Upholstered furniture is a key element that defines any space, whether it’s a bedroom, living room, office, or even a restaurant or cafe. The kind of upholstery you choose to keep in these spaces decides the vibe of the room and brings vibrancy to it, especially if it complements the walls, curtains or the flooring of the room.
Being a crucial element of the room, it’s important to keep the upholstery fresh and vibrant to maintain the character of the space. As upholstery is a long-term buy it is not something that can be replaced if it gets dirty or loses its color. Instead it should be cleaned regularly to restore its original color and freshness.
You can hire professional upholstery cleaners to turn years old upholstery in your home or workplace area into newly purchased furniture. They don’t only clean them but also enhance the color and the fabric of the furniture making it look almost as good as new.
But before hiring any cleaners you should know all the do’s and don’ts of getting your upholstery cleaned. Let’s find out what those are.
Do’s
- Do your own research on the type of fabric your upholster is made and then let the cleaner start the cleaning process
- Look for the manufacturer’s code to determine which type of cleaning solution is good for your upholstery’s fabric. These solutions include labels like :
- W: water-based cleaner should be used.
- S: solvent-based cleaner should be used.
- WS: Either water or solvent-based cleaner is suitable.
- X: Professional cleaning only.
- Before starting the cleaning process, ask the cleaner to test the product on the hidden side of the sofa to test its result on the fabric, also called spot test.
- Give your furniture upholstering cleaning after every 12-15 months
- For people with pets and children or high traffic usage, the gap can be reduced to 6-8 months.
- After upholstering cleaning, regular vacuuming should be done to maintain the cleanliness.
Don’ts
- Don’t start cleaning without spot testing
- When there is a spill or stain, don’t clean by rubbing a cloth try gentle blotting. This improves the chances of lifting the stain
- Don’t place the upholster directly in the sunlight coming through windows to avoid color fading or shrinking. It’s advisable to use window protection in that case.
- Don’t overdo the use of cleaners, sanitizers or DIY products as their overuse can compromise the material of the upholster.
Bonus Tips
After the cleaning process, to maintain your upholstering cleaning for longer period and to prevent the furniture’s fresh look from fading again follow the tips below:
- Use fabric protectors to increase the longevity of your upholster against wears and tears
- Use Sanitizer and deodorizer to get rid of odor or potential allergens. This add on leaves the area sanitized and smelling fresh.
- Apply Stain Shielding which is also called Scotch Guarding. It adds a protective layer to the upholstered fabric as it repels water based spills.
- Apply window screens to minimize UV exposure of upholster
- Regular cushion rotation can be a very good trick to reduce tearing or dust accumulation
- Keep the furniture in a well ventilated area to avoid molding or odor.
Why Hire an Upholstery Cleaner?
Some people overthink a lot on whether they should hire cleaners for the upholstery cleaning job or not and whether it’s worth the cost; the answers to this question are down below:
They are Expert Cleaners: The professional cleaners are more experienced in the matter regarding deep cleaning and are experts of removing any type of stain or dirt without compromising on the fabric and its color.
Experts are More Knowledgeable: Expert cleaners possess more knowledge on the subject of suitable cleansers for different fabrics and the types of solutions that should be used for each fabric type. They know which kind of solution fights what kind of stains and which fabric is sensitive towards what kind of chemical. To proceed with upholstery cleaning at home, you need in-depth knowledge of these things – for which you will need an extensive research
Professional Cleaning is Quicker: Deep cleaning at home is a long and time consuming job, hiring experts will make it happen quicker as it is their daily job. Upholstery Cleaners hired from professional companies ensure effective results in less time.
Use of High Tech Equipment: The use of state-of-the art machinery not only deep cleans the furniture but also improves the overall air quality and eliminates the potential health risks in the upholstery area.
Cost Effective Services: Regular cleaning might look like an added expense but considering the benefits of not having to spend a fortune on future repairs, maintenance and ultimately replacings, makes it a cost effective service.
Hire Professional Upholstery Cleaners
Upholstery cleaning is an essential part of keeping your furniture looking great, hygienic, and lasting for as long as possible. DIY cleaning may work for light stains, but professional upholstery cleaners always manage a good, deep clean using sophisticated techniques and high-tech equipment. Not only will proper care save you a minor fortune on repairs in the future, but it will ultimately take your space from on-sale to gorgeous, as well as a much fresher space.