Different Types Of Furniture Upholstery Materials And Their Cleaning

Different Types Of Furniture Upholstery Materials And Their Cleaning

Upholstery furniture is so comfortable but it needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly. Just imagine the comfort of sitting on a treasured couch with a book and a cup of tea after a long tiring day!

In this guide, we are going to shed light on some of the handy tips on how to deal with different furniture upholstery fabrics. So, let’s get started;

What You Should Need?

  • Baby wipes
  • A dry cloth
  • A bowl of water
  • A multipurpose brush
  • A vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment
  • Upholstery cleaner

Different Furniture Upholstery Materials

The most common furniture upholstery materials are leather, fabric, and leatherette. Their cleaning process is almost the same except for the kind of solvent used.

Furniture Upholstery Cleaning #1: Fabric

  • Start with vacuuming your upholstered fabric (rayon, microfiber, acetate, etc.) including the seams. Don’t forget to follow the instructions mentioned in the upholstery attachment.
  • After that, gently spray the fabric with upholstery cleaner all over.
  • Then evenly scrub the upholstery in a circular motion using a dry microfiber cloth. Stop doing it when all the solution has been cleaned off. Never use printed or colored towels because they can discolor your furniture upholstery.
  • If the fabric sofas get stained, spray the affected areas with isopropyl alcohol (alcohol). Gently wipe the surface until stains are no longer.
  • Make sure to never use the upholstery cleaners containing Perc (Perchloroethylene) — a chlorinated solvent that can cause harm to your health. Instead, prefer using non-chlorinated and non-toxic solvents.

Furniture Upholstery Cleaning #2: Leather

  • Start with running a vacuum cleaner in nooks and crannies and all over the seams.
  • Take a dry cloth, apply a little amount of leather cleaner on it, and gently clean the surface. Alternatively, you can use old white vinegar as a substitute.
  • Since moisture can promote the growth of mildews, avoid using solvents or leather cleaner. Instead, do regular vacuuming.
  • Once your leather upholstery gets stained, spray affected areas with upholstery cleaner and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then gently blot the spot using a damp cloth and let it dry.

Furniture Upholstery Cleaning #3: Leatherette

  • The cleaning of leatherette is fairly easy as compared to other furniture upholstery materials. You will need liquid dish soap or a multipurpose cleaner.
  • To a bowl of water, add a drop of liquid dish soap or a multipurpose cleaner.
  • Dampen the dry and clean towel in the solution and wipe all over the upholstery.
  • Dampen another piece of towel in clean water and wipe down the upholstery. Then allow it to dry.
  • To remove stains on your leatherette upholstery, apply the affected area with a nail polish remover and then scrub it off. Make sure to scrub the stain with a mild force otherwise, it can remove the natural color of the upholstery.

Furniture upholstery needs to be deep cleaned once a month. By reading the above information, you can do it easily at your home. However, for stubborn and unmanageable stains, you will have to hire professional cleaners.