How to clean a sofa

Upholstered furniture creates coziness and comfort in the house, but it, like all other elements of the interior, tends to get dirty and greasy, especially a favorite piece of furniture - a sofa. Over time, stains from all kinds of traces of household pollution or just dust appear on its surface, and the natural question arises: how to clean the sofa?

The easiest option to keep the fabric cover of the sofa intact is to purchase a sofa with removable upholstery or cover with a bedspread. But if a problem has formed, it is best to use the services of professionals. If this is not possible, in this article we will tell you how to clean upholstered furniture at home, without spending extra time and money.

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How to clean a sofa?

Before you start cleaning the sofa, pay attention to the following notes:

1. If you chose a vacuum cleaner as a means of cleaning, use 2 nozzles: a narrow one - to remove dust from hard-to-reach areas of furniture, and a special one for upholstered furniture. If not, then wrap an ordinary nozzle with gauze soaked in a salt solution in a ratio of 1 liter. water 1 tbsp.
2. Do not use the vacuum cleaner on velor and velvet covers of the sofa, in order to avoid deformation of the pile.
3. To avoid staining the floor around the sofa when using detergents, cover it with plastic wrap or old newspapers.
4. Remove contamination from the upholstery in one direction of the pile of fabric.
5. Remove the stain from the edge to the middle.
6. The cleaning products are applied in small squares, first on the back of the sofa, then on the armrests and finally on the seat and the bottom of the upholstered furniture.
7. When using a chemical agent or active solution, test the substance in an inconspicuous area of ​​the sofa.
8. If you clean upholstered furniture with chemicals, start with the least aggressive products and solutions, smoothly switch to more active ones, do not mix them and alternate with washing with water.
9. In order not to form stains from water, but inside mold and fungus, do not wet it abundantly.
10. Pat wet areas with paper towels, a sponge, and a dry, moisture-absorbing cloth.
11. After removing the stain, thoroughly dry the drapery with a hairdryer or a fan with warm heating.

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How to clean the sofa?

Depending on the type of stains and fabric surface of the sofa, choose the most suitable and cleaning agent.

Special cleaning products for upholstered furniture:

• Vanish Oxi Action - perfectly displays fresh spots of berries, fruits, fat. Not recommended for silk and leather fabrics.
• 5+ Stain Remover is a potent formula with active oxygen content. It does not spoil the fabric structure, improves color brightness, removes complex stains from coffee, berries, fruits, blood, ink.
• Dr. Beckmann - copes with hard-to-remove, old, stubborn stains from juice, cocoa, fat, grass.
• Unimaх Ultra - suitable for all types of fabric, eliminates iodine, green tea, coffee, tea, traces of cosmetics.
• AMWAY ™ Cleaner for upholstery fabrics and carpets: removes stains of various classifications, used on synthetic materials, wool, cotton, for coatings with any long pile. Not suitable for velvet.

Folk remedies for cleaning upholstered furniture:

• laundry 72% soap;
• dishwashing detergent;
• ammonia;
• medical alcohol;
• nail polish remover;
• vinegar;
• salt;
• soda;
• ice.

Also, prepare special equipment with which you will remove dirt from the sofa:

• a vacuum cleaner;
• clean cotton rags;
• microfiber wipes;
• special rubber brush;
• paper towels.

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How to clean the upholstery of a sofa with cloth upholstery?

To get rid of dust, use a vacuum cleaner - this is the most gentle way, it removes all the dirt, does not change color and does not wear out the fabric.

If you do not have a vacuum cleaner, knock out the sofa manually. For this:

1. Dilute in 1 liter of water for 2 tbsp. vinegar and salt.
2. Moisten a cloth cloth in it, wring it out.
3. Cover the surface of the sofa, use a knocker to knock out dust.
4. Rinse the matter in solution as it becomes contaminated.
5. Continue the process until there are no traces of dust on the rag.

Note: A damp cloth will absorb dirt, and a solution of salt and vinegar will refresh the colors.

Laundry soap will help you remove traces of coffee and tea:

1. Using a brush, rub the soap until a foam forms.
2. Apply it to contamination.
3. Rub gently.
4. Clean up with a damp cloth.
5. Repeat as necessary.

Clean more complex stains with a solution of vinegar and ammonia:

1. Make a 1: 1 solution.
2. Moisten with soaking movements.
3. Leave to dry completely.
4. Wipe with a wet, clean cloth.
5. Blot with a paper towel.

