If you’ve had your furniture for a while, it’s probably not as fresh looking as it used to be, especially if you have pets, kids, or a high volume of guests. And now that the holidays are upon us, you might think that new stains on your upholstery will just be a fact of life. After all, those gooey holiday treats are usually brightly colored, and leave their mark when spilled.
But don’t give up just yet. If you want your furniture to look its best, there are some ways to clean it up without any major effort or expenditure on your part. Whether you’re removing stains from home or business furnishings, these cleaning tips are sure to come in handy.
First, always look for tags with furniture care instructions. If you need to remove stains, look at the letters on the tag. They will tell you which method works best. For example, “W” means spot clean with a water-based solution or mild detergent. “S” means spot clean with a solvent only in a well-ventilated room. “SW” means spot clean with either solvent or water-based foam, and “X” means vacuum only.
Before you dig into the stains, remove any excess dirt or food as soon as you can. Vacuum if needed, and scrape off thick spills with a dull knife or spoon.
When you’re trying a new cleaner, do a spot test on your upholstery before using it for a clean-up. This will tell you if the cleaner causes the color to bleach or run. Use a spot on the furniture that’s not immediately visible. Be careful not to get bleach-based products on leather or wood; you don’t want those new modern cafe tables to look spotty just because you were overly enthusiastic with cleaning the chairs.
Those tips will get you started on holiday stain removal. In part two, we’ll take a look at the proper use for water-based cleaners, and why vacuuming might be the most important thing you can do to prevent stains.
