Means for cleaning upholstered furniture: characteristics, rules for selection and use

Upholstered home furniture gets dirty during operation, and no matter how carefully and carefully you treat it, this cannot be avoided. To keep furnishings clean, it is important to take proper care of them and promptly clean them from various contaminants. Self-cleaning of soft products should be carried out using special products. In order to quickly return the furniture to its external perfection, it is necessary to choose the right cleaning method and detergent composition.

Systematic care of upholstered furniture guarantees its presentable appearance.

For example, the wrong choice of means often leads to the destruction of fibers, due to which the upholstery deteriorates and becomes unusable. There are some tips to heed when caring for upholstered furniture.

1. When choosing a tool, it is necessary to take into account the material of the upholstery - due to an incorrectly selected composition, there are great risks of irrevocably spoiling the furniture upholstery.
2. When cleaning products, you should not combine folk methods and various chemical agents - in this case, there are great risks of staining on the surface of objects.
3. Removable covers should be machine washed under the conditions indicated by the manufacturer on the label.
4. When wet cleaning, it is recommended to remove the remaining moisture with a towel or soft cloth. Otherwise, the risks of rapid growth of the fungus are great.
5. In case of heavy dirt, cleaning is carried out from top to bottom (backrest, armrests, seat and bottom of the furniture).
6. To make sure that the upholstery product you are using is safe, apply a little to an invisible area (for example, the back of furniture facing a wall). If the material has not changed color, the composition can be safely used for leaving.
7. In order to clean upholstered furniture from dried dirt, do not use knives and other sharp objects.

Dust and dirt accumulated on the surface of upholstered furniture create an ideal environment for the formation and rapid multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms that cause various diseases. That's why dry and wet cleaning of products is performed not only to preserve their aesthetics, but also to protect health.

The sooner you start fighting the stain, the higher the chances of successfully getting rid of it. If the dirt is "planted", and there is no specialized composition at hand, it is recommended to resort to folk methods of cleaning. With your own hands, you can prepare several effective cleaning solutions using available tools.

• Soda, powder and vinegar. To prepare the composition, take 1 tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate and any washing powder, pour in a third of a glass of vinegar. The resulting solution is poured with hot water to a volume of 0.5 liters, after which it is mixed well and the liquid is poured into a spray bottle. The composition is sprayed onto problem areas and the surface is cleaned with smooth movements using a soft sponge. This method is suitable for the maintenance of light-colored furniture.

• Hydrogen peroxide. To prepare the solution, take 1 liter of water and 20 drops of peroxide. For lather, it is recommended to add a tablespoon of any gel detergent. The finished composition is applied to the surface of the furniture using a spray bottle or sponge. The product is washed. Hydrogen peroxide products must not be used to care for dark-colored upholstery.

• Acetic acid (9%) and detergent. The substance perfectly eats away fats, quickly dissolves old dirt. To prepare the solution, take 1 liter of water, 250 ml of acetic acid and a tablespoon of detergent. The resulting liquid is thoroughly mixed and applied to the contaminated surface using a spray bottle. Instead of acetic acid, you can use lemon juice at the rate of 240 ml per liter of water. In this case, it will be possible not only to wash away the dirt, but also to give the furniture a pleasant citrus aroma.

• Ammonia and table vinegar (9%). To prepare the solution, 50 ml of vinegar and ammonia are added to a liter of warm water, everything is thoroughly mixed. To clean upholstered furniture, the composition is applied to contaminated areas, wiped with a sponge and washed.

• Laundry soap. Soap solution is effective for removing fresh greasy and other types of stains. To clean furniture, soak a cloth in liquid and wipe the surface with it. After removing the stain, the furniture is wiped off with a damp, clean towel.

Means for washing and dry cleaning of upholstered furniture, containing chemically active components, are available in various forms. They are designed to remove traces of juices, berries, fatty foods, wine, blood, lipstick, felt-tip pens. Such compositions effectively fight various contaminants and endow furniture with a pleasant aroma, give a feeling of cleanliness and freshness.

• Powders. To remove stubborn stains, manufacturers offer concentrated powders for pre-dilution with water. They dissolve in liquid according to the recommendations on the packaging. Effective and proven tools belonging to this group are EnzAl, Attack Multi-Action.

• Gels. These products often include whitening ingredients. They are able to cope with traces of coffee, tea, juices. The most popular product is Vanish carpet and upholstery stain remover.

• Sprays. It is a very convenient form of cleaning and detergent. Sprays are ready-to-use substances. They do not need to be pre-mixed with water. To clean a sofa or chair from dirt, shake the composition and apply to the contaminated areas. The best products belonging to the group of sprays are Grass Universal Cleaner, PRO-BRITE LENOT, Shtihonit. These compounds perfectly clean, wash, disinfect and cope with unpleasant odors.

• Foam. This group includes professional and household formulations that form a thick foam that fights most types of pollution. Foams can penetrate deep into the upholstery, dissolve grease, remove stubborn stains and restore the brightness of the upholstery. The best foams for cleaning upholstered furniture are Nordland, Tuba (non-wetting composition).

