Five Hard to Solve Upholstery Cleaning Problems Solved

Who doesn’t find upholstery cleaning to be a thankless task? Which is why it is too often relegated to the to later list right? Well, why don’t we see if we can’t make it somewhat easier with these proven couch or sofa cleaning tips.

Problem – Stubborn Pet Hair: Nasty stuff that can take over a room by ending up on everything.

Alright, well rather than shaving the dog or anything else extreme, first defuzz the couch of a light coating using a lint roller. Or masking tape wrapped around your fingers, sticky side out, might work too. Great for more serious cases. There are also pet hair removal tools you can buy. Just make sure you have a bag of some sorts near by to shove the hair balls as you create them.

Make It Easier Next Time: Try a commercial spray that eliminates static or cover your pet’s favorite chair with a washable throw.

Problem – Seat Crevices Filled with Dirt, Dust and Debris: Darn! Makes you wonder where this stuff come from, doesn’t it?

After shaking out the cushions to get rid of the big stuff attack this problem with your trusty vacuum cleaner using the upholstery attachment and crevice tool. No surprise here. Just be careful with stiffer bristles. These may damage the fibers.

Don’t Forget to: Look for any look threads or upholstery buttons that may end up getting sucked up into the vacuum bag.

Problem – Crumbs Everywhere. Setting a no-food-on-the-couch policy helps. While vacuuming gets up those crumbs some mysterious gremlins brought in when your back was turned.

Problem – Stubborn Stains: Spills are a fact of life. Responding promptly is the key before the stain has a chance to set.

Like I said spills happen. It’s what you do next that counts. First you want to blot up the spill best you can. Just don’t start rubbing away at the spill thinking you’re doing your fabric any favors. As such actions only drive the spilled materials deeper into the fibers themselves. For fabrics that aren’t water safe reach for the dry cleaning solvent and apply sparingly. Otherwise use a few drops of dish washing soap diluted in a cup of water and dab at the stained area being careful not to overwet things.

Problem – Getting to Deep Cleaning: Smart to do every once in a while.

Be careful to use the right cleaning product. The labels are on your sofa can give you clues what to do. Plus it is always wise to pre test any kind of cleaner somewhere out of plain sight. Remembering that with any type of shampoo, solvent or cleaning solution less is typically more. And that you want to give any treated area time to dry thoroughly before someone sits on the piece.

Granted, keeping upholstery nice and clean requires time and effort. But these five tips should help make upholstery cleaning a snap. I mean regular vacuuming of the cushions alone along with dusting any hard surfaces can take care of more than half of your furniture care chores. While faithfully getting to gathering animal hair, grime buildup and spills before they set in can help to keep your upholstered fresh and spotless.

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