Naturally, it is impossible to take such large furniture to the dry cleaner every time. That’s why it’s so important to be able to remove a variety of contaminants yourself.
In this article we will talk about folk and industrial means with which you can get rid of all kinds of stains on the upholstery of a sofa in your home, without dry cleaning.
Folk remedies for cleaning a sofa from dirt and stains
Often folk remedies made from the simplest and most accessible ingredients turn out to be quite effective. Their advantage is that they do not contain harsh chemicals that can harm the upholstery fabric .
In addition, cleaning agents made according to folk recipes are much cheaper than special compounds sold in stores.
The top 5 folk cleaning products include:
- soap solution from dishwashing detergent;
- vinegar with laundry soap;
- baking soda;
- lemon juice;
- hydrogen peroxide.
Dishwashing liquid
To create an effective yet gentle cleaning solution for fabrics, mix one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent with two cups of cold water .
This solution should be applied to the stained area with a cotton swab or a clean towel (depending on the size of the stain).
Use a soapy solution to treat the stain without touching the clean upholstery around it. After this, you should let the detergent break down the dirt. Five minutes will be enough.
Then the stain can be gently rubbed with a clean sponge or toothbrush. When the stain disappears, blot it several times with a clean, damp towel and then wipe with a dry cloth. The advantage of this option is that it can be used at any time.
For example, if someone in the house gets injured and blood gets on the upholstery, using a soap solution can clean it off very quickly.
Vinegar and laundry soap
This method is ideal in cases where you need to rid the sofa of difficult, non-greasy stains. For example, if a child drew on the upholstery with a pen .
To make a vinegar-soap mixture, you need to take a small piece of laundry soap and soak it in water. It should be a mushy mixture.
It should be filled with a glass of cold water. After this, add 2 teaspoons of table vinegar to the mixture.
The mixture is applied to the contaminated areas for 10 minutes with a soft cloth . Then use another, stiffer cloth moistened with clean water to wipe off the applied solution from the upholstery. As a result, dirty spots or streaks of ink should be wiped off along with the solution.
Read this article about how to wash a handle from a leather sofa. Learn how to remove ink stains from upholstery made of other materials here.
How to clean with baking soda?
Baking soda can be used both to clean fabric surfaces and to remove stains from leather upholstery. Leather and leatherette are easily cleaned of all kinds of contaminants that are difficult to remove from fabric. But if ink or, for example, brilliant green gets on it, it should be thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible.
Soda must first be mixed with a small amount of water to form a thick paste. After this, the resulting mixture is applied to the stained surface and left until completely dry.
After about 30 minutes, the dried soda along with the dirt should be removed using a cloth and warm soapy water. At the end of the procedure, treat the stain with a sponge soaked in clean water.
Read about how to quickly, effectively and safely clean a sofa with baking soda and vinegar at home.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice or diluted citric acid is a means to remove a fresh stain that has an unpleasant odor.
For example, if vomit gets on the sofa , you need to quickly remove it with something dry, and then treat the upholstery with lemon mixture.
After this, if necessary, the stain is additionally treated with a soap solution.
Hydrogen peroxide
Using peroxide, you can remove various contaminants, including stubborn and old ones. This is a fairly strong substance, and it must be used in combination with soda and water .
Pour a glass of warm water and 150 mg of peroxide into a deep container. Then add half a glass of baking soda. It is advisable to pour this mixture into a spray bottle to apply it to the surface in a thin layer.
There is no need to wipe, just let it dry naturally. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
How to clean a leatherette sofa?
Leatherette is an attractive and inexpensive material. It can be cleaned well, which is why it is loved by many housewives. It is advisable to use it for upholstery of kitchen furniture.
Products for cleaning leatherette sofas:
- Soap solution. Simply apply it to the surface and wipe with a cloth. Dishwashing detergent can be used
- Cold milk. This substance can remove stains from a light leatherette sofa. Simply soak a cloth in milk and rub the sofa with it. Rinse off any remaining milk with cold water.
- Vodka. With its help you can remove complex and difficult to remove stains. Pre-stain the sofa with vodka in an inconspicuous place. Sometimes the dye can rub off and you'll end up with light spots
- Soft brush. It is used if the surface of the sofa is embossed
Household chemicals - fast, effective and streak-free!
Particularly difficult stains cannot always be removed using folk remedies. Chemical liquids are more reliable, versatile and easy to use.
