How to clean chair upholstery at home
Soft chairs create a pleasant and cozy atmosphere. They also get dirty quickly, especially when there are mischievous children and animals in the apartment. But you don’t need to worry too much about this - you can easily return the product to its original appearance if you know certain recipes.
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General tips for cleaning chair upholstery yourself
It is quite possible to clean upholstery on your own - it is not necessary to contact specialized companies for this. The main thing is to choose the means that are suitable for a specific situation, and also adhere to some recommendations:
- If possible, you should immediately remove the stain before it has time to dry - this will make it much easier to remove the stain.
- When wet cleaning, avoid getting a large amount of water on the upholstery of the chair to avoid strong stains.
- Don't rush to buy chemicals - often all you need to effectively clean furniture is a sponge and ordinary soap.
- When you cannot do without stain removers or other preparations, try not to rub them too hard so as not to damage the fabric fibers.
- Before using cleaning products, test their effect on an inconspicuous area. This will help ensure that no damage or stains remain on the furniture after the procedure.
- There is no need to wet the dried dirt - just gently brush it off with a soft brush.
- At the end, you should thoroughly rinse all cleaning products from the furniture upholstery, otherwise the item will emit an unpleasant odor for a long time. In addition, it is highly undesirable for the chemical to come into contact with children or pet hair.
ATTENTION! After cleaning, allow the product to dry naturally. Do not dry the chair with a heater or hairdryer - some materials cannot withstand high temperatures.
How to clean chair upholstery depending on the material
You must first correctly determine what the upholstery and frame of the chair consists of. Otherwise, it will not be possible to choose the appropriate method of work, since all materials have their own performance qualities and certain nuances. For example, a method suitable for tapestry fabric may cause damage to a velvet seat, etc.
Experts emphasize that it is better to play it safe and cover the chair frame and the floor covering underneath while cleaning, because just one drop of cleaner can ruin the surface. Therefore, prepare in advance:
- oilcloth or old newspapers;
- masking tape.
Next, we will consider which cleaning products can be used for specific materials.
Flock
A material such as flock is practical and convenient during use. The following will help you clean fabric effectively:
- neutral detergents;
- warm water with soap;
- alcohol.
IMPORTANT! It is forbidden to scrape dried stains from this fabric, and the use of harsh chemicals is also not recommended.
Jacquard
Jacquard is characterized by the fact that it does not fade in the sun for a long time, retains the brightness of colors and is resistant to sudden temperature changes. During cleaning, adhere to the following algorithm of actions:
- wet the sponge in a mild soap solution;
- thoroughly wash the surface of the chair upholstery;
- remove traces of soap with a dry cloth.
REFERENCE! This method is applicable to almost all upholstery materials, with a few exceptions.
Velours
As for velor, aggressive chemicals and scraping dirt from the chair seat are also not allowed here - such manipulations can easily damage the delicate surface. Also, if the furniture is upholstered in velor or velvet fabric, using a vacuum cleaner is not recommended.
Microfiber
It is contraindicated to clean surfaces made of this material with hard brushes. This creates pellets, the removal of which often leads to the appearance of holes. It is recommended to clean the upholstery with a sponge and warm water and soap. A vinegar solution is also used to remove stains.
REFERENCE! A clothes steamer can help remove wrinkles and creases from the surface of your microfiber chair.
Silk
Delicate silk material requires special care. Treat contaminated areas with a soft sponge with a weak solution of vinegar (use 1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water). Soap should be used only as a last resort, since the use of alkaline and any aggressive cleaning agents is contraindicated for silk fabric.
IMPORTANT! Strong rubbing, steaming and hot drying can damage silk upholstery.
Natural and artificial leather
Products made from natural or artificial leather require delicate handling. Typically, owners give preference to special gentle products designed for skin care. It is important to take into account some nuances:
- the more dirty the dirt, the longer the cleaner should remain on the leather upholstery;
- You don’t have to wipe the piece of furniture dry - you just need to remove the stains;
- Solvents, stain removers and other strong chemicals are strictly contraindicated - they can damage the expensive surface of the furniture.
Chenille
Chenille is a dense, wear-resistant material with a pleasant velvety structure. Furniture upholstered in chenille retains its excellent appearance for a long time, does not fade or fade. True, you need to carefully care for it:
- dirty fabric requires careful dry cleaning without the use of aggressive detergents;
- for cleaning, use a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush - a soap solution should be used only in extreme cases;
- When exposed to high temperatures, the fabric is easily deformed.
How to clean wooden chairs at home
For natural wood, as well as polished and varnished products, do not use metal brushes or caustic solvents. Basically, for such furniture they choose a special polish and flannel fabric. In addition, often used:
- baking soda;
- a mixture of vegetable oil and lemon juice;
- undiluted vinegar;
- alcohol solution.
It is not as difficult to keep chairs looking neat as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to promptly remove all contamination using products suitable for each specific case.