Upholstery Upkeep By BatSheva Vaknin
Upholstered armchairs and sofas are comfortable and attractive
additions to any home. When neglected, however, upholstery can
quickly turn into next year’s yard sale’s featured item. Help
the upholstered furniture in your dining room, living room,
family room and bedroom last for years and years, by getting to
know the ABC’s of upholstery preventative and corrective care.
Stop Damage Before it Occurs Protect Upholstery from: SUNLIGHT,
NEWSPAPER INK, FABRIC DYES, PAINTS & POLISHES Allow common sense
to dictate what you should keep from harming your upholstered
furniture. Sunlight will fade upholstery, so keep your
upholstered couches, armchairs and ottomans away from the
window, or else well-shaded. Put your newspaper on a coffee
table or side table, to avoid ink damage to your upholstered
furniture.
Other items that can cause permanent damage include dark-colored
sheets and blankets, for when damp or wet, the dark dyes on
these fabrics can rub off and ruin your upholstery. Finally,
paints and polishes, such as nail or shoe polish, should never
be used on upholstery. Make sure to cover your upholstered
furniture when painting your living room, dining room, or
bedrooms! Keep it Clean! 1: Vacuum, 2: Damp-Dust, 3:
Professionally Clean Cleaning upholstered furniture is easy as
1, 2, 3. First, Vacuum as often as possible. Second, damp-dust
arms and headrest areas with cleaning solution recommended by
the manufacturer. Third, indulge occasionally in professional
cleaning for maximum dirt and dust particle removal.
Here’s a tip for keeping your favorite chairs & couches clean:
Don’t be fooled by the zippers on those cushions: the cushion
covers are NOT meant to be removed and washed separately! Before
you vacuum, remove the cushions. Beat them, rotate them, then
vacuum them. 911 Emergency Care Blot, scrape, vacuum. Read
label, match spill with remedy. Spills happen. The key to
avoiding a permanent stain is to react in the manner most
appropriate to the type of spill. For liquid spills, don’t rub
the spot, BLOT. Use a fresh, clean paper towel. For food or
solid spills, first lift as much of the spill as possible with a
dull knife or a spoon, scraping gently towards the center. For
powder or cigarette ash spills, don’t add a liquid or rub.
Instead, vacuum up the spill.
When remnants of the spill still remain, use a fabric cleaner.
Here are some guidelines: Check manufacturer’s label for
cleaning instructions and recommendations. Codes on the labels
are as follows: W=water based cleaning agent; S=water-free
solvent; WS=water based or water-free agent okay; X=clean only
by vacuuming or light brushing. Test water or cleaning agent in
a hidden area of the upholstered furniture before applying to
the stain. Be patient when applying cleaning agent. Go slowly to
avoid causing a ring or spreading the stain. You may need to use
several doses, blotting each time with a clean paper towel. Only
blot, never rub. Use a fan or cool blow dryer to speed up drying
process, working from outer edge of spill to inner. If velvet,
use a brush on fabric before it dries. If a stain remains, call
a professional cleaner. A-Z Home Stain Removal Chart: Look it
up. And remember, don’t rub, BLOT!
Dry Cleaning Solvent (Energine®, Carbona®, K2r®): Protein/Enzyme
Laundry Detergent (Era®) – Dilute with 30 parts water: Distilled
White Wine Vinegar – Dilute with 9 parts rubbing alcohol
Ashes/Soot Alcoholic Drinks Alcoholic Drinks Butter/Margarine
Ashes/Soot Candy Cake/Frosting/Margarine Blood Felt-Tip Marker
Candle Wax/Margarine Cake/Frosting Fruit Juice Chewing Gum Candy
Ink Chocolate Ketchup Jam/Jelly Coffee Chocolate Lipstick
Cosmetics Coffee Shoe Polish Crayon Cosmetics Wine/Kool-Aide
Dairy Products Dairy Products Gravy Egg Grease Feces Ink Fruit
Juice Lipstick Gravy Mayonnaise Ice Cream Milk/Formula Jam/Jelly
Oil Mayonnaise Salad Dressing Milk/Formula Shoe Polish Mud Tar
Mustard Vegetable Salad Dressing Sauces Soft Drinks Syrup Tea
Urine Vegetable Vomit Wine/Kool-Aid
Protect, clean and care for your upholstered sofas, chairs and
loveseats using these tips and guidelines. With a little
attention, the upholstery in your living room, dining room,
family room and bedrooms will look fantastic for a long, long
time.
Please find the original article and more information about this
subject at
http://www.homeandliving.com/DesignAdvice.aspx?Category=Upholster
yCare
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