Ways to clean your sofa at home

Cleaning your sofa at home can seem like a daunting task, especially if the surface is covered in stubborn stains and stubborn dirt. Washing furniture in a typewriter will not work. And not all detergents will work. However, everything is not as scary as it might seem at first glance. Let's try to figure out how to clean the sofa from dirt and grease at home.

What tools and tools are better to use

Before you start removing stains, it is worth removing dust from the sofa. You can use the vacuum cleaner either without a nozzle at all, or with a furniture brush. If you cannot remove dust in this way, try simply knocking it out through a dry cloth soaked in water.

Tools and tools:

• Vacuum cleaner, preferably washing.
• Soft cloth, foam sponge.
• Brush, special attachments for the vacuum cleaner (optional).
• Beater.
• A basin or other container for clean and dirty water.
• Warm soapy water.
• Household chemicals (Vanish and other detergents, acetone, solvents, laundry soap).

If you intend to remove stains with aggressive chemicals, gloves will be needed.

Important! Do not try to clean microfiber upholstery! This sofa can only be cleaned dry. Washing can adversely affect the appearance of the upholstery.

Folk remedies for cleaning sofas

In addition to purchased "chemistry", you can use quite effective folk remedies: lemon essence, soda, vinegar solution, ammonia. Some types of dirt are easy to get rid of, even with ... petroleum jelly or shaving foam.

Most stains can be washed off with regular soapy water and a brush. Other folk remedies and methods of their use will be discussed below in the relevant sections.

How to remove dust and unpleasant odors from your sofa

The easiest way to clean the sofa from dust is with a vacuum cleaner. Better if there is a detergent. If not, use normal. If your vacuum cleaner comes with a furniture brush attachment, attach it to the dust tube. Walk well over the entire surface, paying special attention to hard-to-reach areas.

If you don't have a vacuum cleaner, you can do without it. Cover the upholstery with an old sheet soaked in water. Knock out the dust with your hand, preferably with a carpet beater. This method is suitable for velvet, velor, and other fleecy upholstery. The sheet is needed so that the dust remains on it, and does not scatter around the room.

Dealing with unpleasant odors is a little more difficult.Manufacturers of household chemicals offer many products, but most have a significant drawback - they cannot remove "amber", you can only mask it for a while.

Household chemicals for combating unpleasant odors can be found in not the most expected places. For example, in car dealerships. What is suitable for cleaning the car interior and leather seats is also suitable for the leather sofa.

Cat and dog urine remedies can be found at pet stores. For example, OdorGone Animal will do. There are other effective products as well. Please consult your dealer.

Soda or a weak solution of potassium permanganate will help get rid of the smell of urine of a small child. Please note that the second option is not suitable for light upholstery. The smell of potassium permanganate from the white sofa will remove ... but at the same time paint the spot where the stain was, in a pale pink color.

Bleach, laundry soap or citric acid will help get rid of the smell of urine of an elderly person. Apply the chosen product to the place of contamination, wait about half an hour, then rinse. The latter method will not work if someone in your household is allergic to citrus fruits. The soap is either applied in the form of shavings, or wipe the surface well-moistened with water in one piece.

How to remove stains or dirt streak-free on different upholstery materials

The answer to the question of how to clean the sofa from stains and dirt streaks at home depends on both the nature of the pollution and the material of the upholstery.

Cleaning a fabric sofa

How to clean a fabric sofa at home from dirt and odor? The method is determined by the type of fabric. In general, it is recommended to use aggressive household chemicals only as a last resort and first test a small amount of the product on an invisible part of the sofa.

Only after making sure that the upholstery does not fade, does not discolor, does not creep, you can use the selected tool on the entire surface of the furniture. Plush and velvet are especially vulnerable to "chemistry".

Only dry cleaning is suitable for tapestry. If that does not help, use whipped foam is allowed. In general, all fabric upholstery should first be dry cleaned. And only then, if it was not possible to get rid of mud stains and grease, you can try to wash the surface using a small amount of water. One of the best products for fabrics is Vanish for furniture.

Velor sofa cleaning method

Do not scrape off coarse dirt from velor, flock, chenille and other fleecy fabrics. First soak the stains by applying a small amount of soap suds to them, wait a while, and then gently clean them.

How to clean a fabric sofa? Many housewives will say - Vanish! And they will be right. Vanish for upholstery is great at removing stains on upholstery made from all fabrics. Including velor.

Cleaning a suede or silk sofa

You can clean suede, including artificial, either with soapy water or with special stain removers designed specifically for this type of fabric. Aggressive chemistry should never be used! If you don't want to completely change the upholstery of the sofa.

