Nothing is worse then suddenly spilling something on a beautiful sofa or chair, or finding a new stain that wasn’t there before. It’s can be emotional and most people react at once. During moments like this, it’s important to be cautios since many upholstery fabrics are delicate and the wrong cleaning agent or rubbing too hard can cause permanent damage.
For a significant spill, gently blotting the spill inward helps prevent it from spreading. For small stains, the right cleaning agent makes the difference. Generally, you should contact an professional upholstery cleaner because many upholstery materials are sensitive to certain types of cleaning agents. Upholstery cleaning typically requires skill, professional equipment and the right cleaning agents.
Typically a cleaning tag is placed on the upholstery frame below the cushion. These tags are guides for consumers and list codes that provide cleaning information. Some examples are:
W – use water based cleaning agents. S – use solvent based cleaning agents. X – don’t clean with either water or solvent-based agents. Vacuum or brush
Water based cleaning products are the most commonly used. The types that are marketed to take out every stain are usually far too strong and should be avoided. In all cases, an inconspicuous area should be tested. Using less is better to avoid creating water stains or spreading the damage. Large stains or spills should be handled professionally because equipment is critical to removal.
Solvent based agents are used for oily stains such as grease. They tend to leave an oily residue and a professional cleaner who uses them will also extract them with the proper equipment afterwards.
Some materials such as velvet will display an S code meaning solvents are recommended because the material easily distorts when wet. However, professionals will typically use water based cleaning agents and carefully brush and groom afterwards. By doing so they don’t have to remove solvent residues.
Food Dye Removers – Red wine stains and other difficult colored stains should not be attempted by a consumer as they need to be carefully taken out with more sophisticated cleaning agents and rinsed out.. Delicate materials require precision cleaning to avoid damage.
Important Tip – Try not to rub the material aggressively or repeatedly as the texture can be easily damaged which is irreversible.
Easy to clean fabrics – Microfibers such as ultrasuede and Performance Fabrics which are growing in popularity are great for households with children and pets. They’re designed to repel stains unlike natural fibers such as cotton and wool. Often a small amount of water, which is neutral, can be gently applied to a minor stain for simple removal. Material texture is also important. Flat materials tend to become over-wet more easily and develop water stains.
We clean most fabrics and have had great success at removing water marks on traditional materials that many companies claim are permanent. As upholstery fabrics are not all consumer friendly, it’s always advisable to consult a professional.
