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Maintenance & Cleaning of Upholstery Fabrics - General Information Guide

Proper maintenance of upholstery fabrics permits less frequent cleaning. Maintenance is routine, on-going care which reduces the build-up of soil on the fabric's surface and treats spots and stains. Vacuuming with a proper upholstery attachment should be done regularly and thoroughly to remove air-borne dust and lint. Promptly treat spots and stains. Cleaning periodically removes accumulated grime to retain a upholstery fabric's original appearance as much as possible. Loose cushions should be turned and rotated to equalize wear and soiling levels. Protective arm covers and head rests should be cleaned to minimize difference between the appearance of upholstery and that of other exposed areas. Upholstery Cleaning codes apply to the outer covering fabric only and it is most important that the fabric not be over wet to avoid contact with filling materials.

W - Clean upholstery only with water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. Do not over wet. Do not use dry cleaning solvents to spot clean. Pile fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and laundered.

S - Clean upholstery only with upholstery dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate. Do not use water. Pile fabric may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned.

WS - Clean upholstery with mild detergent or shampoo, foam or dry cleaning solvent as desired. Do not saturate with liquid. Pile fabric may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned or laundered.

X - Do not clean upholstery with either water or solvent based cleaner. Use vacuuming or light brushing only. Water based upholstery cleaning agents* are often classified as upholstery shampoo. They are usually commercially available as foams, concentrated liquid, and dry compounds. Upholstery Cleaning can be either wet or dry, though some suggest a third category, damp. Steam cleaning upholstery equipment using water is classified into two broad types: Rotary or hand applied shampoo.

Water extraction (sometimes inaccurately referred to as a steam cleaning)
Two of the damp processes with water are: Dry foam, Rotary mop (bonnet). Dry systems use a granule or powder that incorporates a cleaning solvent, or a non-water chemical solvent which allows soil to be removed by subsequent vacuuming.

Pre-test your upholstery cleaning method on an inconspicuous area of the fabric to determine if color bleeds, shrinks the fabric texture or character altered. If there is any doubt, seek the assistance of a professional upholstery cleaning service.

Important upholstery fabric and finish information

Note: Bleach can only be used with solution dyed fibres, as directed.

Topical FR Treatments
If a upholstery, drapery fabric has been topically flame retardant treated, it should be solvent cleaned ("S" cleaning code) only. The flame retardant processing involves, in most cases, water-based flame retardants and, therefore, water-based upholstery cleaning systems will dissolve or diminish flame resistance.

Solution Dyed Fibers
Fabrics containing 100% solution dyed fibers (eg. Interplay - BASF Nylon) are very colorfast, as pigments were part of the polymer during synthetic fiber extrusion. These upholstery, drapery fabrics can be cleaned with both ("WS") water-based and solvent-based cleaning systems, including some strong cleaning agents as diluted bleach for stain removal. Conventional upholstery cleaning methods and chemicals should be effective for most soils and stains. However some stains require stronger chemicals to break down the stain. Carpet cleaning detergent followed by a diluted bleach solution* (1 part household bleach, 4 parts water) should be blotted onto the stain and allowed to react with the upholstery or curtain stain for approximately 60 minutes. After 60 minutes, the bleach should be removed by hot water extraction.**

If cleaning with bleach is not totally effective in stain removal, a professional upholstery cleaning service should be consulted. Phenol type germicides should be avoided, as these chemicals will stain nylon fabrics, although proper subsequent rinsing with water will remove the germicide stains. Quaternary type germicides can be used but subsequently must be rinsed, as some staining can occur. Disinfectants, such as germicides should only be used according to the manufacturers' recommendations, especially with regard to concentration levels.

* e.g. Chlorox
** Be careful to use procedures that avoid contact with skin and non-fabric parts of furniture. This latter procedure was found to be especially effective for problem stains such as Betadiene (Iodine), Methylene Blue, Mud, Mustard, Pepto Bismol and Red Fruit Punch.

Note: Typical problem upholstery stains that have been found by studies to be difficult to totally remove by conventional methods include ballpoint ink, cream shoe polish, and latex paint that probably require spot removal procedures by a professional upholstery cleaning service. FR Trevira Polyester and CS Trevira Polyester 100% FR Trevira (polyester) and CS Trevira Polyester are permanently flame retardant as a result of inherently flame retardant fibers. Fabrics with these compositions can be cleaned with both ("WS") water-based and solvent based cleaning systems.

Note: Typical problem stains that have been found by studies to be difficult to totally remove by conventional upholstery cleaning methods from FR Trevira polyester and CS Trevira polyester fabrics include bleach, mayonnaise, latex paint, suntan lotion, catsup, methylene blue, Pepto Bismol, germicide (phenol), motor oil, petroleum jelly, ballpoint ink, mud and shoe polish, that probably require spot removal procedures, by professional upholstery cleaners.

Wool Untreated wool fabrics and high content wool fabrics (60% +) are also compatible with both ("WS") water-based and solvent-based cleaning systems, unless otherwise noted.

Special comments for wool and wool-blended upholstery:
100% wool and most wool-blend fabrics upholstery clean satisfactorily with any of the standard solvent cleaning agents. If the construction of the furniture can withstand it, wool upholstery can also be cleaned with water-based upholstery cleaners

Cotton and Rayon
100% cotton and high content (50% +) cotton or rayon fabrics should be cleaned only with ("S") solvent systems, because of potential shrinkage as well as dye bleeding concerns.

