Cleaning & Care Upholstered Furniture

When you spend $20,000 on a brand new car, you take every step to take care of as it is probably a large investment and you want to get a good resell value. When you spend over $1000 for a new set, you should do the same thing. You probably won't think about the resell value but you certainly want to keep it nice and clean for your home. For most upholstered furniture such as couches, regular care is essential for prolonging the life. There are a number of ways for cleaning and it can be done regularly with relatively little efforts.

Vacuuming and Light Brushing
Weekly vacuuming or light brushing is recommended for removing tiny particles of dust, food and dirt that often times go unnoticed. Do not overlook the dust and dirt as it can cause substantial damage to your furniture in the long run if it is not removed. These methods of cleaning will prevent dirt from setting in between the fibers in your furniture.

Rotate, Rotate
Rotating your sofa seat cushions can prevent excessive build up from settling on the fabric. If the cushion is reversible, turn them over periodically. This will prevent sagging and distribute wear evenly.

When you place your sofa and couch in the living room, avoid direct sunlight as it can cause fading and discoloration on upholstered fabrics. Try and keep your furniture as far away from sunlight as possible. Moreover, avoid placing items such as newspapers, paints, inks and nail polish around the furniture.

Cleaning the Stains You should know that the longer a stain remains on the upholstery the harder it is to remove, so act fast!
The first thing to do before cleaning any piece of furniture is to check the manufacturer’s label for instructions on cleaning and/or the cleaning code. Fabric cleaning codes go as follows:

* W - Clean with water based agent
This code refers to fabrics that are man-made, for instance, nylon and polyester. For these types of fabrics, it is best to spot clean using the foam from a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild soap, detergent or non-solvent upholstery cleaner.

* S – Clean with mild water-free cleaning solvent
This code refers to fabrics that are of made of natural fibers. If water is used on fabrics like cotton, linen, silk and wool, it may cause a permanent discoloration.

* WS – Clean with a mild solvent, with or without water
Fabrics with this code can be cleaned with both a water-based solvent or a water-free soap.

* X – Clean only by vacuuming or light brushing
Fabrics with this cleaning code should only be cleaned by vacuuming or light brushing. Be careful as using shampoo or water may stain, destroy or discolor the fabric.