A Guide to Cleaning Dark-Coloured Fabrics and Upholstery

Cleaning itself is a strenuous activity. What more if you would do a deep cleaning for overall upholstery, curtain fabric, and the entire house. It requires time and a lot of energy. But as the popular saying goes: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness. 

The more you clean your furniture, the more you feel comfortable and at peace. Some of us don’t have much free time because we have lots of commitments and have a tight schedule for work, school, and businesses. Therefore, we need guides in cleaning our upholstery fabric.

The following list is some ways you can follow through:

Distinguishing Your Furniture Fabric Upholstery

It is easier to clean the fabric: if you know the composition and its type. The furniture should have a tag or label specifying what kind of fabric or material is made of. It could be that the furniture is made of cotton, leather, linen, rayon, wool, etc. The fabrics are categorized as natural fibre and synthetic fibres.

Look for the Cleaning Code of Your Upholstery

Upholstery fabric has a cleaning code when bought in the supermarket and legit stores. It is an indication of the proper cleaning of your furniture. Furthermore, it can determine what solvent cleaner to use in cleaning different kinds of upholstery fabric. These are the codes you have to look for;

• W –  It means the material can be cleaned using water. Using a water-based solvent or water-based shampoo can be applied. Upholstery foam cleaner can be utilized too. These types of fabric are easier to clean than others. On the other hand, with deep stains, it is better to ask for a professional cleaning service to avoid damage.
• S –  It means that you need solvent-based upholstery cleaner. NO WATER REQUIRED! Spot cleaning can be helpful for smaller stains but deeper and larger ones; call your furniture cleaning service to save your beloved furniture.
• WS – It means we can do both water and solvent-based cleaner. It is not good to use hot water extraction and steaming. If you are cleaning spills, blot the area and remove the liquid as soon as possible. With larger spills and stains; call your cleaning service for help.
• X – It means you need to Vacuum only or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush. No water or solvent-based cleaner otherwise, it would result in abrasion.

Do Not Diverge from Recommended Cleaning Methods on the Tags

We know that water is the universal solvent. But believe it or not, water can leave stains or marks on upholstery fabric. Don’t risk the aesthetic of your upholstery. Always follow the instructions on the tags.

How To Take Care of Your Fabric and Upholstery

• Vacuuming is a must to get rid of dust and dirt. Of course, you wouldn’t want them to accumulate for some time. Change your slipcovers, flip cushions, and rotate them to increase longevity.
• Make sure your upholstery is not direct to sunlight to avoid fading. Dark-coloured fabric is vulnerable to fading.
• If you have extra budget, you can ask for professional cleaning annually to refresh your furniture and maintain its aesthetic.

Spot Clean Upholstery Fabric

• If you are working on a stain on your cushion casing: remember not to dry clean or machine wash. It would damage the stitches and backings of the fabric. You can try hand washing for small stains. For the larger one, ask help with a professional cleaner.
• Do not ignore the stains. Treat them immediately by blotting with a clean, dry white cloth. Don’t put too much pressure. Apply a small amount of cleaner and agitate it with your fingertips.
• If you were advised to water-rinse the stain, make sure you would use distilled water to the stained area. Tap water can discolour fabric because of its mineral properties.
• You can use a hairdryer in the lowest heat to dry the fabric and remove moisture.

Do  It  Yourself Tips

• Cleaning has been part of our household chores. We know it’s exhausting, but it’s worth taking. Seeing your house as squeaky clean or spotless, you would feel triumphant and satisfied. What else can you ask?
• There are different ways you can approach cleaning. Again, it’s relevant to know the code of the fabric to determine the agents you can use. Once you’ve recognized the code, you can identify the form of the stains.
• Food stains can be removed using a white cloth and brush. You can vacuum the furniture to eradicate the remaining food. Then, you can apply the correct cleaning agent your code recommends. Always blot and never try to rub your fabric. Rubbing would result in a permanent stain.
• Liquid stains can be treated as solid stains. Remember to get rid of the smudge immediately after it happens. You should use the required cleaning agent. You can keep repeating the steps when it’s needed. Always blot and don’t ever rub!
• For larger stains, it’s better to call the experts in upholstery cleaning. They are more knowledgeable when it comes to identifying material types, what cleaning products to use, and other methods in cleaning different kinds of furniture. 

Although, it is costly than doing it by yourself: its better safe than sorry. You wouldn’t want your beloved furniture piece to go to waste because of an improper way of cleaning.

Everybody would understand if you would only do it annually. You can clean the furniture every day and save some amount yearly to allocate for a professional cleaner. The best tip for this is to treat your furniture with much respect. If you can use them with love, in turn, they could last for a long time.

To Conclude

Now you know how to clean your upholstery and fabric, you might be able to enjoy your favourite Netflix shows one of these days while snuggling and feeling cosy in your favourite furniture. Guidelines make your work painless and gratifying, so what are you waiting for? Start your journey in cleaning your fabrics and upholsteries. Don’t get too overwork!