With fall in full swing and winter around the corner, many cozy nights on your favorite snug furniture lie ahead. Between all the hot cocoa, snacks, and cuddles with your pets, you might be wondering how to keep upholstery clean.
The better you care for your soft furnishings on a regular basis, the longer they’ll last! From furniture placement to cleaning tips to stain removal, keep reading for the WaveMAX guide to maintaining upholstery for cozy nights all year long.
How to Keep Soft Furnishings Clean
Avoid sunshine, promote ventilation
Although we all love soaking up some vitamin D, soft furniture that sits in direct sunshine suffers from fading and degrading faster than shaded furniture. And, because of the sun’s positioning, winter and fall are actually worse for upholstery than spring and summer!
When you can’t avoid placing an item in direct sunlight, use throw blankets to cover the upholstery and consider investing in UV-ray-filtering curtains.
Use caution when moving
When moving soft furnishings, always lift from the base—don’t drag them, and don’t pull the arms! Sitting on the arms and backs instead can also cause damage to the frame, so always sit on the cushions.
Vacuum weekly (and use baking soda!)
Soft furnishings are magnets for dust and grime, even when you can’t see it! So, make it a habit to vacuum upholstered furniture weekly using a soft brush attachment.
For a deeper clean that tackles smells, sprinkle baking soda on the upholstery and let it sit for one hour before vacuuming.
Plump those cushions!
Did you know that plumping pillows and cushions helps maintain their shape longer? Aim to plump them daily, or at least during your weekly vacuuming.
You should also wash cushion cases on deep cleaning days. Many can be machine washed, but always read the care label first to avoid shrinkage—here’s how.
Cut, don’t pull, snags
Snags from buttons and zippers aren’t the end of the world—as long as you don’t pull them! When you see a snag forming, use scissors to carefully snip it at the base and prevent further tearing.
Spill something? Act fast!
Spills are inevitable, but stains don’t have to be. The most important part of removing stains on soft furnishings is simple: act quickly!
First, use a clean, dry towel or cloth to blot away excess spillage. If needed, a spoon or blunt knife can help with scraping a substance away. Most importantly, don’t rub or scrub the stain.
Then, check the care label. W means use water, S means use solvent-based cleaners instead of water, WS means water or a solvent-based cleaner, and X means professional cleaning only.
Cheers to cozy season! For professional help with cleaning upholstery, contact your local WaveMAX laundromat in Thornton. Our team of laundry experts is happy to help with soft furnishing cleaning needs big and small—visit our website to learn more.
