Upholstery Cleaning: Do It Yourself!
Have you thought about cleaning your Sofa or Love seat lately
? Is there an odor originating in your furniture's vicinity? It is recommended by most Houston TX upholstery cleaning companies that if your furniture has not had a decent cleaning in over 12 months, then it's time for a clean! Germs, bacteria and Dust Mites dwellbeneath the surface of your sofa's, ottomans and chairs simply lying in wait for the right opportunity to bring mayhem and destruction to your health. Fear not, for there is always a way to battle such foes. The best part is, you can halt these issues your self by following a few of these cleaning tips below.
Before you start, there are still a few things you will need to get in order to achieve the best upholstery cleaning possible.
First on the list of items will be the right chemical. Are you trying to remove stains or odor? A lot of chemicals are designed to remove both, but sticking with a chemical that only removes stains, or only removes odor is best.
Next you will need a horse hair brush, which can be purchased at your local super center.
Micro-Fiber Rags are next on the list. These nifty rags absorb much more effectively than your average cloth rag.
Store bought steam cleaning device.Buying a decent steam cleaner will pay off in the end.
Regular vacuum cleaner. This is essential. Any Houston upholstery cleaning company will tell you that pre-vacuuming the furniture is one of the most important steps for the best upholstery cleaning out come.
The first step in the cleaning process is dry vacuuming. Take your vacuum with hose attachment and vacuum down any piece of upholstery you are trying to clean. This step is also know by carpet cleaners as "dry vacuuming". It simply means you are using a vacuum that was made to pick up dirt and debris that is dry.
Next, you are going to be using your store bought chemicals. Depending on whether or not you are trying to remove stains is certain areas, or remove odors will determine the amount of chemicals to use. For stains, simply follow the instructions of your cleaning bottle. This also applies to odors as well. You will normally mix the solutions with warm to hot water in any kind of spray bottle. For odors, spray the entire piece of upholstery and gently rub the chemicals in with your horse hair brush.
For stains, lightly spray the area that is stain with your chemical. Allow the chemical dwell for about 10-15 minutes. After that, take your micro-fiber cloth rag and place it over the stained area. Use your fist and press down on the rag to absorb the stain and chemical. You may repeat this process no more than three times.
Next, take your mighty store bought steam cleaning device and follow the instructions on how to use it properly. As a Houston upholstery cleaner, I cannot stress enough on how important steam is for removing stains and odors. The hotter the steam, the better! Begin the cleaning process by steaming every area where your chemical was applied. Go over each area slowly and thoroughly to allow the heat from the steam to loosen the soil and dirt.
You can repeat this process several times if necessary, however, most Houston upholstery cleaning technicians recommend that you wait until the piece of furniture dries before starting over again. Cleaning it several times may result in permanent damage to the fibers that hold your furniture together. For faster drying times you can turn the AC down in your home. About 70 degrees should do the trick. Placing a fan in front of the furniture will also helptremendously in the drying process.
If all else fails, you always have to option to call your local Houston upholstery cleaning company. Your local carpet cleaner usually comes standard with the knowledge andequipment to clean furniture and upholstery. When leaving your pieces to dry, keep it away from any areas that are high with humidity as it will take longer to dry.
Here are a few things you should not do. When cleaning upholstery, you should never scrub stains with your brush after applying chemicals. The chemical causes the stain to liquefy. This results in a "smear" effect. This will cause the stain to bleed deep within your furniture and the cushioning making it much harder to clean.
You should never apply to much chemical and water to your sofas, love seats, or chairs. Without having the right amount of suction, too much water will result in brown rings and possibly mildew and mold. The goal is to not have your furniture end up being over saturated or drenched.
Some fabrics such as micro-fiber, or polyester are water resistant. This makes it much more difficult to clean with steam or water. If you have ever spilled water on a water resistant piece of upholstery, you will notice the water simply sits on top of the furniture. So when applying your cleaning solution, brush it in with your horse hair brush and follow the steps above.
Cleaning upholstery can be difficult and time consuming, but in the end, it preserves the life and quality of your furniture. Following these steps can save you the hassle of buying new furniture and save money by not hiring a professional cleaner. Not that I recommend that, of course.
by: Remi
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