Methods of dry cleaning furniture, recommendations of specialists
A difficult task that requires a serious approach is the dry cleaning of furniture, which will help remove dirt from soft or leather interior items. But it should be done carefully so as not to damage the upholstery. In addition, an independent dry cleaning of a chair or pouf is the right solution for those who want to get rid of not only stubborn stains, but also house dust.
Necessary tools
How is dry cleaning of upholstered furniture at home? Where to start? Of course, with the selection of the necessary tools that will be the main assistants in this matter. Not everyone has special dry cleaning equipment at hand. To do the cleaning of soft home furnishings with your own hands, you will need:
- vacuum cleaner;
- brush;
- rag or sponge;
- garment steamer or steam cleaner.
Vacuum cleaners of different types are suitable for cleaning upholstery material, depending on the type of stains. Special nozzles that come complete with washing vacuums allow you to get rid of difficult to remove impurities. A handheld vacuum cleaner is designed for surface removal of dirt and dust. For high-quality cleaning to an ordinary vacuum cleaner, you can purchase additional accessories: nozzles, air bags, aquafilters.
If cleaning is carried out with a brush, then you need to pay attention to the material from which the product is made. For a more thorough cleaning of the upholstery fabric, you will need a brush with a hard pile. If you give preference to a rag, then it should be soft and made of natural material. A steam cleaner as a cleaning tool not only carefully removes any dirt, but also helps to disinfect the tissue from germs.
Why spend money on expensive tools to remove stains, if every housewife has in her arsenal of ordinary household appliances? With proper use, you can clean your sofa, armchair or soft padded stool with your own hands.
It is necessary to choose the right tools for dry cleaning furniture. This will keep the upholstery in its original form and avoid mechanical damage to delicate fabrics.
Cleaning Methods
There are several types of cleaning soft modules:
- extractor - with the help of washing vacuum cleaners;
- dry - using dry powder or foam;
- wet - with detergents.
Dry
Dry cleaning of upholstered furniture is the most common option for cleaning your home decor with your own hands. It involves applying a special powder or foam to the dry surface of the upholstery. This type of cleaning is used with little contamination of the upholstery of a sofa, chair or pouf.
Dry cleaning technology in this way is very simple:
- spread the powder with a brush or special foam on a dry surface;
- wait a certain time specified in the instructions for maximum penetration of the product into the tissue;
- an ordinary vacuum cleaner will help to process the upholstery fabric.
The dry cleaning method is the most effective and quickest in removing stubborn stains. Dry dry cleaning will save time and save from prolonged drying of upholstered furniture in the interior.
Wet
Wet dry cleaning of furniture is carried out with severe contamination of the upholstery fabric or to remove stubborn stains. This method involves the use of various tools and household chemicals:
- brushes;
- rags or foam sponges;
- household chemicals;
- vacuum cleaner and steam cleaner.
There are several stages for wet cleaning upholstered furniture at home:
- To clean the upholstery from house dust, you must use a vacuum cleaner to remove crumbs and fine dirt. It is not recommended to use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning velvet and velor upholstery;
- Use a damp cloth or sponge to rub off any dirt;
- it is necessary to apply a special detergent with a sponge or rag. For efficiency, you can use a brush with hard bristles. But do not rub heavily in household chemicals to avoid deep penetration of pollution into the material;
- After a while, clean the remaining cleaning agent with a clean damp cloth or sponge. This must be done until it is completely removed from the surface;
- using a drying machine or a simple vacuum cleaner, it is necessary to dry the upholstery in order to avoid the formation of mold due to the long drying of the material.
Wet cleaning can also be done with a steam cleaner:
- the upholstery can be treated with a garment steamer or a special steam cleaner;
- first you need to distribute the powder or gel on the surface of the cloth with a rag, foam sponge or brush;
- after some time, it is necessary to remove the remnants of the cleaning agent with the same means;
- Using a vacuum cleaner, household chemicals are removed from the upholstery;
- by drying or vacuuming the machine, it is necessary to dry the upholstery fabric in order to avoid the formation of mold due to long drying of the fabric and the use of chemicals.
Wet cleaning takes a long time, but it contributes to the effective removal of stubborn stains from the surface of the upholstery fabric. You can take a video or take a photo before and after the procedure to verify the effectiveness of wet cleaning.
Cleaning products
The choice of household cleaning products for upholstered furniture is an important step in the process of cleaning upholstery. Cleaning products must be selected depending on the fabric material. Today, there are many types of household chemicals that are suitable for cleaning various textile surfaces. They differ mainly in price and method of application.
There are several types of cleansers for cleaning:
- a tablet that is diluted in water;
- gel;
- powder;
- spray can;
- spray.
Aerosols or spray guns that are easy to apply and distribute can be used to remove minor contaminants. The powder is effective for dry cleaning of soft home decoration. Gel is an economical type of packaging for household chemicals. It lasts for a long time and it effectively removes stains and dirt from textiles with wet cleaning of furniture. For extractors, there are special means of concentrates, which must be selected based on the model of a washing vacuum cleaner.
Stain Removal Recommendations
When removing stains from the upholstery, 4 factors must be taken into account, which together will lead to an effective result:
- detergent;
- temperature;
- waiting time;
- instruments.
The reduction in the effect of one factor must be compensated for by the predominance of another. That is, if the fabric is not recommended to be cleaned with special chemicals, then it is necessary to more intensively exert a mechanical effect on the upholstery with the help of dry cleaning tools. This principle will effectively remove any contamination.
Before using the product to clean the entire surface, it must be tested on a small area of the textile surface. This method will allow you to evaluate how this type of cleaning chemicals affects the upholstery. Cleaning products are not suitable for fabrics in the form of genuine leather. Therefore, dry cleaning of leather furniture at home should be carried out carefully without the use of chemicals, so that the upholstery does not crack. The choice of detergents or folk recipes depends only on the upholstery material.
Upholstery Type | Stain removal | Cleaning |
Flock | Dry foam cleaning with foam sponge. Wet cleaning with a brush and mild soap to remove greasy stains. | Wet cleaning with mild soap and a sponge. |
Velours | Dry cleaning with foam with a foam sponge and soaking with a dry cloth. | Wet cleaning with a mild soap and sponge. |
Faux leather | Wet cleaning with mild chemical detergent. | Wipe with a cloth dampened in 10% alcohol solution. |
Suede leather | Dry cleaning with foam sponge and soaking with a dry cloth. | Wet cleaning with a mild soap and sponge. |
Tapestry | Dry cleaning with foam. | Extraction or dry foam cleaning. |
To properly clean upholstered furniture at home, you need to clarify the origin of pollution. The further actions of cleansing the stains and the choice of appropriate detergents depend on this.
To eliminate stubborn dirt on a sofa or armchair, it is necessary to use special stain removers that effectively remove stains of varying degrees of complexity.
Dry cleaning of soft furnishings in an apartment is a crucial step, which must be decided upon, having carefully considered everything. To maintain the original appearance of your favorite sofa, you need to determine the upholstery material, and then choose the right tools and detergents. Need a dry cleaning of furniture? You can’t put it off until tomorrow, you should do it today! A better understanding of how furniture is cleaned will help the photos.
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