How To Clean Upholstery & Care For Your Furniture



Posted: Saturday, February 21, 2009

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Whether the style for your home is minimalist, Victorian or Oriental, furniture plays a major role in the look and feel that you're going for. This makes keeping them looking brand new a must. In order to do that you need to know how to clean upholstery and care for your furniture. These tips should help to make doing that a little easier.

When you're moving things around on your sofas or chairs, remember to lift them instead of sliding them across upholstery. Printed materials like newspapers should not be kept on your furniture as they contain inks that can accumulate and leave a stain. Dark colored clothes and fabrics should be kept off upholstery too especially if they are wet because the dye can rub off and stain your furniture.

Table cloths, runners and table mats provide the best protection for wood surfaces, especially your dining table. They're easy to just throw in the wash or wipe clean in the event of a spill. Table mats are nice because they also protect the finish on silverware.

Although it's great to look at when sunlight spills into a room, you should place your upholstery away from direct sunlight. UV rays can damage your furniture just as much as a food stain. So tinting your windows or keeping the drapes or blinds closed during times of direct sunlight are other options that you might want to consider.

If you like using candles in your living room or dining room always be sure to place them on a candle stand or tray. This is to avoid wax from dripping on your furniture.

Felt is a great padding for the bottoms of lamps, clocks and a number of other accessories. This prevents scratches and on the finish and they also prevent discoloration on wooden surfaces in case the lamp gets too hot. I suggest using a light colored felt so that the felt itself doesn't discolor the surface if it somehow gets damp or wet.

Remember that how to clean upholstery is a lot like cleaning clothes. Both are used daily and are prone to a lot of wear and tear, especially when you have kids in the house. A sofa cover or pretty throw can really help to increase the life of your sofa. A scotch guard fabric spray can also help to prevent stains from soaking in. But be sure to clean the upholstery thoroughly before applying it so it doesn't lock the stains in.

Cleaning stains as soon as possible is very important. The less time it sits on your upholstery the better the chances of getting the stain out. Use a vinegar cleaning solution and blot the stain with a clean white cotton cloth.

Lastly, don't just use one type of cleaner for all your upholstery. Some fabrics and materials are more delicate than others and might get damaged in the process. In such case, read the label first to see which surfaces the cleaner can be used on. Then, test out a small amount on a hidden area to make sure it doesn't discolor the fabric.

Sherry Hall is a working mom and cleaning expert. For more great tips on how to clean upholstery and care for your furniture be sure to visit http://www.quickcleaninganswers.com today!

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