A sofa or a couch is such coveted furniture in most of our homes which seems to be where all the action is with most gathering around it. And of course, they make your living rooms beautiful and bright and often turn you into a couch potato if you happen to have a T.V. in front. But sofas get abused and become dirty over time making them look dull and unsightly. Drinks, tea, pet hair, food bits, grease from our bodies, and other liquids spill on them and make them lose their shine. Of course, you can ring in professional help from upholstery cleaning Sydney service providers. They have technically trained personnel who rush in on request and bring your dirty sofa back to life.
Now whether you spilled crumbs or coffee there are a few cleaning tips that can resurrect your precious household piece back to life. Let us look at how to clean a sofa that has become dirty.
Find and Decode the Manufacturer’s Instructions:
Sofa upholstery has a tag that encloses the manufacturer’s instructions. For those not initiated into the codes written on it, here is a tip-
S: Only dry clean detergent is to be used
W: Only water-based solution may be used
X: Do not use water, just vacuum
WS: Either water-based detergent or dry cleaning agent may be used
Wipe Wood and Metal Portion:
Use liquid dish soap and water to gently wipe the un-upholstered wood or metal portions of your sofa like the feet of your sofa.
Use the vacuum:
Using the brush attachment of your vacuum clean out the dirt and other solid debris from the surface of your sofa. You may use the hand vacuum used in your cars. This might help you reach out and suck into vacuum bag food crumbs, pet fur, ash, etc. If cushions can be detached, remove and vacuum.
Stain Removal by Homemade Cleaning Solutions
Possibly the riskiest accident you face on your sofa is the problem of stain. So if you can master that, you have mastered the art of cleaning your sofa! There are several cleaners that you may buy from stores. There are also a few cleaners that may be made at home and can be useful and effective. Let us look into some which may be made to suit specific fabric types.
If you have fabric upholstery, just mix ¾ cup of warm water, ¼ cup of vinegar, and about 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Put this mixture in a spray bottle and spray on the affected area. Then using a soft white cloth scrub on the stain till it is removed. Take another clean cloth that is slightly wet to take out the soap. Then gently use a towel to dry.
If your sofa has synthetic upholstery mix 1 cup of warm water, ½ tablespoon of liquid dish soap, and ½ cup of vinegar and put into a spray bottle and spray this on the soiled portion. Using a soft cloth scrub till the stain is removed.
For those having leather sofas, mix ½ cup of olive oil and ¼ cup of vinegar and put this mixture in a spray bottle and spray over the sofa surface and then gently clean with a soft cloth.
If you have a boucle sofa then for a stain that is slightly deep, blot the affected area using a clean soft white cloth or a natural sponge. Use soapy water that is slightly lukewarm. If the stain is still there, gently dab using a pH-neutral cleanser, upholstery stain cleaner, or an equal amount of water and laundry detergent on the stain and allow it to sit for one minute.
About Drying You’re Sofas
Always take care to use a towel to soak up any excess water from the sofa surface. Allow the sofa to air dry. In humid weather, a fan may be pointed toward the soda to help speed up the drying. Humidity causes mildew growth in upholstery and cushions.
Additional Tips for Leather Upholstered Sofas
While leather sofas seemingly seem easy to maintain, it is not quite so. If not taken properly care it may look dirty and uncared. So here are some tips for you to keep in mind if you own one!
For leather sofas, leather conditioner, and soap may be used regularly to maintain their look. Using a slightly moist clean cloth wipe the leather surfaces once a week.
If your sofa upholstery quickly attracts dust, lint, or fur using a lint roller helps. This is for those sofas where mild removal of lint is required. But it can also work for bigger areas.
You might have a sofa whose fabric may be cleaned by a water-based cleaning agent. You can use steam to take out dirt and stains. Fix the steam setting in your iron and just glide it back and forth over the soiled spots of your sofa. For very serious issues you have to of course consider ringing in upholstery cleaning Sydney specialists to revive your sofa and rid of stains.
For those who have been adventurous and have a white leather upholstered sofa, there are a few DIY methods that can be handy and effective.
Before you start any household remedy or solution application on leather or any upholstery of a sofa always do a sort of patch test. Select an inconspicuous area of the sofa and do a small test using the treatment. Based on the reaction and effectiveness you can proceed with the method on a larger visible surface. This will prevent any damage and also save you costs for repair or replacement.
One method is by using a common household item-tooth paste. Moisten the stained area with a damp rag, just wet it, and do not soak it. Now take white toothpaste (non-gel) and dab on the stain. Then scrub away the stain using a soft toothbrush. Follow this by wiping the area using a clean cloth. Then dry using a towel.
Another method is using 4 cup vinegar and ½ cup olive oil and pouring this into a spray bottle and misting over the stain and allowing it to stand for 5 minutes. Then wipe it. Do not use ammonia-based cleaner. This tends to harm the leather. Sofas are utility items in which you have invested, while it is great to carry out home remedies for serious issues it’s advisable to reach out to specialist upholstery cleaning Sydney service providers!
