Your sofa is probably one of the most used and loved pieces of furniture in your entire home - perfect for relaxing, watching movies and cuddling up. For this reason, your sofa needs to be cleaned regularly to keep it looking its best.
When it comes to caring for your sofa, there are several ways to redesign and refresh it, as well as some cleaning mistakes you'll definitely want to avoid. Our pros said these six mistakes would cause "serious upholstery pain," and we have to say we agree.
Our professional cleaners will give you cleaning tips and ideas about mistakes you might make when cleaning your sofa and how to avoid them in the future.
6 Sofa Cleaning Mistakes You Might Be Making
"We see these mistakes all the time and they can cause serious problems with upholstery," says Rocky Vuong, founder of Neatbrite .
1. Failure to follow the manufacturer's care instructions.
(Image credit: Marc Mauldin)
When cleaning your sofa, you should first follow the manufacturer's instructions, especially for your model.
Daniel Anderson, professional cleaner and CEO of GoRubbishGo , says, "Many homeowners have a bad habit of neglecting the manufacturer's cleaning instructions, which results in using inappropriate methods or materials that can damage the fabric."
"Always remember to check the care label on your sofa. Provides a brief overview of the pros and cons of cleaning. For example, if the label says "W," it means "water-based" cleaners are allowed. If marked with an "S", use solvent-based cleaners. »
We recommend Resolve Liquid Multi-Fabric Cleaner and Upholstery Stain Remover available on Amazon because it is safe to use on most home and sofa fabrics, including nylon, polyester, and polyester blends.
2. Do not perform specific tests on cleaning products
(Image credit: Sherwin-Williams)
"I can't tell you how many times I've seen a nice couch ruined because someone didn't test their cleaner in a hidden spot first," says Rinea Blanchard, owner of Superior Contract Cleaning .
Some products may cause discoloration and damage to the upholstery. Therefore, always find a hidden part of your sofa to test the cleaning product before you get stuck there.
For example, if you want to wash your sofa cushion covers , remove them and test your detergent on a small, invisible area while the cushions are on the sofa. Try the back of the couch if your usual spot is against a wall, or look down in a spot that's completely out of sight.
Blanchard recommends the best-selling carpet stain remover, Folex, available on Amazon . "This is magic on fabric sofas," he says.
3. Delay stain removal
(Image credit: Fabián Martínez)
We're all guilty of it, but if you spill a drink on your couch or notice a pet stain, it's important to take care of it immediately: it's one of the golden rules of cleaning your home.
"I have seen firsthand how a clean sofa can transform a living space, especially when showing homes for We Buy Houses in Metro Detroit ," says Harpreet Saini. "We once almost lost a buyer because of a stubborn pet stain on a couch that wasn't cleaned quickly.
"I always recommend cleaning up stains immediately with products like the Bissell Pet Stain Eraser ( available at Walmart ) or a good microfiber cloth from Amazon," such as HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloths .
"If there are pet stains on a fabric, they should be cleaned as soon as possible with an enzymatic cleaner," warns Anderson.
4. Using too much water
(Image credit: Neptune)
"Another mistake people make is using too much water when cleaning," says Anderson. "Although it may seem sensible to soak the fabric and remove stains, this can create moisture in the furniture and promote mold growth, especially on upholstered furniture."
Instead, when cleaning a velvet, cotton, or leather sofa, do not soak the fabric. Press a damp cloth onto the stained area and treat the stain, advises Anderson. It's best to blot rather than rub to prevent wet stains or cleaning solutions from penetrating the fabric or fluffy layers underneath.
"If you're looking for something deeper, try a steam cleaner with suction, like the Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot Cleaner ( available on Amazon ), which uses less water and removes stains very well."
5. Rub too hard
(Image credit: Stéphanie Russo)
Although it may seem necessary to scrub the sofa to clean it, it could do more harm than good.
"What you want to do is gentle circular motions," advises Blanchard. "If you rub like you're trying to start a fire, the stain will only penetrate deeper into the fabric."
To clean leather sofas, Blanchard recommends the best-selling leather cleaner, Leather Honey, available on Amazon . "It works great without damaging the leather," he says. It is also non-toxic and can be used on faux leather, car seats, purses, bags and shoes.
6. Neglecting regular maintenance
(Image credit: Casa Pelícano)
"Many homeowners overlook the fact that regular maintenance is the best way to extend the life of their sofas ," says Anderson. "Dirt, dust and animal hair can build up very quickly. »
Anderson recommends vacuuming the couch once a week using an upholstery attachment to remove any remaining dirt and debris. "You can also apply a fabric protector like Scotchgard Fabric and Upholstery Protector ( available at Walmart ) to prevent stains and spills," she adds.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you professionally clean your sofa?
Although cleaning your sofa should be part of your basic cleaning routine , it is advisable to bring in a professional for a thorough cleaning every 12 to 18 months.
This will extend the life of your sofa, eliminate bacteria and keep it looking new. If you have pets, you should do this every 6 months to remove pet hair from fabrics .
Learn how to clean a sofa without a vacuum cleaner and you will never be surprised again.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire