Rules and best ways to quickly dry a sofa from water
No piece of furniture in the house, even if you handle it very carefully, is 100% protected against dirt and damage. Often the sofa is used not only as a seat, but also as a place where you can comfortably have a snack while talking or watching TV. Therefore, the appearance of stains from tea and coffee, beer, wine does not surprise anyone. How to dry a sofa properly is a popular request, because the speed depends on the degree of pollution, weather conditions, type of fabric, so it can take several weeks.
How to properly dry stains
If liquid gets on the sofa, you should not rush right away and call dry cleaning specialists at home or even bring bulky furniture to them. It is necessary to assess, to remember what kind of fluids the pillows were filled with, to see if it is possible for the sofa to dry out under normal conditions in the room. This will allow you to understand which actions to select next.
Different types of dirt are removed in different ways.A universal remedy - a soap solution or powder - will help only when ordinary dirt has settled on the sofa, a lot of dust has accumulated. Blood, tea or coffee, red wine cannot be removed by such means. Therefore, do not waste time - it is better to start emergency cleaning immediately. Then the probability that the stain will bite into the texture of the fabric and then nothing can be removed is reduced to zero.
water stains
Removing water spots is the simplest situation. If carbonated or ordinary mineral water accidentally spills on a sofa or armchair, it will be enough to blot it with a paper towel or use an ordinary kitchen towel, but without strong fluff. The main thing is to prevent the material from becoming saturated with water. In this case, the stain can become a breeding ground for bacteria. You also need to make sure that nothing gets in there while drying.
A damp cloth is washed worse if there is dirt, stains of any kind.
Blood
Bloodstains are easier to clean before they dry. When they have already blended into the texture of the fabric, this will only be possible with the use of harsh chemicals. The procedure after the appearance of the stain is as follows:
- wipe the stain with a cloth and water;
- treat with laundry soap;
- attach a piece of ice.
If the stain is deeply embedded in the fabric, aspirin will help. Mix one tablet with water, pour this solution on the stain. If necessary, wash with laundry soap.
Coffee and tea
Coffee and tea stains are very visible on light colored furniture. Therefore, they must be eliminated without fail.Plain water usually helps - then dry it in the usual way. But if the color does not disappear, they act like this:
- scrub with laundry soap;
- sprinkle this powder on the stain;
- drain a few drops of water;
- combine the two ingredients;
- wait 10 minutes.
After that, blot with a damp cloth, remove excess water with a dry towel.
Fruit juice
Fruit juice stains are hard to remove, more likely if you start cleaning them right away and keep them from drying out. You need to quickly mix vinegar and ammonia in equal amounts. Take a small dry cloth or kitchen sponge. Apply the composition to the stain with its help, press for 30 seconds. After that, wipe the place where the stain was earlier with plain water.
Beer
Beer products, especially if the drink is light, rarely leave visible stains. Usually they look like spots, the smell is not pleasant. To avoid this, the beer stain should be wiped up quickly with dry towels or a napkin. After that, quickly treat with hydrogen peroxide - this will remove the foreign smell.
Wine
Port wine stains, especially if made from red grapes, are difficult to remove. To clean the dirt, you must first blot it with wet wipes. Then cover with salt for 30 minutes. Then just shake off the salt - it should turn pinkish.
What determines the speed of drying
The drying rate of the material depends on several factors.
fabric type
The type of fabric determines how quickly the sofa dries. Naturally, the fastest remove stains from fabrics, which practically do not let moisture through. It is eco-leather, natural leather, nubuck.In second place are medium-density materials, which have a smooth texture.
But materials such as corduroy, fur, velvet strongly retain liquid, and you can wait weeks for the sofa to dry.
If the sofa is installed in a living room, where theoretically there will be a lot of guests, or in a staff lounge in an office, then it is likely that it will often get dirty, people will spill drinks on it. Therefore, in order not to complicate your life, it is better to take care in advance to choose a sofa made of material that is not very dirty and does not pass moisture well.
pollution degree
The degree of pollution determines not only the necessary methods for cleaning the sofa, but also the drying time. If some stains do not require water to remove (for example, if salt, soda or ammonia, hydrogen peroxide is present), the stain will dry quickly. If washed, the sofa will dry out after a few days.
Weather
It is clear that in winter, at low temperatures, furniture dries longer. To speed up the process, you can use a hair dryer, or put a heater next to it (but not near the material, otherwise it could catch fire). In the summer, the item will dry the fastest.
Room ventilation
The room in which the stained sofa is located should be ventilated. Otherwise, the water-treated stain will simply not dry. And it threatens with the fact that an unpleasant odor will appear in the room, fungus or pathogenic bacteria will appear in the furniture.
Average drying time
Drying time is determined by a variety of factors, including:
- manufacturing equipment;
- degree of pollution;
- the chosen cleaning method;
- room ventilation and the like.
Usually a medium tea or coffee stain, wine dries completely under favorable conditions in 4-5 hours. But if a lot of water is poured, the chair can dry out for several days or even weeks.
How to speed up
There are several ways to speed up the cleaning and drying process. But if it is possible to transfer to a well-ventilated and warm room, then it is better to do so. Not all methods that reduce the time required are completely safe. If treated carelessly or incorrectly, they can spoil fabric texture, deteriorate color and lead to thinning of threads.
hair dryer
A regular hair dryer will help you quickly tidy up the sofa. It is directed towards the stain, but so that the fabric is not damaged, it must be kept at least 15-20 centimeters away. If the eco-leather or natural leather is dried, the distance should be greater.
A vacuum
A vacuum cleaner with the possibility of moisture accumulation is suitable. They are transferred to the texture in the opposite direction.
Iron
Suitable for sofas that are not made of all materials. The method is used for fabrics. Be careful with synthetics and leather. A thick, clean towel is placed between the couch and the flat iron. It's impossible to influence like that, without a stunt double.
How to protect yourself from humidity
There are different ways to protect your sofa from moisture. Manufacturers, when it comes to well-known brands, provide special covers with the sofa. They not only have a beautiful design and fit into any room, but also help protect furniture.If these are not included in the kit, you should go to the nearest furniture store - there will certainly be the necessary models. You can also pay attention to the following protection methods:
- special professional remedies for dampness - they are effective, but not always safe for allergy sufferers and animals, moreover, they cannot spread the most pleasant smell;
- spraying lemon juice - there are tips on the Internet on how to spray lemon juice from a spray bottle on the surface of the sofa, but there was no evidence of this;
- treatment with wax and substances of a similar texture - suitable for sofas not made of fabric, but of leather, synthetics.
The only sure way to protect furniture from moisture is to choose models made of non-tempered material.
If there are animals
If you have pets, you cannot use chemicals. Some cats and dogs have a habit of licking off moisture, so the poisons can enter their bodies.
Additional tips and tricks
Recommended:
- remove paint stains with baking soda;
- stains that may smell, treat with lemon juice.
Not all stains are removed, no matter how hard the furniture owner tries. Therefore, it is worth taking care to purchase blankets in advance.