Pretty much all of us have got a sofa or an armchair, and we spend a great deal of time sat on them! Indeed, sofas and armchairs get a huge amount of use in the average UK household – with researchers discovering that the average Brit spends around 44 full days, per year, sat on their couch.
And with these popular pieces of furniture seeing such high traffic over the course of a year, it’s perhaps not a surprise that they see no shortage of stains and spillages. That’s on top of the general wear and tear they will face, too.
Here’s our guide on how to clean your upholstery:
Getting Started – Check Your Labels!
The good news is that cleaning your upholstery really doesn’t have to be a major job. However, it’s not as easy as many people might think.
Before you get started, it’s really important you check the label and find out your upholstery code. Said label is usually found underneath the sofa or chair and will feature one of the following letters:
Code W – This means that the upholstery should be cleaned with a water-based solvent.
Code S – Only a water-free solvent should be used (or a dry cleaning product).
Code W/S – You can use any type of cleaning product.
Code X – Professional cleaning only.
No code? You may have to do a bit of testing in a small area of the couch before going all out.
Step Two – Hoover Up!
So you know where you stand – great! Now for the next step. This one, again, is relatively simple. Take off all the cushions and remove any toys or remote controls, before vacuuming all the crumbs, fingernails and other loose debris which will inevitably be hiding in the cracks.
Step Three – Start Big
Any fresh stains should be soaked up, as much as possible, using a paper towel. Any solid stains which have formed a crust, such as dried chocolate, should be loosened and brushed away. Use a kitchen knife for this, if necessary. Just be careful!
The idea here is to get rid of as much dirt and fresh staining as possible, so it isn’t pushed deeper into the fabric during the next stage.
Step Four – Cleaning Solution
With the sofa vacuumed and free from any hard-baked stained and debris, the next step is to prepare your cleaning solution. Or, if you’re opting for a general ‘freshen up’, mix together some washing-up liquid and warm water.
Using a sponge or microfiber cloth, wipe down the surface of your fabric. Try not to soak it too much. Work in small sections at a time and use a rubbing motion. Spend more time on areas that need a little extra attention.
Once this is done, use a fresh sponge or cloth to rinse the upholstery with clean water. Then use paper towel or a general towel to absorb some of the moisture. Summer? Get those windows open. Winter? Get the heating on! This will help the material dry out.
Get In Touch
The team here at Jerome Shorter are experts in bespoke and existing upholstery. Need help getting yours clean? Give us a call on 01892725305, drop us an email at jerome@jeromeshorter.co.uk or just fill out the contact form on our website!
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