Vanish
Vanish is one of the most famous chemical products designed to remove stains from fabrics and various surfaces. It is also suitable for cleaning sofas. The price of the product is from 120 to 300 rubles, depending on the volume.
You can learn more about this tool from this article.
Bugs Stikhonit
This Israeli product copes well with all problems related to the cleanliness and hygiene of upholstered furniture.
It removes any dirt and odors, disinfects upholstery , and even restores its original color. Sold as a spray.
Before applying the product, the surface must be moistened with water. Then spray Bugi and wipe away dirt with a cloth, sponge or brush (depending on the degree of dirt and type of upholstery).
Nordland
Foam for cleaning soft surfaces. Ideally copes with all types of pollution. It can be used for washing any surfaces, so in many homes it becomes a universal housewife's assistant.
The foam is applied to the surface and then washed off with a damp sponge . Treated areas can be dried with a hairdryer.
To treat sofas, you should use products in the form of a liquid composition or foam. It is not recommended to use powders, as they may leave stains and streaks.
What threats lurk in an apartment for a suede sofa?
It is no coincidence that the sofa is loved by the household. You can sit comfortably on it during a noisy feast, or, conversely, sit down in a quiet family circle with popcorn and your favorite movie. After such a pastime, various stains may remain.
Pets and small children can become a real threat to a suede sofa.
Cleaning with a steam cleaner or steam generator
Steam cleaning removes all dirt from the upholstery, including stubborn stains and dust.
Steam cleaners and steam generators are used to completely clean furniture, that is, clean it, remove odors and disinfect it.
Regardless of which type of steam generating apparatus is used, the process steps will be the same. Before starting the steam cleaning procedure, you need to brush away any small debris from the sofa that may accumulate in folds and corners.
After this, you need to fill the steam generator with water. It is advisable to let the water stand in advance, in this case it will definitely not leave stains on the upholstery fabric. You can add a little liquid detergent to the water.
The sofa is cleaned sequentially in segments. It is better to start from the cleanest areas . After steaming a separate area, you should immediately wipe it with a clean soft cloth. To do this you need to have microfiber.
The most difficult stains will have to be treated several times. It is important not to wet the fabric. A properly selected nozzle and a well-regulated steam supply will help avoid this.
If during the cleaning process hot steam gets on parts made of plastic, metal or wood, they must be quickly wiped dry. Particular care must be taken to protect parts made of pressed wood and plastic .
To treat hard-to-reach areas, use special attachments.
Production
How artificial suede is made for furniture upholstery, composition of the material.
The first thing to note is that this material can be produced in two main ways: woven and non-woven. Let's take a closer look at them.
Woven
This method is expensive, but at the same time better quality. In this case, the material is woven from special microfiber threads. The result is high-quality dense and soft artificial suede. It is in this way that fabric is created that is used in the production of jackets, shirts, trousers and other clothing.
Sometimes it is also used for upholstery. But despite its unique softness and beauty, woven faux suede is not very practical.
Non-woven
This is a common method of producing furniture "suede" upholstery. In this case, polyester and cotton are glued together using a cold or hot method. Faux suede contains about 25% cotton and 75% polyester. This type of material is much easier to care for than its woven counterpart.
Conclusion: the composition of the material is quite simple: cotton, polyester, glued with PVA or lamination. Teflon treatment, which unfortunately does not always happen, prolongs the service life of the product for a long time. Please clarify this important issue separately when purchasing furniture.
Which vacuum cleaner is better: regular or detergent?
The sofa can be cleaned with a washing vacuum cleaner. This is a wet cleaning method that is much more effective than conventional hand cleaning.
The vacuum cleaner evenly moistens the surface of the upholstery, and then quickly and efficiently removes water along with dirt.
The first step of the process is to dry clean the sofa. After this, you need to treat the upholstery using a wet method.
But if there are difficult stains, it is better to pre-soap them with detergent or a special product for cleaning upholstered furniture.
Advantages and disadvantages of artificial suede
The main advantages of the material include:
- high strength and wear resistance;
- ability to repel dirt and water;
- long service life;
- elegance of appearance;
- possibility of using all types of cleaning;
- ability to pass air.
The disadvantages include only one point - the appearance of a greasy sheen over time.
