How to Clean Upholstery Yourself
Whether you want to freshen up your upholstered furniture or face an unexpected spill to clean, you can tackle the challenge on your own with a few tips.
Before we share frequently asked questions and our answers, let’s clarify what we mean by upholstery:
- Cotton, linen, microfibre, and polyester are popular fabrics for upholstered furniture. All these materials respond well to spot cleaning.
- Suede, which is soft leather with a fuzzy surface, is a luxurious finish for upholstery. Spot cleaning is possible, but not with water!
- Leathers, except suede, are easily spot cleaned with gentle soaps and a little water.
- Velvet, woven fabric with a soft feel, is manageable when made with cotton or polyester. Velvets made from silk, rayon, or acetate may require professional cleaning.
Most of the questions we hear are about upholstery made from traditional fabrics, so we’ll focus our tips accordingly.
How to Clean Sofa Upholstery at Home
Your first step when cleaning sofa upholstery is to check the manufacturer’s label. Look for a cleaning code that will read W (water-based), S (solvent-based), WS (water or solvent), and X (professional clean).
Before applying any cleaning agent to your sofa, thoroughly vacuum the fabric. If the manufacturer label code is S, you’ll need to purchase dry cleaning solvent. Brands labelled ‘upholstery safe’ will work. Apply the solution with a clean cloth or soft brush, let dry, and then vacuum the sofa again.
For W or WS cleaning codes, you’ll add about 3 ounces of liquid upholstery cleaner to a gallon of water. Lightly spread the soapy mixture over the upholstery with a soft-bristled brush. Avoid soaking any areas. If you think the upholstery is too wet, you can vacuum extra moisture using a shop vac.
How to Clean Fabric Sofa Naturally
If you or your family have sensitivities to detergents, you can create a natural upholstery cleaner using a few inexpensive ingredients. Place 1/4 cup white vinegar, 3/4 cup warm water and 1/2 tablespoon of a gentle soap into a spray bottle. Shake to mix the contents. Lightly spray the upholstery and use a soft brush or clean cloth to work the solution into the fabric. Use clean, warm water to remove excess soap and blot the upholstery to speed drying.
How to Clean Fabric Sofa Stains
For sofas with WS or W cleaning codes, combine a small amount of dish detergent with cool water. Use a sponge to blot the stain (don’t rub!) with the soapy mixture. Then use clean water to blot out the soap. Use a clean cloth or paper towels to press moisture from the fabric. For other cleaning codes, use a small amount of vinegar or vodka on the stain. The smell of these natural solvents will disappear as the upholstery dries.
How to Clean Upholstery with a Steam Cleaner
After vacuuming the fabric and pre-treating any stains, follow the directions on your upholstery steam cleaner for the recommended amount of water and detergent. We advise applying steam and then removing moisture on a small, non-visible area of the upholstery. Let the area dry and if you’re pleased with the results, continue cleaning the remainder of the fabric.
Can You Clean A Sofa with A Steam Cleaner?
Yes, but make sure you have an appropriate steam cleaner, and your sofa cleaning code is W or WS. Carpet steam cleaners won’t have upholstery attachments and are too bulky to handle when cleaning a sofa. Look for brands labelled fabric steam cleaners, upholstery steam cleaners, or handheld steam cleaners.
Steam Cleaning Tips
Before steam cleaning, you may want to spray a soil emulsifier over the fabric. These products will loosen any ground-in dirt in the upholstery. Let the soil release sit a few minutes.
Then use a soft brush to apply a light layer of upholstery shampoo. The soil release and shampoo will improve the cleaning process, and the steam cleaner will pick up any residue.
How do I Get Water Stains Out of Upholstery?
If the water stain is still wet, blot dry as much moisture as possible. You may avoid a stain by drying the fabric quickly. For stains that have set on materials with a W or WS cleaning code, use a clean cloth to blot vinegar around the stain edge and work inward. You’ll prevent the stain from spreading. After 15 minutes, use fresh, warm water to lift the vinegar. If needed, repeat the process.
How to Remove Water Ring from Couch
For fabrics with W or WS cleaning codes, we recommend applying a vinegar solution (with vinegar and distilled water) to the inner edges of the ring. Use a brush to feather the solution outward. Avoid pouring water or heavily spraying the fabric with cleaners; you’ll create a more substantial water ring.
How to Get Rid of Water Stains on Fabric Couch
A vinegar and water solution applied lightly to a fabric couch can get rid of water stains. For microfiber sofas, you can also use a baby wipe to clean the area. If your fabric is suede, you can use denatured alcohol (found in hardware stores) to treat the water stain lightly.
While you can effectively clean popular types of upholstery using these DIY methods, Clean Freaks in Ottawa is here to help with tough stains or sensitive fabrics. Our patented ShearDry upholstery cleaning process provides deep cleaning and faster drying times than DYI approaches.
Protect your investment in upholstered furniture (and your peace of mind) by letting our professional team handle the cleaning.
Visit us online or call us at 613-421-5854 to book Ottawa’s best in carpet cleaning.