A sofa is undeniably the centrepiece of any living room. It is one of those items that make a living room cosier and more inviting. Everyone has no choice but adore their sofa. In the following sections of the blog post let us explore how to keep your sofa in perfect shape for years together. Proper cleaning of sofa uplifts its appearance in one hand, while on the other extends its life to a considerable extent.
General tips to clean sofas
First let us go through some general tips to clean sofas. These tips can be applied to every type of upholstery item.
Regular vacuuming is important
If you want to keep your sofas then you must vacuum those every day. Every time while vacuuming your sofa you should use only the soft brush attachment. The soft brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner proves most effective to get rid of dirt, dust, per hair, crumbs and almost every other type of debris that accumulate on sofa surface. It also cleans the crevices of a sofa quite well. In addition to that daily vacuum proves helpful preventing allergens and dust mite build-ups on your sofa.
Spot cleaning immediately without any lethargy
What should you do if there is an accidental spill or you suddenly come across a stain on your sofa? In such cases you must swing to action as fast as you can suggest experts who provide the service of sofa cleaning near me in London. Whether it is a stain or a spill just blot it using a clean piece of cloth or paper towel. There is no need to either rub or scratch on stains. When you scratch or rub on it you push it deeper into the carpet fabric. Always you must blot stains fast with a clean piece of cloth or a fresh paper towel. It is a good idea to use a mild cleaner that is meant for your sofa fabric. But before you apply it test it on an inconspicuous portion of the sofa fabric. This is to be on the safer side; if there is no colour bleeding or any other adverse effect on the fabric then you know the product is safe to use.
Apply a very tiny amount of the cleaner on the stain and just dab it gently. At some point of time the stain gets lifted. Then you have to rinse the area with a damp cloth. Allow it to dry on its own.
Testing the cleaning solution before use
Before applying any kind of cleaning product on your sofa it is better to test it first. Apply a very little quantity of the cleaner on a small and hidden area of the sofa. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. If you notice no negative impact of the product on the sofa fabric then you know the cleaner is safe to use. Thus, you can easily avoid damaging your precious sofa sets from any kind of damage include discolouration during cleaning.
According to experts who deal in sofa cleaning in London over the years, different varieties of upholstery usually react differently to different cleaning products. Therefore, it always makes sense to be cautious.
Do not use too much water or the cleaning solution while cleaning your sofa
When cleaning the fabric of furniture is concerned you must remember the proverb – a little goes a long way. Excessive use of water can easily damage the fabric. It can even cause shrinkage or may leave watermarks. It also takes longer time for the fabric to dry up. So, there is also the risk of mould or mildew attack.
By following the tips explained here it is easy and possible to maintain clean and fresh look of your furniture for years together.
Now let us discuss specific procedures to lift stains from sofa upholstery.
Sofa cleaning codes
To provide proper cleaning to your sofas it is important to understand the sofa cleaning codes. You should follow these codes to ensure proper cleaning of sofa upholstery without causing any damage. The most common codes include the following –
- ‘W’ – It indicates you can use any water-based cleaning solution to get rid of dirt and stain build-ups from your sofa upholstery. According to professionals who provide sofa cleaning services near me in London this range of products is easy to use. Take a little of the solution and just add a little water to it while cleaning.
- ‘S’ – It denotes you can use dry cleaning solvents to clean the sofa upholstery. Dry cleaning solvents are also pretty easy and hassle-free to use. But never use too much of it. Excess dry-cleaning solvents may ruin your furniture.
- ‘WS’ – It says you have two options to clean your sofa upholstery. You can use either water-based solution or dry-cleaning solvents to remove stains. This gives you greater flexibility by all means.
- ‘X’ – This code says you can only use a vacuum or even brush lightly to clean the sofa fabric. It categorically indicates you are not supposed to use water or any solvent based cleaning agent to lift stains. Water as well as these cleaning agents may damage your furniture.
Getting rid of common sofa stains
Some of the most commonly found stains on sofas come from popular beverages like wine and coffee. Even pets are also largely responsible for staining couches and sofas. Removing those stains often turn out to be a demanding task. But a sofa cleaning services near me in London suggests if you act fast on a stain using the right cleaning procedure the task becomes quite easy.
How to remove food stains from sofa upholstery
While watching the TV we enjoy bites and that is how we drop sauces, chocolate, ketchup, grease, mustard and even a plate full of a dish on the sofa. The question is how to sort out this mess easily? Here is a tried and tested solution.
Add a cup of baking soda to a quarter cup of water; mix the two well. Apply the mixture on the stains and let it get dry. Once the mixture is totally dry, then vacuum off.
Alternatively, you can add two cups of warm water to a teaspoon full of any liquid dish soap. Let the froth appear. Soak a microfiber cloth into the solution and then dab the stain with it.
Trained and experienced cleaners working in VIP carpet cleaning London have another option for you. Prepare a mixture with two cups water, a quarter cup of distilled white vinegar and one tablespoon of any mild dish soap. Soak a microfiber cloth in this solution. Then blot the stain gently with the damp microfiber cloth.
