Cleaning your Furniture Fabric

Most people have some sort of upholstered furniture in their house, whether it be a chair, a sofa, a bar stool or even a headboard.

That piece of furniture probably means something to you. Maybe it is brand spankin' new, or not so new but was an investment at the time you purchased it, or perhaps it is an antique that you are holding on to because it has sentimental value.

No matter what the item is, a stain on your furniture's fabric is almost inevitable. You can try all you want, but at some point or another it will happen to your beloved furniture.

I know firsthand how difficult it is to clean your furniture fabric, so I have listed some tips to help you with the cleaning and stain removal process.

Stains and Spills Happen:

It might be your own fault (hey, no one ever warned you that eating chocolate ice cream on a white sofa was dangerous!), or your child got a little wild with their apple sauce or maybe even some one "accidentally" spilled their red wine at the shindig you had last weekend.

Spills and stains happen no matter what you do to protect your furniture, but it is possible to remove most of the grime from furniture safely and without damaging them.

The sad part is that it may not be possible to get every type of stain out, but many stains, spills and other debris can be removed from furniture effectively.

Cleaning Upholstery Fabric:

For some reason upholstered fabric is a magnet when it comes to dirt, debris and other unsightly things.

If your upholstery is not water resistant, stains can soak deep into the cushioning making it even harder to clean. Another sad fact is that the lighter the fabric is, the harder the stain will be to get out.

Hope is not lost though! If you remember these rules when dealing with wet stains, your furniture will thank you later:

1. Soak up as much as the liquid as possible.
2. Never scrub! Unless you want a huge mess, blot or dab at it to soak up the liquid.
3. Get to stains and spills as soon as possible. The longer a stain sits, the harder it will be to remove.
4. Only use a small amount of cleaning solution and then add more as needed. Saturating the fabric with cleaning solution will embed the stain further into the fabric, or worse, cause mold and mildew to grow.

Now, here are a few quick fixes for the most common stains on your furniture's fabric:

Removing Debris and Pet Hair:

A hand vacuum, a regular vacuum with a crevice attachment or a lint roller will easily pick up any debris and and pet hair on your furniture.

Removing Ink Stains:

Spray with hairspray and then take a napkin or paper towel and dab at the stain until the stain is removed. Keep applying hairspray and dabbing until the stain is lifted.

Removing Blood Stains:

Blood stains can be removed in a similar fashion to ink stains.

Next, take a steam cleaner filled with cold water and little bit of shampoo or dish washing liquid and begin sucking up the stain.

Using cold water is key when it comes to removing blood. Warm or hot water will cook the blood and make it just about impossible to remove completely.  If a steam cleaner with cold water isn't available, a wet cloth will suffice.

If Some Staining Remains:

Pour medicinal strength hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain (hydrogen peroxide is color safe so there is no reason to worry about a bleaching effect) and then begin blotting it.

Removing Wine/Beverage Stains:

Pour club soda on the stain and begin dabbing it with a cloth or paper towel. Follow up by steam cleaning the stain with cold water and a small amount of shampoo or dishwashing liquid.

Maintaining your Furniture's Fabric:

Furniture needs to be maintained on a regular schedule even when there is no stain calling your name. This may seem like a hassle, but the good news is that it is a job that does not require a lot of time.

Here are some common sense tips for keeping your furniture fabric in tip-top-shape, year round: 

• Invest in water repellent or stain guard spray to protect your upholstery from future staining. Look for one that is marketed for upholstery as these won't stain your fabric.
• Dust and vacuum your furniture frequently to prevent buildup.
• Keep your furniture out of direct sunlight to prevent the fabric from fading.
• If you will be out of town for an extended amount of time, put a dust cloth over your furniture to prevent dust from infiltrating the fabric fibers while you are away.

If you remember all of my tips, the life of your upholstered furniture will be prolonged. Happy cleaning!

Image courtesy of Posh Living, LLC, CC BY-SA Flickr.