We know what you’re thinking. You’ve tried all the sofa cleaning tricks you know and that stain is still staring you straight in the face.
When it comes to cleaning upholstery nothing can be more nerve-wracking than a set-in stain. Of course, you want to get the spot out.
But at the same time, many of us are afraid to make the situation worse.
Plus, the cost of reupholstering furniture is outrageous. You can spend an average of $648 on a reupholstering project.
And for sofas, it’s even more expensive. Experts say you will spend between $1,200 and $3,500 on a couch reupholstering project.
You’re almost better off waiting until January for the furniture sales and buying something new. But what if you love your furniture and aren’t ready to let it go?
And what if you aren’t ready to shell out a small fortune to replace the upholstery? We can help.
Follow these 7 tips and your furniture will be looking as good as new:
1. Research Your Upholstery Fabrics
Before you begin to tackle any stain on your furniture you’ll want to check the color codes on the piece. Typically you can find these codes on a label attached to the cushions.
They are very helpful as they will tell you exactly how to treat your upholstery. Just like your clothing has tags to direct on proper cleaning, so does your furniture.
You may have to play some hide and seek. The tags aren’t always on the cushions.
They could be hidden beneath the platforms located inside the zippered pillows.
Some older furniture may not have color codes at all. In those cases, you can pick up a non-stained pillow or cushion and bring it to a local furniture store.
They will be able to identify the fabric and give you advice on restoration.
2. Know The Codes
Once you have located the code on your furniture you will know how to handle the stain. Furniture sellers list the codes accordingly:
- S – Spot clean only with a water-free dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate and do not use water.
- W – Spot clean only with water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner.
- WS – Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or mild dry cleaning solvent.
- X – Cleaning only by vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush. Don’t use water or solvent-based cleaner.
In all cases, you will be wise to test a small hidden area prior to treating the stain. The last thing you want is to ruin your upholstery.
3. Try Some Steam
As you can tell from the codes, many fabrics shouldn’t be saturated. The water will hurt the fabric or make the stain set in worse.
But you can try steam in many cases to address the stain. Before you call a professional, try using the steam setting on your iron.
You may be able to extract the stain with the moisture without doing damage to your furniture.
4. Vacuum First
While you’re waiting for the iron to get hot, grab your vacuum cleaner. You’ll want to vacuum the fabrics before you try the steam.
A thorough vacuum cleaning will remove the dust and dirt. Skip this step and you may end up creating mud with the steam from your iron!
Then you’ll have more stains to contend with. Vacuum under the cushions and get into all the hard-to-reach areas, so you’ll have fewer surprises when you start to steam.
5. Dish Soap
If you can use water on your upholstery, you may be in luck. Dabbing some dish soap on a clean sponge sometimes does wonders on stubborn stains.
We often hear customers marvel at how well a little dish soap removed a stain they’d lost all hope for.
Clean gently. You can press the area dry with a paper towel or a clean cloth.
Avoid scrubbing or agitating the fabric or you could make the problem worse.
6. Baking Soda and Peroxide
Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can get out blood, wine, and other stains you’ve lost all hope for. Depending on the fabric and color code there are a few ways you can apply this remedy.
The first involves mixing half baking soda and half peroxide in a solution. The results will be a thick concentration you can apply with a paper towel or a toothbrush.
Another remedy is to apply baking soda directly to the stain. Sprinkle it on and cover the affected area.
After, you can apply the peroxide by dabbing with a clean towel. In both cases, you will want to let it sit for a short while before removing.
7. Use Alcohol
Sometimes you will need to use alcohol to get rid of a stain on your furniture. And we don’t mean to sit down and drink martinis until you forget about the stain!
Then you’ll have a stain and a hangover to contend with in the morning!
Instead, try pharmacy-grade alcohol or ethanol on the stain. Pour the alcohol on the stain and then blot dry with a clean towel or a paper towel.
For furniture that shouldn’t have water on the upholstery, this remedy can work well. Also, the alcohol treatment is key for removing ink stains on furniture.
Next time you look down and see that one of your pens has made a mess pour alcohol on the stain.
Or, pour yourself a drink instead and call in the experts.
Call In the Experts
If you’ve tried everything on your own and nothing seems to work, that’s when you know it’s time to call the experts.
We provide professional upholstery, carpet, and tile cleaning in Bay County. Our customers love All Star Steam Cleaning because of our commitment to customer service and overall value.
We can help you too!
Maybe you even got out that stubborn stain. But now the carpet is looking worse for the wear in comparison.
Don’t settle for less when it comes to keeping your home looking great.
Contact All Star Steam Cleaning now and schedule our services for your home or business.