To get a fresh greasy mark on the upholstery, use soda:

1. Pour the substance into the problem area.
2. Wait for the fat to absorb.
3. Use a damp sponge to remove any remaining soda.
4. Soak a cotton swab in alcohol.
5. Wipe cleaned area.

Stubborn stains are washed off with special upholstery products:

1. Beat the detergent until a cool foam forms.
2. Apply to furniture at the time indicated in the instructions.
3. Remove the remaining foam with a vacuum cleaner.

Remove stains from wax with an iron and blotting paper:

1. Scrape off the main part of the dirt with a non-sharp object.
2. Apply paper to the stained area.
3. Iron the problem area with a not very hot iron, being careful not to go beyond the edges of the paper.
4. Change the paper pad until the wax disappears completely.
5. Wipe the treated area with a swab dipped in alcohol.

If there is a red wine mark on the couch:

1. Sprinkle the stain with salt.
2. Leave for a while.
3. Clean off with a damp cloth.

Fresh blood stain, remove with hydrogen peroxide:

1. Cover the stained area with rags.
2. Pour the remedy onto the bloodstream.
3. When the reaction starts, remove the foam with a cloth.
4. Apply peroxide until the pollution disappears.
5. Wipe with a damp cloth.
6. Drain.

Note: Use gently on colored fabrics.

Remove an old blood trail with aspirin:

1. Dilute in a glass of cold water 1 tablet of acetylsalicylic acid.
2. Moisten a gauze swab.
3. Wipe until stains disappear.

Chewing gum can be cleaned by freezing:

1. Take an ice cube, put it in a plastic bag
2. Apply to chewing gum.
3. Carefully scrape the hardened substance.
4. Wipe the trail of chewing gum with alcohol or vodka.

If beer is spilled on the sofa:

Immediately blot with any moisture-absorbing agents so that the drink does not soak into the deeper layers of the sofa:

1. Make a solution in 1 liter of water 2-3 tbsp. vinegar.
2. Wipe the surface until all odors are removed.
3. Dry in a well-ventilated area.

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How to wash a leather-covered sofa?

Do not wet the skin to avoid deformation and drying out. Use special wipes and skin care products. If you choose a spray - proceed as follows:

1. Spray the substance.
2. Rub the contaminated place.
3. Dry with a clean cloth.
4. Lubricate with a cream that can be normal for hands.
5. Wait a bit and remove the excess.

Remove dust stains with a mild soapy solution:

1. Dissolve 1 tsp. detergent in 1 liter of water.
2. Moisten a sponge, wipe.
3. Wash off the soapy residue.
4. Wipe dry.
5. Grease with glycerin.

To remove ink stains, apply a selection of lemon juice, alcohol or nail polish remover:

1. Gently wash off the dirt with a cotton swab dipped in the product.
2. Change cotton wool as it gets dirty.
3. Wash away the remaining substance with a damp cloth.
4. Treat with a moisturizer or a special skin cleanser so that the surface does not dry out.

Note: Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasives on leather products.

Remove stains on light skin with egg white - this method will add shine and refresh the skin:

1. Clean the dust upholstery with a damp cloth.
2. Beat the protein until foamy.
3. Lubricate the stained area.
4. Leave to dry completely.
5. Rub with a woolen cloth.

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How to clean the upholstery of a sofa with velor, suede and nubuck coating?

For velor upholstery, use vinegar:

1. Make a solution in the ratio of 1 tsp. for 1 liter of water.
2. Wet a microfiber cloth in it.
3. Wipe dirt in the direction of the pile.
4. Wash off any traces of the product.
5. Pat the upholstery with a dry towel.

Simple spots on nubuck and suede they are cleaned with a special brush, it has an iron brush on one side and a rubber brush on the other. Proceed as follows:

1. Carefully clean hardened dirt with the hard side.
2. Comb the glossy spots and pile with the rubber part.

Note: To avoid further contamination, purchase special dirt-repellent impregnations.

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Useful Tips

• Fresh stains are always easier to remove, do not delay with cleaning.
• When using special chemicals, read the instructions carefully.
• As a rule, do a general cleaning of upholstered furniture once a month, even if it looks clean.

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Stock footage

Now you know all the ways to clean a sofa from any material, so you don’t need to go dry cleaning. Choose the option that is most convenient for you and act as necessary. An excellent result is guaranteed!