Professional Cleaning Methods for Your Sofa
A good sofa set furnishes the living room well and provides unsurpassed comfort to its users. However, sofas require regular professional cleaning services in order to maintain its comfort and beauty. It not only prolongs the lifespan of the sofa, it also makes it a healthier place to be at without all the dirt and germs.
Steam heat extraction
Steam heat extraction utilizes high temperature steam heat extraction technology to remove dust and all other unhealthy particles from the surface of the sofa. This method removes excess moisture together with dirt and dust, ensuring that there will not be any wet or soggy after effect. As a result, fabric shrinkage is significantly reduced and the entire sofa can be cleaned in just a couple of hours. This method is also more financially economical as compared to other methods and ensures for the best possible cleaning.
Carbonation cleaning
Carbonating cleaning simulates natural cleaning by Mother Nature and it ensures that the sofa is left in a just bought condition. The entire cleaning takes only 4 to 6 hours. Only a small amount of carbonating cleaning solutions with an effervescent effect is used, which are only a tenth of what steam cleaning requires. Less water is also required. Millions of carbonating bubbles are small enough to penetrate into the fibers, removing grime and dirt. They then lift these to the surface where they are easily wiped away. Not only that, it leaves a protective barrier on the surface, minimizing future accumulation of dirt and grime.
Chemical cleaning
Chemically safe products which are safe on all types of fabrics including leather are used. A unique dry shampoo encapsulation method which effectively removes dirt and embedded particles are used and minimal drying time is required. In fact, you can almost immediately sit down after the sofa cleaning is completed.
Foam cleaning
A foam solution is applied by hand onto the sofa and they are worked onto stains and allowed to rest for a short period of time. Subsequently, the area is vacuum cleaned and the result is a clean and fresh smelling sofa. Since the amount of foam can be controlled by the user, the chances of moisture damage are lower and are a common choice by consumers.
Dry cleaning
This is a method similar to foam cleaning without the usage of water. A chemical cleaning powder is sprinkled around the fabric and it is worked onto the stain. After which, the powder are vacuum up and the result is a clean sofa. Since no water is used in this cleaning method, it can be used on wood materials and there is no down time required for drying.
There are many different methods available on the market now and the consumers are spoilt for choice. Depending on their budget and whether the cleaning is an urgent one, they can choose their desired method and continue to use their beloved sofa for an even longer period of time.
How to Clean a Fabric Sofa with a Steamer
What you’ll need:
An upholstery steam cleaner. Make sure before using that the manufacturer’s recommendations state it is safe for a fabric couch. Note, too, that just because your sofa is water-safe doesn’t make it heat-safe. As with other types of cleaners, always test spot an area before going full-steam (pun-intended)!
What to do:
- Read the manual. There’s a reason why a steam cleaner comes with instructions. Read them carefully before beginning.
- Vacuum first. Vacuuming your sofa – or anything, for that matter – before cleaning makes it a whole lot easier to clean it. Dirt, dust and other loose particles won’t get in the way and will give your steam cleaner a clean canvas to work from.
- Keep the air circulated. Turn on a fan and open all the windows in the room for a strong cross breeze. This will help to keep the air circulation strong, preventing moisture buildup and residue.
- Spot test an area first. This step is so important, it bears repeating. Pick a small hidden spot to test the cleaner, such as the back or the inside of the sofa’s skirt (if it has one, and if the inside material is made of the same fabric as the outside of the sofa).
- Let the sofa air dry. Don’t sit on the sofa while it’s still wet. Keep the windows open to help dry out the room. Be aware that it may take leaving the sofa untouched overnight for it to fully dry.
- Vacuum last. Vacuuming again, once you’ve steamed the upholstery, will help ensure that any dirt that was loosened by the cleaner gets removed. Just remember to wait until the sofa is completely dry before vacuuming!
COMMON CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANING TECHNIQUES USED BY PROFESSIONALS
Regular vacuuming is useful for cleaning on the surface. However, there are many stains on carpets and upholstery that cannot be simply vacuumed away. Professionals are needed to apply more advanced tools and techniques to clean at and beneath the surface level. The following are a few, common cleaning methods that are used by Fox Valley Carpet Cleaning’s technicians in Aurora and Naperville.
