It is not necessary to use chemical compounds to clean fabric upholstery. Simple home remedies can also deal with stains. Consider the advice of experienced housewives on how to clean a fabric sofa at home from dust and various stains.
How to remove different types of stains
A wide variety of dirt can get on the sofa, so let’s consider ways to remove it for the most common situations:
- Tea and coffee
Dissolve vinegar and soda in water (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) and wipe off dirt. You can also whip up soapy foam and leave it on the stain for 15 minutes. After the specified time, remove the remains with a sponge, washing it in warm water. In the case of complex and old stains, we recommend using a Japanese stain remover, which can be purchased at a hardware store.
- Fruit juices
Mix ammonia and vinegar in equal proportions. Dip a cotton pad in the mixture and place it on the stain. The fabric should dry, and the juice mark should disappear.
- Blood
Contaminations are wetted with cold water, after which they are washed with water and household soap.
Aspirin will help to deal with old spots. Dilute a couple of tablets in water and treat the problem area.
It will also be possible to remove blood from the sofa with the help of salt. Dissolve two tablespoons of salt in 1 liter of water and soak the contaminated area. After 1 hour, the upholstery is washed with the same solution.
For upholstery made of light material, 9% vinegar is diluted in a liter of water. The fabric is processed and waited for 15 minutes. Then the upholstery is rubbed with household soap, which is washed off with water.
- Wine, berry juices
Place a paper towel on the fresh contamination so that it does not spread. Then cover with salt, which will absorb moisture, leave for 20 minutes. After that, remove the salt and clean the area with a brush dipped in vodka. So that there are no leaks, apply soapy foam to the place of contamination and clean the upholstery again with a brush.
- Urine
Its traces are washed off the sofa with liquid soap, shampoo or carpet cleaner.
- Ink
Use acetone, nail polish remover, or alcohol. Try to wipe off small traces with an eraser or an alcohol wipe.
- Fat
Pour salt, starch or soda on top and leave to absorb for 15 minutes. Any detergent is diluted in water, foamed and applied to the stain. The procedure is repeated several times until the fat is split. The composition is washed off with cold water.
- Chocolate
Such contamination can be easily removed with a soapy solution.
- Beer
To remove the pungent smell, the contaminated area is dried with a hair dryer or towels are placed on it. Remove beer stains with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 liter of water.
- Chewing gum
Ice is placed on top so that the chewing gum falls behind easily. The remaining trace can be removed with a soapy solution or acetone.
Recommendations for cleaning various types of fabric upholstery
It is necessary to know the type of covering of the sofa so as not to spoil it during the cleaning process. Follow the following care recommendations for different types of upholstery.
- Velor
Do not brush it with a stiff brush to avoid damaging the pile. A microfiber cloth is suitable for processing. There are many special compositions for velor covering. Also, do not forget to use a vacuum cleaner periodically, especially if you have animals in the house, as fur sticks to the upholstery.
- Skin
Do not apply excessive force when cleaning and do not rub the surface. Use a sponge to care for dermatin. Test the cleaner on a small area of the material. Do not use compounds that are not intended for leather, as they can destroy the protective layer of the coating, resulting in cracks. After cleaning, wipe the surface dry, and then preferably treat the upholstery with a wax conditioner. You cannot use a hair dryer to dry leather furniture. If any liquid accidentally gets on the surface of the sofa, immediately put a napkin on the stain. At the same time, it is not necessary to rub the upholstery so that the stain does not spread.
- Suede or nubuck
Such upholstery does not like the effects of high temperature, as well as excess moisture, so you should not wet it too much. Traces of fat will be removed with an eraser, an alcohol-based product, or salt. You can purchase water-repellent impregnation to protect the upholstery from external factors.
- Tapestry
Only dry cleaning is suitable for this type of coating, without the use of water. Moisture can affect the structure of the material or change its color. In the case of complex pollution, foam is applied to the stain. It is recommended to vacuum the fabric with a soft nozzle.
- Natural wool
The material is afraid of salt, so it is better not to use it.
- Silk
Soda solution and hard brushes are not suitable for cleaning. Hair dryer is excluded.
- Synthetic fabrics
They tolerate water well, but are sensitive to sunlight and high temperatures.