Cleaning upholstered furniture: This is how it's done correctly
Ready to relax on the sofa or armchair? With pleasure! To ensure you feel comfortable while relaxing, you should clean your upholstered furniture. What is the fastest way to do this, and which devices or home remedies save time? Here are the best household tips.
Cleaning upholstered furniture with steam cleaners and the like: The best devices
Dirt, mites, pet hair, etc. are usually deeply embedded in the upholstery of sofas, couches, or armchairs. To remove them, it's best to use powerful household appliances.
Cleaning sofas with a steam cleaner
Steam cleaners are extra thorough. The steam, which is around 150 degrees Celsius, reliably kills germs and dust mites—ideal for allergy sufferers. The steam penetrates deep into the upholstery, removing both stubborn and deeply embedded dirt as well as unpleasant odors.
Use your steam cleaner with a suitable fabric cover. This distributes the steam, prevents scratches, and traps dirt. After cleaning, you can put the cover in the washing machine.
Important: Before using a steam cleaner, be sure to check whether your upholstered furniture is suitable for steam cleaning. Check the care instructions and do a test on an inconspicuous area. Otherwise, the fibers or paint may peel off the fabric.
Treat upholstery with a vacuum cleaner
You can easily remove dust, pet hair, or everyday dirt from your sofa and armchair using a vacuum cleaner or portable vacuum sweeper. If you do this regularly, you can avoid many stains from appearing in the first place.
If you want to remove the older stains from the sofa, you should use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner or a carpet vacuum cleaner. Shampoo the upholstery using a washing agent and then vacuum up any residue with a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. A carpet vacuum cleaner even performs the application and extraction in one step.
Cleaning upholstered furniture: Home remedy tips for easy cleaning
You don't need to buy special cleaning products for upholstery. You can find plenty of good home remedies in your storage closet. Our favorites are:
- Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda: Sodium bicarbonate cleans, disinfects, and is strong against stains. Sprinkle it onto the upholstery and work it in with a damp cloth. Leave it on overnight and then vacuum it up. Baking soda works the same way.
- Shaving foam: Shaving foam not only ensures the smooth skin, but also clean seating areas. Apply some foam to the stain and carefully spread it with a damp cloth. Leave the foam on for about 10 minutes and then clean the fabric with a soft brush. Always stroke in one direction only. Never use shaving foam on leather furniture; shaving gel is generally unsuitable.
- Laundry soap: This classic from grandma's household is an ideal cleaning aid for leather sofas or upholstered furniture made of microfibers. It's best to use distilled water so you can clean the upholstery without risk of watermarks.
Cleaning a sofa with a pot lid: Does the life hack work?
Cleaning a sofa with a pot lid—sounds absurd? It isn't at all. The social media life hack actually works quite reliably. You will need:
- Bucket + detergent
- Hot water
- Pot lid
- Microfiber cloth
- Gloves
Dissolve the detergent in a bucket of hot water. Use about half a normal load in the washing machine. Put on the gloves and dip the cloth into the solution. Wring it out and wrap it around the pot lid. Run the lid over your sofa or armchairs. Repeat the procedure with clean water.
Cleaning upholstered furniture: You should keep this in mind
Dirt cleaned, sofa too? It couldn't be better. To keep your upholstered furniture looking beautiful for a long time, follow a few important tips:
Dry cleaning vs. wet cleaning
You should only use the wet methods for upholstery cleaning, such as wet and dry or carpet vacuum cleaners, against the stubborn stains. For everyday cleaning of your upholstered furniture, a home vacuum is perfectly sufficient. Always follow the instructions in the care guide. The label contains all the information about safe cleaners and cleaning methods.
Type of stains
Do you want to clean greasy upholstery or have you spilled some wine on the sofa? Each type of stain requires a specific cleaning method:
- Grease stains: Remove grease stains as soon as possible with a damp cloth and dish soap.
- Red wine: Sprinkle table salt onto the stain and dab with a cloth moistened with distilled water. Afterwards, clean the area with a solution of distilled water, approximately 30°C warm, and mild detergent.
- Ink: Pick up fresh ink with a cotton swab. Then treat the stain with a mixture of distilled water and citric acid (1 tbsp citric acid to 100 ml distilled water).In stubborn cases, you can also use a discoloring agent if the care instructions allow it.
- Animal urine: Use a special cleaner that breaks down odors. The product must be sprayed onto the upholstery
