How and what is the best way to clean a sofa at home quickly and efficiently
It's no secret that upholstered furniture should be washed at least once every six months. Many people are interested in how to quickly and effectively clean a sofa at home. Before you start cleaning the surface of the sofa from dirt, you need to familiarize yourself with the most effective detergents.
How to clean sofas
There are three main types of contamination that need to be removed.
dirt
Most often, owners of upholstered furniture need to clean them from dirt, which may eventually appear on the surface.Getting rid of dirt is tricky, especially when cleaning a white sofa. If the furniture has a smooth surface, you can wipe it with a damp cloth. For pile upholstery, special models of vacuum cleaners are used, equipped with a nozzle for working with furniture.
of the smell
The surface of the canapes absorbs odors from spilled drinks well. To remove an unpleasant odor, use soap solutions or shampoo. They are rubbed into the surface with a brush, after which the furniture is rinsed with water and dried. To remove the lingering smell of urine, you will need to use a vinegar solution.
Stain
Often substances get on the couch, leaving oily stains. These can be paint marks, spilled wine drops or greasy stains from food debris. It is recommended to get rid of these stains immediately, before they have eaten away at the upholstery. To do this, use gauze or wet wipes.
Features of sofa cleaning
Upholstered furniture can be made from a variety of materials. Therefore, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the features of cleaning different upholstery.
Fabric
There are several types of fabric surfaces for sofas:
- dense, which practically does not absorb stains;
- upholstery made of smooth fabric on which remains animal hair;
- fluff, which accumulates a lot of debris and dirt.
To clean a light-colored fabric sofa, you need to vacuum the surface of the sofa. Then wipe everything with a brush dipped in soapy water and dry with a hair dryer.
Velvet
It is not easy to clean furniture with velor upholstery, since it is contraindicated to use chemical cleaning agents when working with this material.The most effective remedy for cleaning velvet from stains is considered to be weakly concentrated solutions based on vinegar and laundry soap.
Before using such a product, the surface is thoroughly cleaned of debris. It is necessary to wash the velor very carefully so as not to accidentally damage the surface.
Leather
Many people have sofas covered in leather. When working with genuine leather, use:
- heated water;
- vinegar solution;
- liquid soap;
- toothpaste.
Scrubbing the skin with a coarse brush is contraindicated, as this can damage the surface. Better to use a soft cloth or paper towel.
natural wool
Wool sofas are only stylish if they are properly maintained. They get dirty quickly and are therefore cleaned 1-2 times a month. Experts recommend spraying the wool with a special synthetic liquid, thanks to which the sofa will be less likely to get dirty. To remove debris and dust particles, use a regular vacuum cleaner or a lint brush.
Silk
Silk is considered the most common material used in upholstery. A vacuum cleaner is used to remove debris and food debris from the silk upholstery.
To get rid of stubborn stains, you will need to use a detergent or soap solution. Silk is thoroughly cleaned 1-2 times, after which it is dried. Next, you need to carefully examine the sofa to make sure there are no stains.
Synthetic
Sofas with synthetic upholstery are not easy to clean, as this material attracts dust and dirt particles.Soap products and mixtures made with apple cider vinegar will help remove dirt from the surface. Cleaning mixtures are carefully rubbed with a brush, after which the sofa is washed in warm water. If the traces do not disappear, the treatment will have to be repeated.
Wooden armrests
Sometimes it is necessary to clean not only the upholstery, but also the wooden armrests. Some people try to wash them off with water, but that's not the best solution. Experts advise using petroleum jelly, which perfectly cleans wooden surfaces. The contaminated part of the armrest is treated with petroleum jelly, after which the surface is wiped with a dry cloth or towel.
sofa upholstery
To clean and wash the upholstery of the sofa from dirt, you will need to use hot water and powder for washing delicate items. A glass of powder is added to a container with water and mixed well to form a foam. The foam is then carefully collected and spread over the soiled padding. After that, the treated areas are gently brushed.
Methods to get rid of stains
There are several types of stains that are most common on the couch. It is necessary to determine in advance how to get rid of it.
Coffee
Some people mess with their coffee on the sofa, which leads to stains. Coffee stains do not stick to the surface and are therefore easy to clean. To do this, you can use a soapy solution of laundry soap and hot water. Wipe the stain 2-3 times, after which the wet surface is dried with a hair dryer.
