fresh and clean-smelling again.
If you’re using a spray-on cleaning solution, follow the instructions on the can or bottle. For a liquid or cream cleaner, experts recommend adding a little bit of water and whipping the solution in a blender or with an electric beater to ensure that it doesn’t sink in to the fabric too quickly. You can even whip up powdered laundry detergent with water, as long as it doesn’t have bleach among the first three ingredients. Use a cloth, sponge or soft brush to apply carefully, and blot with a towel soaked in clean water and wrung out to remove excess cleaning product.
Greasy stains can be removed with special dry cleaning solvent that you blot on with a clean, white cloth (don’t rub). Follow up by blotting with dishwashing detergent dissolved in a cup of warm water, then use a towel to sponge the cleaning agents off with warm water. Did you know that baby wipes can be excellent upholstery cleaners? Use wipes that contain alcohol, which dries rapidly, unless your fabric is particularly delicate. Baby wipes are especially convenient to use since there’s normally no need to use water afterwards, plus they’re not so wet that they leave large wet patches.
Professional cleaning services
If you can’t get the stain out, if your upholstery material is difficult to clean or has a tendency to mark or discolor, or if you just don’t feel like tackling the job yourself, get a professional to come and clean your furniture for you. An upholstery cleaning expert can often get things clean even when your attempts have failed, as they know exactly what chemicals and methods to use. Pure cotton and cotton blend fabrics are especially tricky to clean yourself, and so-called Haitian and Tahitian cottons are definitely best left to a pro.
Many cleaning firms will be pleased to schedule you for a regular cleaning session once or twice a year, and will call you ahead of your fixed appointment to confirm. In between, try to spot clean any spills or stains as soon as they happen, to prolong the life of your furniture and keep it clean and pleasant all the time. You can also help prevent dirt from building up by using the kitchen extractor fan when you’re cooking, and encouraging your family to keep their feet off the furniture and to be careful not to spill food or drinks where they’re sitting. The whole family will soon come to appreciate that keeping the chairs and sofas dirt-free makes for a healthier living environment as well as a more attractive home.
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