Upholstery Cleaning Explained
Image Courtesy of Taylor Howes Design
There are many things you can do on your own to keep your furniture and upholstery looking beautiful and extend the time between professional cleanings.
Regular Vacuuming
One of the best and simplest things you can do keep your furniture looking new is regular vacuuming. The more you use your furniture the more often you should vacuum it with a soft brush attachment or even a small rotary brush head if you have one. Make sure to get under the all the cushions where premature wear will occur.
Spots and Spills
Another important factor involved in routine maintenance is to give immediate attention to spots and spills. The faster you respond, the easier it will be to avoid a problem that requires professional cleaning. If you already use my carpet or upholstery cleaning services, then you already have a bottle of the best professional spot and stain remover on the market. It is fantastic to use on upholstery, even on cotton! Of course since it is from Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning, you know that no rinsing is ever needed and it leaves no sticky residue. You may want to invest in professional quality horse hair brush to perform light cleanings. Contact me for info on where to buy one in Calgary.
Professional Cleaning
Of course, eventually the time will come when you will need to get your upholstery and furniture professionally cleaned by a certified technician. Furniture and fabric manufacturers recommend that consumers not wait until severe soiling occurs before cleaning because the greater the soiling, the less the likelihood of restoring the fabric’s original color, appearance and texture.
Regular cleaning of fabric furnishings by a trained Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) Certified Professional can help restore your furniture’s appearance, extend its life, and keep it looking like new. Moreover, certified professionals can offer simple suggestions to maintain a clean and healthy home or business environment overall. Here are a few recommendations:
Image Courtesy of Taylor Howes Design
For example, most fabrics will quickly fade and weaken when in contact with direct sunlight. Close the blinds or curtains during those few hours of direct sunlight. Rotate furniture that comes in contact with direct sunlight one year. If you have a pet, remember to use blankets to protect the fabric from the oils that will transfer from their hair.
Applying a solvent based protector will give outstanding protection against spills. This is important for finer and lighter colored upholstery that cannot be aggressively cleaned.
Considerations When Purchasing Furniture
When purchasing furniture, avoid any fabrics that contain even a small percentage of rayon. Rayon gets extremely weak when wet and can easily tear, shrink and lose it’s shape after cleaning. The safest and least risky way to safely clean rayon is by the use of solvents which are hazardous in your home. Sending these pieces out for cleaning is usually cost prohibitive.
Other natural fabrics such as cotton and even silk (despite what the warning label may indicate) can be safely wet cleaned but only by a highly skilled and careful technician to avoid color loss, color transfer, color bleeding and shrinkage.
Microfiber responds well to cleaning but does require post grooming with a carding brush to set the nap.
Proper Upholstery and Furniture Cleaning Takes Time
Be careful when you see low advertised prices regarding upholstery cleaning. Proper upholstery cleaning requires three things: time, time and more time! There is no way around it. You would not believe how many pieces I have seen ruined by un-qualified cleaners. Sometimes the damage may be reversed by an expert, sometimes not.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning for any questions you may have about the cleaning of your furniture and upholstery or applying a quality fabric protector.
Services: Carpet Cleaning Calgary | Upholstery Cleaning Calgary | Rug Cleaning Calgary | Wool Carpet Specialist Calgary
Service Area: Get Fresh Carpet Cleaning currently services Calgary, Cochrane, Chestermere and surrounding areas.