Red wine
If you spill red wine on a sofa, it will not only stain it, but it will also create an unpleasant odor. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the upholstery immediately after spilling wine.To clean wine stains, use common salt. Pour 2-3 grams of salt on each stain, after which it is rubbed into the upholstery with a brush. Then the treated area is wiped with a damp cloth.
oil stains
Oily contamination is the most dangerous, as it strongly eats away at the surface. As with red wine, you can use salt. However, before applying it, a sheet of paper is applied to the upholstery and heated with an iron. After that, the heated area is sprinkled with salt, which is rubbed with a brush.
Blood
You can clean the upholstery from blood with folk remedies. A vinegar solution is often used. To create a mixture intended to purify the blood, 60 to 70 milliliters of nine percent vinegar are added to one liter of water. After using the vinegar, the sofa is washed with soapy water and warm water.
Ballpoint pen
Many people think that it is very difficult to erase the marks of a ballpoint pen, but it is not.To clean the ink stains from the surface, just wipe it with alcohol wipes. You need to scrub until the upholstery is clean. After that, the wiped area of the sofa is washed with soapy water and dried.
Juice
Many people don't recommend drinking juice on the couch, as it leaves stains and an unpleasant odor. You can remove the traces left by spilled juice with vinegar and ammonia. These components are mixed in a one-to-one ratio. Then the prepared mixture is applied to a cotton ball, which is used to treat the stain. One treatment is enough for the traces of juice to disappear.
Beer
Traces of this intoxicating drink cannot be treated with ordinary water. To clean the upholstery, you will need to make a soapy solution.A third of a bar of laundry soap is added to a liter of boiling water. Carefully stir the liquid and insist until it cools to room temperature.
Brush the sofa until there are no more traces of beer on the fabric covering.
Chewing gum or modeling clay
There are times when the gum or modeling clay remains on the surface of the sofa. There are several effective methods to help clean upholstered furniture:
- petroleum jelly treatment;
- warming up with a hair dryer to dry the hair;
- use a liquid that removes nail polish;
- the use of tools for working with upholstered furniture.
Sweat
After prolonged use of the sofa, traces of sweat appear on its upholstery, which gives off an unpleasant smell. Baking soda and vinegar will help remove sweat and odors. First, soda is poured over the contaminated surface. It is carefully rubbed into the upholstery, then poured with vinegar and left in this form for 8-10 hours so that the stain has time to dissolve.
the tobacco
There is a popular effective way to remove traces of tobacco from a fabric surface. To do this, cover the sofa with a towel soaked in warm water. After 3-4 hours, it is re-moistened and the sofa is covered with it. After four hours, the napkin is removed and the stains are dusted with powder and rubbed with a brush.
Upholstery Steam Cleaner Guide
Some people use special steam cleaners to clean their furniture at home. Such a device works on the basis of heated steam, which is supplied from a high-pressure tank.The advantage of steam cleaners is that they can be used to remove stains that are in the hardest to reach places.
To clean the couch with a steam cleaner, follow these steps:
- clean the surface of debris with an ordinary vacuum cleaner;
- stain treatment with soapy water or other liquid detergents;
- dry the treated area with a hair dryer;
- treatment of upholstery with a steam cleaner.
Types and characteristics of steam cleaners
There are three types of steam cleaners that are used to work with upholstered furniture.
Manual
People who don't plan on using steam cleaners can often purchase manual models. It is the most compact type of device and is most often used for cleaning furniture. Experts recommend choosing models with a power of at least 1300 watts.
Stage
If you need a steam cleaner with good technical characteristics, you should pay attention to floor models. The power of such devices is 1500 W or more. Standing steam cleaners are considered universal, as they are suitable for both small and general cleaning.
Advantages and disadvantages
Steam cleaners have pros and cons that you should be familiar with. Benefits of this device include:
- Versatility. The steam cleaner is suitable for cleaning walls, hoods, sinks, furniture, mirrors and even toilets.
- Quick dusting. Steam cleaners help remove dust particles from floors and furniture when dry cleaning is in progress.
- Ease of use. To use the device, just read the instructions.
The main disadvantage of steam cleaners is that they do not remove stubborn stains well.
Ready-to-use chemicals
Experts recommend washing sofa upholstery with chemicals that can remove almost any stain.
Disappear
The most common chemical used to clean sofas and other furniture is Vanish. Before use, the detergent mixture is diluted in warm water in a ratio of one to eight. Then the liquid is stirred until a foam forms.
Marseille soap
Marseille soap is considered the best remedy for greasy upholstery. The main advantage of the product is that it is completely natural, since it is made from olive oil and soda. To wipe dirt off the couch, dampen a bar of soap in water, treat the couch with it, and rinse the soap off with water.
