In the last post, we discussed how to tell which cleaning chemicals and methods are best for your furniture. We also talked about scraping up thick spills of sugary holiday goodies, and why spot testing is important when trying out a new cleaning compound.
On to fabrics that can be cleaned using water. What you want to do for these is take one gallon of warm water and five tablespoons of dish washing liquid. Choose a mild one to be on the safe side. If you’re trying to clean up grease or sugar, use a solution that’s half warm water and half white vinegar.
Be conservative with your application of the cleaning solution. You don’t want to saturate the fabric. Work up a foam and let that foam do the cleaning. Whatever you decide to use to clean the fabric, make sure you blot the stain instead of rubbing it. Rubbing a stain can work dirt and spills deeper into the fibers, and it can also cause fabrics to pill. Blot frequently, soaking up as much of the spill as possible, beginning at the outside of the stain and working your way inward. Use white towels or paper towels to soak up the liquid.
And always vacuum your furniture on a regular basis, especially after you’ve had guests. It defends your furniture against stains, cleans the upholstery, and gets you involved in searching for fallen food items between cushions and under pillows - especially important when dealing with commercial furniture such as contract hotel seating.
Holiday spills do happen, but they don’t have to be forever. With these easy cleaning tips, you’ll be ready to entertain your guests without fear that they’ll leave you permanent reminders of their visit.
