The Different Types of Upholstery and How to Clean Them

By: christineh Tuesday January 29, 2019 comments

There’s nothing quite like the elegance and beauty of a finely made piece of upholstered furniture. Unfortunately, many people steer clear of these fabrics because they fear they’ll be unable to clean them if they get a spot or stain. This isn’t necessarily the case though.

There are specific ways to clean leather, suede, velvet, and other upholstery types. Here’s how to do just that:

• Many people will buy a special soap specifically for leather. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Leather can best be cleaned using a soft soap that includes moisturizers. Use a soft cloth to apply the soap onto the spot and then wipe it until it’s clean. Don’t rinse off the soap. Instead, let it dry in place so that the leather can absorb the soap, for a deeper clean.
• The main thing to remember about suede is that you should never use water, as suede doesn’t react well to water. Instead, blot stains with a small amount of vinegar and a soft cloth. If the stain is from food and has grease in it, sprinkle baking soda on it and let it set in place to soak up the grease. After a few hours, you can brush it off and the stain should be gone.
• Velvet is the most expensive of the “big three” upholstery fabrics and the most difficult to clean. Although you will read some who suggest using a light detergent, it’s actually best to leave this one strictly to the professionals. If you don’t clean it properly, you could wind up damaging the upholstery.

If you have upholstered furniture, then you need to do regular cleaning and maintenance to keep it looking fresh. Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove lint and dust so that it can’t ruin the fabric. If you do this, you should be able to keep your furniture looking clean and new for years to come.

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About the Author: christineh