Effective sofa cleaners at home
Content:
You can clean your sofa at home if you choose the right approach: take into account the type of upholstery and what kind of dirt you have to deal with. How to deal with stains on upholstered furniture yourself, read our article.
Home remedies for removing stains
There are special household chemicals for cleaning upholstered furniture, but if you don’t have it at hand, you can use improvised means.
Laundry soap
Despite the large selection of household chemicals, laundry soap does not lose popularity - it not only effectively removes various contaminants, but also has antibacterial properties. Laundry soap contains fatty acids and sodium. The most simple and natural composition provides hypoallergenic properties.
Each piece of laundry soap indicates the percentage of fatty acids. The higher it is, the more effectively the soap copes with dirt. To clean upholstery at home, it is advisable to choose products with the highest rating - 72%.
Dishwashing liquid
Dishwashing products contain surfactants that effectively remove grease stains and other types of dirt. To ensure that there are no streaks left on the material, the gel is added to water, and the resulting foam is applied to the surface of the fabric.
Soda
Baking soda works as a cleaning agent because it is a weak alkali that can dissolve dirt or grease. In addition, it can neutralize odors. Baking soda is safe for children and pets, so it is good for cleaning surfaces with constant contact.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice removes odors well and has bleaching properties, so it effectively removes stains from upholstered furniture. After removing the stains, it is important to thoroughly rinse the upholstery to completely remove the lemon juice, otherwise the fabric will lose its original color. In addition, lemon juice should not be used for cleaning leather and eco-leather sofas - aggressive action can lead to cracks on the surface.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a product suitable for eliminating odors and using as a stain remover. When treating upholstered furniture, you should not use concentrated vinegar essence; it must be diluted with water before use. You can use regular or less concentrated wine vinegar.
Salt
Salt crystals absorb liquid and pigment well, so it can be an effective remedy for removing fresh stains. To remove old stains, salt is combined with other means.
Shaving foam
Shaving foam also contains surfactants, so it can be used as a cleaning agent. It will not cope with heavy stains, but will help remove fresh stains. The advantages of this method are dry cleaning, which does not absorb water into the upholstery.
The folk remedy that you choose to clean your sofa must be tested on a small area of the upholstery, where it will not be noticeable. This will ensure that the treatment does not disturb the texture or shade of the fabric.
It must be taken into account that special stain removers and cleaning products are gentler on upholstery and remove stains more effectively than traditional methods. Therefore, it is worth purchasing in advance a product that is intended for your type of upholstery, or using the services of specialized services.
Selection of cleaning products by type of contamination
Methods for cleaning the sofa, as well as cleaning products, must be selected taking into account the nature of the contamination.
Dust
To prevent dust from accumulating on the sofa, it must be vacuumed regularly using special narrow furniture attachments that allow you to remove debris from hard-to-reach places. In addition, vacuuming the upholstery is the first step you will need if you are going to clean the sofa completely.
You can remove dust from the upholstery using a damp sheet. She needs to cover the sofa, then knock it out. Dust particles will remain on the damp material and will not spread throughout the room.
Greasy
Greasy stains occur as a result of constant contact with the upholstery of the sofa. A warm soapy solution or foam, which is formed when diluting dishwashing gel, helps to get rid of them.
A solution containing soda and vinegar helps to deal with greasy stains and refresh the upholstery. It should be applied evenly to dirty areas, and then gently rubbed with a soft brush or sponge. After treatment, the solution must be removed with a damp cloth and the upholstery dried.
A steam cleaner can effectively remove old stains and stubborn dirt. Hot steam allows you to get rid of not only dirt, but also unpleasant odors.
Fat
Grease stains can be quickly removed immediately after they appear, before the grease is absorbed into the upholstery of upholstered furniture. The stained area should be covered with salt and left for 20 minutes. After this, the salt must be removed and the stain treated with a hot solution with laundry soap or dishwashing liquid.
Blood
You can remove fresh blood stains from upholstered furniture using cold water. To do this, you need to wet a rag, rub the area with the stain and remove excess moisture with a napkin or cotton pad. All steps must be repeated several times until the stain completely disappears.
Old blood stains should be wiped with an ice cube, then treated with a weak vinegar solution. To prepare it you will need one liter of water and two tablespoons of vinegar. Instead of vinegar, you can use saline solution. To prevent stains from remaining on the material, after treatment the area must be treated with a soap solution.
Alcohol
It is better to get rid of stains from wine and other alcoholic drinks immediately, otherwise the liquid will quickly be absorbed into the fabric. You need to remove the moisture using dry wipes, then sprinkle the stained area with salt or soda and leave for half an hour. The next step is to remove the salt with a damp cloth and treat the area of contamination with soapy water. To remove dried alcohol stains, you can use a saline solution.
Unpleasant odor
It's not just stains that can appear on upholstered furniture. Some pollution is accompanied by the appearance of an unpleasant odor, especially if small children or pets live in the house. To deal with it, it is advisable to use professional household chemicals, which are sold in hardware and pet stores.
You can try to remove the smell using home remedies. To do this, you need to dilute one tablespoon of baking soda and vinegar in two liters of clean water and apply the resulting solution to the upholstery using a spray bottle.
Rules for home cleaning of sofas
If you want to clean the upholstery of upholstered furniture at home yourself, you should follow certain rules and precautions:
- Consider the color of the fabric. Colored and dark rags and napkins are not suitable for cleaning light-colored upholstered furniture. When in contact with an aggressive cleaning agent, the fabric may fade, leaving new stains on the upholstery. When preparing a cleaning solution to treat a dark sofa, it is better to reduce the concentration of active ingredients in order to maintain the original shade.
- Select products taking into account the characteristics of the fabric. Upholstery with pile requires delicate handling. If you rub the stain too hard, the area after treatment will look different from the rest of the upholstery. Chenille and matting should not be wetted too much, so it is better to use dry cleaning methods. Products that involve the use of hot liquids or powders containing abrasive particles are not suitable for leather sofas.
- Apply the product correctly. The stain should be treated from the edge to the center so that the area of contamination does not increase. When finishing the final treatment with a soap solution, it is advisable to cover the surface from seam to seam so that no streaks remain after drying. You should not choose brushes with hard bristles, which can damage the upholstery.
Designer sofas from Garda Decor are made using high-quality, wear-resistant materials that are designed for a long service life. This upholstery can withstand intensive use and repeated cleaning.