Mohair
Fabrics containing mohair (e.g., Mohair Plush) should be maintained by regular brushing with a firm clothes brush in the direction of the nap and/or vacuum with the upholstery nozzle. Rub carefully with a dry, white cloth in the direction of the nap, or allow upholstery to dry and vacuum with the upholstery nozzle. Always allow the furniture to dry completely (at least 24 hours) before using. Cleaning of mohair upholstery should involve a foam shampoo, sprayed and rubbed onto a water-dampened, squeezed-out sponge or a liquid shampoo worked into a foam with a sponge, using only the foam. Always treat the entire surface of the soiled furniture. After each treatment, use a soft brush working in the direction of the nap.

Note: Should the maintenance, cleaning and spot removal procedures not remove a stain, then expert advice from a reputable, upholstery cleaning professional service should be obtained. Certain stains are very difficult to completely remove, and may be permanent.

Upholstery Cleaning & Stain Removal Tips

How to clean and remove stains from upholstery

New upholstered furniture can be very expensive. If you have a lounge suite, chair, loveseat, or some other type of upholstered furniture that is in good condition but just dirty, these upholstery cleaning tips will save you money and time shopping for new furniture. Most often, people will clean an existing piece of furniture and be totally, amazed at how incredible it looks. Considering that people and sometimes pets sit on furniture, it is no wonder it gets dirty. Even simple aged furniture can benefit from a good cleaning.

The key with upholstered furniture is choosing the appropriate type of cleaning method. For example, if you have an antique chair that is hand embroidered then it would require a different cleaning technique than a sofa that was store bought. In this article, we will walk you through several upholstery cleaning tips to make the job easy and worthwhile.

Getting the Upholstery Stains Out

Maintaining a clean home is part of having a happy home where people enjoy living. With furniture, upholstery is just one aspect but an important one. Think about all the times people have eaten on the couch, dropping bits of food or drink that leave stains. Then you have the dirty feet, dirty clothing, and just everyday wear and tear that can leave upholstery looking dirty and drab. As you are about to discover, getting those stains out does not have to be painful.

The most important thing to remember when cleaning upholstery is to consider the fabric. If you are unsure, you can check with the manufacturer’s information. Then, before you start in cleaning a large stain, we recommend you work first on an inconspicuous area to ensure no discoloration or damage is done. With that done, the following are a few of the most common stains found on upholstery and methods for removing them.

Butter Stains

The family sits around to watch TV and in comes the hot, buttered popcorn. Although everyone is careful, pieces can fall and then you have a grease stain. For butter, the best option is to choose a dry cleaning solvent, which can be found at grocery and retail stores. Apply a little onto a clean, white cloth and blot at the stain, never rub. Next, mix one tablespoon of a mild, ph-balanced detergent with one cup of warm water. Again, blot at the stain. Next, using another towel, sponge the solvent and detergent off with clean, warm water and allow the spot to dry.

Oily Cheese Stains

Cheese is another food that is seen spilled on upholstery. Again, things like nachos are a favorite snack food but they leave stains. For cheese, mix one teaspoon of mild, ph-balanced detergent with one cup of warm water. With a clean, white towel, blot at the cheese stain. Then mix one tablespoon of regular ammonia with one-half cup of water, again blotting the stain. Finally, blot the stain with clean water to remove any detergent or ammonia and let the area dry.

Ink Stains

Coming home from work you sit down with a pen in your pocket and before you know it, a stain is left. Ballpoint pens, especially blue, are common stain makers but as you will discover with this upholstery cleaning tip, they too come out. The key however, is to be patient and persistent, as ink stains can be stubborn. Just make sure you only blot. Rubbing could cause the ink stain worsen. You have a number of options such as:

Spray hairspray onto a clean, white towel and then dab at the stain, followed by blotting with a clean, dry towel
Treat a clean, white towel with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Again, blot the ink stain, followed by a dry towel
Again, with a clean, white towel, apply nail polish remover or acetone. Blot the ink stain from the outside edges toward the center
Using a clean, white towel, use spirits of turpentine, blotting as with the other treatment options
Commercial products that work well on ink stains include Carbona or Afta. With both, you would use a clean, white towel, dabbing the affected area.

Coffee Stains

Sipping coffee on an upholstered chair or sofa is everyday occurrence. To remove a coffee stain, mix one teaspoon of a mild, ph-balanced detergent with one cup of warm water, then blot from the outside in. Follow this with blotting the stain with a mixture of one-third cup white vinegar with two-thirds cup water. When finished, use a clean, white towel to absorb any excess, allow the area to dry.

Upholstery cleaning tips are important since dust settles onto fabric more than hard surfaces. Therefore, regular cleaning to keep your upholstery looking and smelling clean is essential. In fact, we recommend you clean your upholstery furniture once every two months. Typically, you can use your regular vacuum cleaner with the appropriate attachment to keep it clean. Just keeping the dust off will help your furniture last much longer. Then when necessary, use the above tips for removing stains. With this, you can enjoy your favorite sofa or chair without having to spend hard-earned money on new furniture

Published by Graeme Stephens of Auckland Carpet Steam ‘n’ Dry carpet & upholstery cleaning where you can find more helpful information including international carpet cleaning newsletter.
Auckland Carpet Steam ‘n’ Dry has proudly been providing professional upholstery cleaning services since 1987

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