They cope well with small dirt in the form of traces from pencils, lipstick, felt-tip pens. The most popular stain remover stickers are Meine Liebe (universal), Udalix, the magic pencil for upholstered furniture.

Several household appliances have been created to combat dirt and dust on upholstered furniture. One of the most common and inexpensive devices is a conventional vacuum cleaner.With its help, you can quickly remove small debris from the surface of furniture and in hard-to-reach places, as well as get rid of pet hair. To refresh the surface after using the vacuum cleaner, you can “walk” over the furniture with a damp cloth soaked in soapy water.

For a deeper cleaning of furniture from dust, you can lay a damp sheet on the product, and then knock out the surface with a carpet cracker. Then the fabric must be removed, and the remaining dust must be removed with a vacuum cleaner.

A more efficient device is a washing vacuum cleaner. It can be used for both dry cleaning and wet cleaning. Some models of washing vacuum cleaners are equipped with special beating brushes.

Due to the forward movements, dust is effectively knocked out and the pile is combed.

To quickly remove dirt, you should know which product is suitable for different types of stains.

• Greasy traces. To get rid of the greasy stain on the upholstery, sprinkle salt or starch on it, then lightly blot it with a damp cloth. In this case, you should not press too much - fat can be absorbed into deeper layers. Any detergent or laundry soap should be applied to the greasy stain, then rub lightly with a damp cloth and wash.

• Fresh wine stains can be easily removed with vodka. If the upholstery is in light colors, it is allowed to use lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide diluted in water. If the stain is dry, a few drops of glycerin are first applied to it for 10-15 minutes, after which alcohol-containing compounds, a solution of lemon juice or glycerin are used.

• Tea or coffee. Stains from these drinks can be removed using a concentrated soap solution or soda gruel.

• Blood marks will disappear if you rub them with soapy water, and then wash the problem area with cold water.

• Fruit and berry impurities are removed with a solution of soda and vinegar, ammonia.

• Paint and ink marks removed with acetone or alcohol.

All these contaminants can be removed with specialized bleaches or stain removers.

After removing stains using the methods described above, it is necessary to carefully remove the remnants of cleaning or detergent compositions, and then dry the surface.

When cleaning furniture, consider the type of product used and the type of upholstery. If you choose the wrong composition, you can permanently ruin the product.

• Velvet. For velvet upholstery, it is best to use the knockout method under a damp cloth. To remove dirt, it is recommended to use soapy water and "mild" detergents without alcohol, ammonia, chlorine and other "aggressive" components. The upholstery is not allowed to be rubbed with a hard sponge; you need to work carefully so as not to damage the pile. For cleaning suede and nubuck products, the same means and cleaning methods are used as for velvet.

• For the care of furniture items made of chenille, velor and flock a mild soap solution is used. To get rid of grease, you can resort to using a steam generator. An ammonia solution is used to clean the upholstered armrests with flock upholstery. For these purposes, it is strictly forbidden to use alcohol-based compounds - they will help dissolve the adhesive. Velor upholstery is cleaned only in the direction of the pile.

• Jacquard and Tapestry it is not recommended to subject to wet cleaning, otherwise the upholstery may "shrink", which will lead to a loss of aesthetics of the furnishings. Special foams are used for cleaning. They should be applied pointwise to the spots.

• For the care of natural and artificial leather soap solution, alcohol-containing compositions are used. It is allowed to process surfaces with a steam generator. It is forbidden to use products with acetone, turpentine and powder formulations with abrasives. To protect the leather surface from various contaminants, products should be treated with stearic lubricants.

• Depending on the type of upholstery, one important rule should be followed - stains should not be rubbed chaotically, smearing them on the surface of furniture and increasing the area of ​​contamination. You need to act with utmost accuracy, movements should be directed from the edges of the spot to their center.

Upholstered furniture takes center stage in almost every interior. More preference is given to such products as they are convenient and comfortable. Each owner has encountered different types of stains on the surface of the furniture. Sofas and armchairs are especially often cleaned in families with pets.

One of the best products for local stain removal is PRO-BRITE LENOT (Russia). It is a spray cleaner for the care of textile upholstery. Many users note the removal of any kind of dirt after the first application. When using a spray, you can choose a jet or fine-dispersed operating mode, which is very convenient.

Upholstered furniture owners praise Vanish - stain remover for upholstered furniture. It copes well with all types of dirt, suitable for white upholstery. The product contains no chlorine, so it is safe for textile upholstery and for human health. Vanish is budget priced, yet effective.

Other proven products include:

• IVICLEAN "PROTECT" - does not damage fabric fibers, quickly removes various stains, actively removes unpleasant odors;

• Tuba (dry cleaning foam from Germany) - the product does not moisturize the upholstery, it is suitable for both natural and synthetic materials;

• Pip (Belgian remedy) - the tool is effective, easy to use.

Consumers and folk remedies are praised if the fight is against fresh, and not old stains. People often use soapy water, vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. These are budget improvised means that can not only remove dirt, but also eliminate unpleasant odors.

See below for a powerful upholstery cleaner.