Denkmit
Foaming cleaner used to clean upholstery and carpets. Denkmit is also suitable for working on delicate fabric surfaces. Before use, the solution is thoroughly shaken, after which the dirty places on the sofa are covered with liquid.
sama
Sama is often used to wash furniture. It is an effective remedy that removes all impurities. Before using Sama, mix it with water according to the instructions. The liquid is then spread over the dirty surface of the upholstery.
Dufta
Use Dufta chemical to remove grease stains left by meals. It is enough to treat the sofa once to remove even stubborn dirt.
Simple solution
Most often, Simple Solution is used to get rid of the unpleasant smell of urine or animal feces. The product is spread over the surface of the sofa and left for 15-20 minutes. When the liquid is absorbed, the remnants of Simple Solution are wiped off with a dry cloth.
miracle of nature
Cat urine residue can be removed from upholstery with Natures Miracle.The product contains components that allow you to completely clean the sofa in one treatment.
Extra-Profi
Many housewives use Extra Profi for carpeting. However, it can be used to remove stains from the surface of upholstered furniture. Extra Profi helps remove traces of blood, gum, wine, juice, coffee and sweat.
unicum
This detergent composition belongs to the group of highly effective agents that can remove even hard-to-remove greasy stains. First, Unicum is mixed with hot water in a ratio of one to five. Then the prepared liquid is sprayed with dirt on the upholstery.
Fall of Vox
If there are a lot of greasy stains on the furniture, it is better to use Vox Drop. The composition smells very good, so it is often used to get rid of an unpleasant smell.
Vox can be used for sofas made of any material.
leather cleaner
Leather Cleaner is suitable for removing dirt from leather surfaces. Before use, 200 milliliters of the product are diluted in two liters of water. After that, a cloth is dipped in a soapy liquid, which is used to wipe the dirty sofa.
Karcher
Karcher is ideal for upholstery. After application to the surface, the foaming agent penetrates the fabrics and begins to destroy dirt from within. 2-3 hours after application, Karcher crystallizes and is removed with a dry brush.
Amway
Clean furniture from oily stains will help Amway detergent composition. 150-200 milliliters of the product are diluted in warm water until foam appears, after which the upholstery of the sofa is covered with the mixture. After 2-3 hours, wipe the treated area with a dry towel.
Miltex
Experts advise using Miltex to remove coffee and ink stains. The advantages of the composition include its effectiveness, which allows you to wash the surface after one use.
Not worth using
Not all products can be used to clean upholstered furniture. There are several detergents that should not be used on sofas.
Nordland
This is a highly publicized detergent used by many housewives. However, it is best not to use Nordland to clean upholstery as it leaves light streaks. In addition, after using the product, an unpleasant pungent aroma persists.
"Carpet"
Some people recommend getting rid of grease stains on the sofa with "Carpet", but you shouldn't do that. This compound is only suitable for carpet surfaces. It leaves dark stains on upholstered furniture that are hard to remove.
"Cinderella"
Cinderella can only be used to remove fresh and small stains. Detergent won't stand up to stubborn old stains.
"My family"
This product should not be used when working with fabric surfaces as it will erode into the fabric and leave streaks with light spots on it.
Useful tips for life
There are several useful tricks that will help remove stains and dirt from the sofa:
- Soda solution. Upholstered furniture can be treated with soda liquid, which is prepared from 30 grams of soda and a liter of water.
- Alcohol. To quickly wash the sofa from dirt, use a mixture based on alcohol and soda. Pour a spoonful of soda into a liter container with water and stir. Then 10 milliliters of alcohol are added to the mixture. Furniture is treated with the resulting composition 1-2 times.
- Laundry soap.40 grams of soap are grated and mixed with 40 grams of baking soda. After that, the components are added to 2-3 liters of warm water and stirred until the soap dissolves. Then a sponge is moistened in the solution and the dirt is gradually wiped off.
Caring for your sofa cover
In order not to waste time cleaning furniture in the future, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of care. Conditions that promote surface staining should be avoided. Therefore, do not eat on the sofa and do not drink beverages. Also, you cannot make repairs in the room where the furniture is.
To prevent a lot of dust from accumulating on the upholstery, you will need to regularly vacuum and wet clean the apartment. During cleaning, they are sure to clean the sofa. It is carefully vacuumed and, if necessary, wiped with detergents.
If even minor stains appear on the surface of the coating, they are immediately removed, since it is much more difficult to get rid of old dirt. Rarely used sofas can be covered with special covers. This will protect them from dust and stains.
Conclusion
People often face the need to clean the sofa from dust and dirt that accumulates on the surface over time. Before that, you need to familiarize yourself with effective detergents that can be used to treat upholstered furniture, as well as understand the recommendations for care of sofa covers.