Consider the type of upholstery
There are different ways to clean a sofa. You need to choose a cleaning method taking into account the material with which the sofa is covered.
Flock
This is a very practical type of upholstery. It can be cleaned by any means . But old stains can be difficult to remove.
Therefore, the main rule for caring for a flock sofa is regular dry and sometimes wet cleaning.
Large stains can be washed with shampoo for upholstered furniture or car interiors.
Faux suede
Artificial materials are not as difficult to care for as natural ones. Suede material can be processed using all known methods.
The main precautions are to use hot steam only when absolutely necessary and not to scrub the upholstery too much.
Natural suede
To preserve the presentability of a suede sofa for as long as possible, you need to treat it with a special protective agent . This will avoid frequent aggressive cleaning.
You can wash such a sofa with folk or chemical means, using brushes and rags designed for caring for suede. You can buy them at a shoe store.
Velor
In order not to spoil the velor when cleaning the sofa, you need to remember the safety rules.
This fabric cannot be vacuumed . It is not recommended to use fluffy rags and napkins.
You can clean the sofa only in the direction of the pile. The ideal option in this case is wet cleaning using a mild soap solution and microfiber.
Genuine Leather
The skin easily tolerates various types of exposure , and it is not difficult to clean it. Difficulties can only be caused by stains from ink or, for example, brilliant green.
You can find out exactly how to clean a genuine leather sofa from this article.
Eco leather, leatherette
Faux leather is very practical. Almost no dirt remains on it and it can be cleaned by any means. You can't just use:
- rough brushes,
- sponges,
- scrapers.
Plain fabric
To choose the right way to clean a fabric sofa, you need to consider:
- compound,
- color,
- texture of the material.
The thinner and lighter the fabric, the more careful it should be treated . You can read more about this in this article.
Operating rules
Although suede is durable, its velvety surface is not very resistant to abrasion. If the upholstery is regularly subjected to strong friction, abrasions will form on the pile. It is impossible to get rid of worn areas without re-upholstering, so it is better to treat the coating with care. If you are choosing upholstery for a kitchen sofa or chairs, choose suede covered with a thin layer of Teflon.
This type of material has water-repellent properties and resistance to stains. You can also buy and spray a protective spray on the surface of the fabric yourself. Routine care is carried out when soiled using a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with a delicate attachment.
Cleaning agents are not needed if there are no stains on the surface. It is enough to clean once a month. If you have pets at home, then once a week, as hair will accumulate on fluffy upholstery.
How can you eliminate unpleasant odors at home?
To eliminate the unpleasant odor that has become ingrained in the upholstery of the sofa, both folk and industrial remedies are used.
The first includes:
- soda,
- salt,
- vinegar,
- lemon juice,
- hydrogen peroxide.
When dealing with odors, you need to take into account the nature of their origin. For example, urine odor and stains can be removed using potassium permanganate, vinegar, or a strong detergent like Fairy.
Read more about removing odors from a sofa in this article.
What to do if scuffs and cracks appear
1. A regular orange peel will help eliminate the problem. Just rub it on the damaged area. It will add shine to leatherette and is even suitable for preventing defects.
2. Buy a special dye that visually masks the imperfections of eco-leather. The pigment enters the structure of the material and restores the appearance of the furniture. The products are sold in a wide range of colors, so you are sure to find the right shade.
3. Liquid skin is the most effective method of combating cracks. The product helps create an ideal relief and fills the smallest defects in artificial material. Apply a piece of gauze to the damaged area and apply the liquid skin with a spatula. After 10-15 minutes, repeat the manipulations. Once dry, you won't notice the difference.
Lifehacks on the topic
Small household tricks shared by experienced housewives will help you deal with dirt of any complexity:
Stains from spilled coffee or tea are best wiped off with a regular soap solution.- If there is chewing gum stuck to the upholstery, you need to put an ice cube on it. When it melts, the chewing gum can be easily removed without damaging the fabric.
- It is easier to clean jam or marmalade with soapy water and a drop of vinegar.
- To remove stains from fresh berries, you need a mixture of vinegar and ammonia, mixed one to one.
- If wine is spilled on the sofa, the stain should be covered with salt for a few minutes.
- Grease stains are covered with soda, starch or salt for 10 minutes.
- To remove blood stains, housewives are advised to use cold water with an aspirin tablet dissolved in it.
This article will tell you how to clean greasy sofa upholstery.