Hot Water Extraction
Hot water extraction is one of the most popular methods of carpet cleaning. For many property owners, it’s the most effective way to clean carpets and furniture at the deepest levels. The process starts by pre-treating the area with a cleaning solution that penetrates the fibers. Then, hot water is inserted into the fibers and extracted through a high pressure vacuum.
Water Usage
Preventing problems is a major aspect of floor or upholstery cleaning. Over-saturation occurs when too much water is applied to the area being cleaned. Some people think that using more water increases the effectiveness of removing stains. In reality, it just requires more power to remove the water and it takes longer to dry the area.
Brushing
Brushing helps to remove the stains that lie on the surface and deep within the fibers. It’s optional, but it increases the penetration of the cleaning agents that remove stains. After brushing, the solution is left to soak into the fibers for at least 10 minutes or more.
Spot Cleaning
Spot cleaning is the work of removing the biggest and most deeply ingrained stains. It involves using a highly concentrated solution and scrubbing the stain off using a hard bristle brush. This technique works for either carpet or upholstery cleaning; however, upholstery comes in different materials, so the cleaning solution must be safe to use on the material.
Stain Diagnosis
People who do not clean for a living are not familiar with stains. There are different types of stains that require different types of cleaning methods to remove. Removing blood effectively is not the same as removing paint, and some stains if left too much cannot be removed at all.
How to Clean and Maintain Different Types of Upholstery
No matter how much effort you put in cleaning and maintaining your armchairs or sofa, accidents happen. When spill occurs the time of reaction is of essence. In fact, upholstered furniture is bound to get dirty from general use over time – that’s inevitable! Stains, dirt and accumulated dust can make the fabric look worn out and scruffy.
Learning how to clean and maintain your furniture is important if you want to keep it looking beautiful, clean and well cared of. This is why we’ve gathered some useful tips on cleaning the most common types of upholstery fast and effective.
How to Clean Different Fabrics
There are some pretty common rules when it comes to clean upholstered furniture. Regular vacuuming is a must to avoid dust setting deeply into fabric and stuffing. Spot treatment is the best way to remove spills, before they become stubborn stains. But the similarities end here.
Different upholstery fabrics require different care. Knowing how to deal with the specific kind can help you avoid shrinking or colour bleeding and get impeccable results when cleaning your furniture.
Synthetic Upholstery
Fabrics made of synthetic fibres, such as acrylic, polyester, nylon or olefin, are generally easy to clean. They stand water well and you can use any type of water-based cleaning product. If the upholstery is removable you can even put it in your laundry machine. However it is always smart to check the label on your furniture to see if there are any instructions for specific treatment or product. If not sure what to do just test the cleaning product on a small, inconspicuous area to see if there is shrinkage or discoloration. If these occur, stop and try another furniture cleaning agent.
Natural Upholstery
Some types of upholstery are made of 100% natural fibres, most often cotton and wool, but sometimes silk, velvet or linen. Typically natural fabrics retain a lot of water so wet cleaning is not a good idea, however steam cleaning can be appropriate. Generally, you can clean these types of fabrics by yourself unless the label says otherwise. When you clean natural upholstery you will do fine with water-based product, but be moderate when applying it. Too much moist can cause shrinking or ‘water rings’.
Combined Upholstery
Very often upholstery fabric is combination of natural and man-made fibres. Usually cotton or wool are blended 50/50 with some synthetic threads. The safest option when dealing with blended fabrics is to hire professional upholstery cleaners in London. Combined fabrics usually require special treatment to avoid shrinking or other damage, unless the label specifies their DIY cleaning method.
Microfibre Upholstery
Microfibre is beautiful, durable and easy to maintain fabric. In this type of upholstery a tiny area consist of large amount of fibres. This stops the dirt from penetrating deep into the fabric. Usually scrubbing off the dirt with brush and vacuuming should be enough to remove the stain. For spot cleaning check the manufacturer label to select the best product for your microbibre upholstery.
Leather
Usually leather needs only wiping from the dust and dirt and occasional conditioning to keep it elastic and smooth. If however you have to deal with stain on you leather upholstery you should consider hiring professional company to treat the spot.
NB! When cleaning your upholstery, you should try to avoid getting liquids and cleaning agents to frames, legs or armrests of the furniture. These metal or wooden parts can corrode, rust, change color and even stain the upholstery and this definitely is a problem you don’t want to deal with.