Five Star Cleaning Tips From An Old Hand

While you probably clean your floor on a regular basis, whether it's with a mop or a vacuum cleaner, your upholstery probably doesn't receive the same amount of attention. It's easy enough to do some light cleaning yourself, and deeper cleaning is not all that more complicated (whether you do it yourself or have someone else do it). Clean upholstery can make a couch or armchair look new again. It smells fresh and can even feel better on your skin. So what are some of the easiest options when it comes to cleaning a couch or armchair?

1. DIY: Light Steam Cleaning

Dampen a towel and lay it flat it over the upholstery that is to be cleaned. Heat your iron to medium and run it firmly over the towel. The moisture in the towel will combine with the heat of the iron to give the upholstery a light steam cleaning. Leave it to dry afterwards before sitting on it.  Do not use a thick, fluffy bath sheet as too much heat will be absorbed by the towel before it reaches the upholstery. Do not directly iron the upholstery, even on a low setting. Many couches and armchairs contain synthetic components and heat can affect these components, giving them the look of burnt, shiny plastic which is almost impossible to remove. You might wish to combine this type of cleaning with a deodorising treatment, and you can find this in an aerosol spray at any supermarket.

2. Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner

Also at the supermarket, you might find that you can rent a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Most large supermarkets will rent these devices at the service desk. It can be a viable option if the upholstery has a few stains that need to be removed. While the instructions are designed to be fairly user friendly, it can be a time consuming chore if you don't know what you're doing. You will also be required to purchase any special cleaning solutions (such as to remove stains from a particular type of fabric), which can drive the price up.

3. A Professional Touch

Most companies that offer carpet cleaning will also offer upholstery cleaning services. This can be a great investment if you have your carpets and upholstery cleaned once a year, as it will leave them looking like new with no effort on your part. The price is generally all-inclusive, and the upholstery cleaning services will already have any special cleaning solutions that might be needed. They're adept at cleaning a wide variety of fabrics, which is something that you are unlikely to have experience with.

When your armchair or couch has been properly cleaned, you will wonder why you hadn't done it much sooner.