What Is The Best Homemade Upholstery Cleaner?

Cleaning your upholstery regularly is important for maintaining a healthy and hygienic home. You might even have already noticed the issues caused by dirty upholstery. For instance, if your upholstery has irritants like dust mites trapped inside it and an individual in your home has bad allergies, the issue will get worse when that person is indoors. The irritants will certainly trigger an allergic reaction.

Unfortunately, upholstery is known to naturally collect these microscopic creatures, particularly if you are not cleaning it thoroughly once every few months. Moreover, you might be aware that furniture like your preferred sofa gets stained easily and traps unpleasant odours. This does not make the sofa look good.

Occasionally, you should hire professionals who provide services like house cleaning and budget bond cleaning Sunshine Coast. But at other times, it would be better to clean the upholstery using a DIY cleaner. Here is the best homemade upholstery cleaner. Use it to clean your upholstery effectively.

1. Get the Necessary Tools and Supplies

In most cases, you can use household items to keep your upholstery clean. However, if the furniture is made of specialty fibres such as velvet or has a lot of staining, it is best to let a professional clean it. To clean most of the upholstery, here are the tools and supplies you will need:

• Water
• Large bucket or bowl
• Microfibre rags or cloth
• Water-based dishwashing liquid
• Baking soda
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Vacuum cleaner
• Spray bottle
• Hand mixer or whisk

2. Carefully Read the Furniture Labels

The majority of upholstery labels will have some type of label that will have vital cleaning codes. Most upholstery furniture will have attached labels, typically under the furniture, pillow cushion, or seat cushion. If you are unable to locate them, go on the manufacturer’s website particularly if the piece is relatively new.

In case, the piece is vintage, you might have to talk to cheap bond cleaners Sunshine Coast, who also offer house cleaning. They will provide you with more details about the material. The cleaning code on the furniture label will provide you with some valuable information that will help. Here are the four common cleaning codes and the best cleaning options for them:

• S: A solvent cleaner
• W: Water-based cleaner
• W/S: Water-based or solvent cleaner
• X: Vacuuming

3. Prepare the Cleaning Solution

It is important to tackle any dirt, spill, or stain promptly before they settle in and become harder to eliminate. Once you have identified the code on the label of your upholstered furniture, it is time to prepare a cleaning solution accordingly.

S Cleaning Code

A solvent-based cleaning solution is almost the same as dry cleaning. Using water-based cleaners on these fibres is not a good idea because they will leave rings, shrink the fabric and cause damage. It is best to pour isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle to clean the upholstery with the “S” code. The isopropyl alcohol is a solvent that is perfect for loosening stains. If you notice odour, you might also want to have baking soda nearby.

W Cleaning Code

This code typically means that your upholstery might only require water to be cleaned. Typically, this code is found on high-use furniture, including kitchen chairs as well as couches, where stains can be collected from snacking or consuming a meal. In case water is not effective, expert bond cleaners Sunshine Coast suggest combining one-fourth cup of dishwashing liquid with four cups of warm water in a big bowl. Using a hand mixer or whisk is perfect if you want to make a foam and want a deeper clean.

X or W/S Cleaning Code

To clean the upholstery with the “W/S” code, you can use either the method mentioned for “W” or “S”. Both of them will work effectively. As for the “X” code, you just have to vacuum the fabric.

4. Vacuum the Upholstery

The first cleaning step is to use a vacuum cleaner on the fabric to get rid of the dust and debris. This step is important regardless of which code is mentioned on the label. Doing so before using the cleaning solution will make cleaning the upholstery easier. Once you have thoroughly vacuumed the upholstered furniture, you can start the cleaning procedure.

5. Test the Cleaning Solution

It is best recommended to test the solution on an unnoticed area to ensure it is safe for the upholstery. For the “W/S” or “W” pieces, spot-clean the particular area using the foam from the homemade water-based solution with a soft brush. Use a circular motion for the same. For “W/S” or “S” pieces, spray the isopropyl alcohol on the stained spot and then use a microfiber cloth to rub the spot gently.

6. Clean the Entire Upholstery

Finally, professionals who do cheap bond cleaning Sunshine Coast suggest cleaning the entire upholstery if the spot treatment does not cause any damage. In case it did cause damage, such as creating a water ring, double-check if you are using the correct solution for the code or just consult a professional.

If you notice a bad odour, sprinkle baking soda on the upholstery and allow it to sit there for anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour. Follow up with using a vacuum cleaner to eliminate baking soda. Finally, let the upholstered furniture dry. Do not leave it in the sun since it can cause damage. Drying can take some time, so it would be better to stay patient.

How to Make an Effective DIY Upholstery Cleaner

Wrapping up

Furniture upholstery can often be damaged by food and beverage spills. Regular cleaning can definitely help maintain clean and stain-free upholstery. As for the cleaning solutions, use the ones mentioned in this article to get the best results.