Fabric sofas look amazing and can be particularly comfortable, and when it comes to cleaning, it can be a massive nightmare as well. But spills are likely to happen from time to time, and if you do not want to decorate your couch with those pretty plastic covers, you will need to learn how to clean a fabric sofa.
Thus, how can a fabric sofa be better cleaned? Some of the helpful steps you should take to ensure that you clean your fabric sofa properly are compiled by the Yorkshire Fabric Shop since we know how important it is for you to learn these things.
Check the Cleaning Codes
It's important to know what kind of fabric is used in the upholstery before continuing and what the codes mean before you start cleaning. Generally used codes on tags include:
W - It stands for a water-based cleaner, and it indicates that you can use water in cleaning the fabric sofa.
WS - It means that you can clean your sofa using water or a solvent-based cleaner. A dry or mild detergent and a steam cleaner may be used.
X - It means you are only advice to vacuum the sofa
S - If you see this in your fabric sofa, then it means you are only allowed to use a solvent-based cleaner when you clean your sofa.
Spot-treat the materials used for cleaning
After cleaning it, you don't want to end up with a fairly bad sofa nobody does. With the recommended product, start cleaning your sofa. Before continuing, if you are unsure if the substance falls under the guidelines, inspect a small area for any discolouration.
In addition to that, follow the instructions on the packaging, whether you use a water-based cleaner or a solvent (or both). To clean away the solution, use a soft cloth if the instructions suggest that it is safe to do so.
Remove the stains immediately!
You should quickly clean it as soon as a spill or stain happens. Waiting too long before a stain is processed will cause the stain to set up, making it much more difficult to get out after a few minutes. You must remember that before you begin cleaning, you should always test homemade solutions on a small, inconspicuous area of the stuff.
Clean with Baking Soda
Baking soda is not only meant for baking, but it is also an effective cleaning remedy. Sprinkling baking soda over the entire fabric sofa can help to eliminate odours and loosen stains further.
Furthermore, baking soda is perfect for a lot of stuff, like removing your couch's grime and embedded dirt. In an unobtrusive area, test the fabric first, but baking soda is safe for most types of upholstery. Using the brush attachment, you need a few cleaning cloths, a rigid brush, baking soda, and your vacuum cleaner.
Use a Brush
You can't remove all the dirt, particularly those loose particles, from your sofa. For you to remove it, you need to use a brush. We recommend that you go for a stiff brush with natural bristles over the entire sofa to help loosen stains and add dust and dirt to the floor.
Vacuum
To remove crumbs and any other loose pieces before scrubbing and cleaning your cloth sofa, use a handheld vacuum. It will make it easy to find and focus on troublesome stains when it comes time to clean.
Furthermore, to clear the fabric sofa, use a dust-buster or a hose plug on a full-sized vacuum cleaner. You should clear any surface dirt or dust from the surface of the sofa before you get into the deep-cleaning.
Dry Cleaning
If you are planning to dry clean your fabric sofa, we suggest you buy a trusted dry cleaning solvent. You may find it confusing because you’ll be using a liquid to dry clean your fabric sofa.
There is a very strong odour in dry cleaning solutions, so open any doors and windows in the area to let the smell out and let clean air enter. To allow the fumes to leave the room, turn on a ceiling fan or set up a floor fan pointing towards the window or do so.
In addition to that, we recommend that you apply the solvent into a rag rather than applying it directly to your sofa. Such solutions appear to be very effective, so keep in mind that a little goes a long way. Meet the packaging instructions for the particular product you have purchased.
Make sure to air dry or steam your fabric sofa. Also, do not forget to disinfect your sofa, mix a diluted essential oil known for its antibacterial properties (the tea tree is a nice one with some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Spray your sofa gently, allow the solution to sit for a few minutes, then run a vacuum over the surface of the sofa.
Furthermore, call either the manufacturer or the store where you purchased it if you do not know what cleaner is recommended for your items. Look for cleaners designed on the Internet for sofa fabrics as a last resort. As a last resort, look for cleaners tailored for fabric sofa on the Internet.