With fresh grease stains, regular baking soda will come to the rescue. It should be applied in small quantities directly to the places of contamination. Leave for a day, then carefully remove the baking soda along with a napkin soaked in it.No hard brushes! The material is very delicate! After using wet cleaning products, the cloth in the working area is gently "combed" with a soft rubber brush.

Important! Suede should not be vacuumed and it is advisable to wet it as little as possible.

Methods for cleaning a leather sofa

Caring for a leather sofa at home or in the office is easy. Each self-respecting manufacturer of household chemicals offers a wide range of leather cleaning products. You can also use folk remedies.

Several variants.

Soap solution

At the end of the process, remove soap and mud stains with a piece of wool. A minimum of water!

Soap solution with ammonia

After removing stains, wipe the surface with a cloth lightly greased with castor oil or petroleum jelly.

Onion bulb

Cut in half, grate the dirt, wash off the onion juice with a sponge soaked in water.

Try to use as little water as possible and not use harsh chemicals that are not made for the skin. Otherwise, you risk spoiling the upholstery.

How to clean a white sofa

It is better to clean light-colored tapestries and jacquard with a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment for upholstered furniture or a beater. In the second case, the upholstery is pre-covered with a damp sheet or cloth soaked in vinegar solution. The mat, chenille, flock can be cleaned with a solution of soap or a special product designed for the appropriate type of fabric. You can also try dry cleaning with baking soda or suitable household cleaning products.

White eco-leather is cleaned with a soft flannel cloth, after which the surface with a cloth dipped in castor oil. Try using ammonia dissolved in water to remove grease.

Cleaning the sofa from different types of stains

As a general rule, it is better to wash or dry clean any stain, while it is fresh and has not had time to be absorbed. The older the pollution, the more difficult it is to deal with.

From wine

Try the following methods:

1. Blot a fresh stain with a napkin, add kitchen salt, wait 20-30 minutes, sweep away the salt soaked in dirt.
2. Regular laundry soap works well with red wine. The water is only cold! Hot will only help the stain to quickly absorb into the upholstery of the sofa.
3. An aqueous solution of vinegar essence (1 to 2 ratio) can also help.

If all else fails, use an all-purpose stain remover or cleaning products designed for the fabric of your sofa.

From blood

There are several ways:

1. A tablespoon of salt per half liter of water. After 30-40 minutes, wipe the place of contamination with a sponge or cloth moistened with the same solution.
2. Alcohol solution 1: 1, vinegar is more potent.

Blot the fresh stain immediately with paper towels. Only after collecting all the blood, begin to scrub the stain from the edges to the center. Do not pour liquid over the contaminated area. Soak a soft cloth or sponge in the cleaning solution and gently remove the blood without pressing. After cleaning, you can sprinkle with salt and gently brush it off after 20-30 minutes.

It is better to entrust the cleaning of pile fabrics to professionals. It is too easy to overdo it and "decorate" the upholstery with bald patches.

Blood can be easily removed from flock and chenille with ammonia (work with gloves!). Please note this method will not work with most other upholstery materials.

Important! Fresh blood stains cannot be washed with hot water! Use only cold!

From coffee

Wipe the coffee stain with a sponge soaked in warm water. Apply a solution of vinegar essence (1: 1).After 10-15 minutes, rinse the surface with warm water.

From a ballpoint pen

Fresh ink can be easily removed with rubbing alcohol. Turpentine or methyl alcohol do a good job with dried spots. Then the cleaned surfaces are gently rinsed with water. Consider the material of the upholstery. In some cases, it is better to use special cleaning agents.

From beer

Moisten a piece of cotton cloth with vodka. Apply to beer stain. After about 20 minutes, carefully remove the cloth and wash the place of contamination with soapy water, and then with plain water.

From juice

Juice stains can be easily removed on most upholstery with a vinegar solution (1 to 2). Blot liquid, rinse with water, let dry. If the stain persists, try scrubbing it off with a hydrogen peroxide sponge.

Other common spots

Most stains can be easily removed with baking soda. The recipe is simple: pour directly onto the upholstery of the sofa, sweep away with a clothes brush after 15 minutes.

Soaked stains can be removed with slightly warmed glycerin, an aqueous solution of ammonia (1 to 5), or vinegar essence (1 to 2). Do not forget about household chemicals. There are many universal stain removers and special products for various types of upholstery on sale.

Basic Precautions

When working with solvents and other harsh chemicals, wear gloves and try to protect your hands, face and especially eyes. If toxic liquid does come into contact with your skin, immediately rinse the affected area well with warm water. Before using harsh chemicals, place plastic bags or old newspapers on the floor around the sofa.

Most of the dirt can be easily removed from the surface of the sofa, even without the use of special cleaning products. The main thing is not to delay cleaning and try to remove the stain as quickly as possible. Without waiting for it to be absorbed into the surface.

Video: two ways to clean your sofa