Upholstered furniture is a universal piece of furniture and is present in an absolute number of interiors. It is comfortable and attractive appearance and provides a comfortable stay.
But the upholstery of upholstered furniture, when used regularly, is often subject to various types of contamination. Timely cleaning of products at home will help restore items to their original appearance and significantly extend their service life.
To clean upholstered furniture from dirt, dry and wet processing methods are used, dry cleaning, as well as working with a steam cleaner. The choice of method depends on the intensity and area of contamination, as well as on the material from which the product is made. When using the dry method It is necessary to initially clean the fabric from small mechanical debris: hair, lint, threads and dust. This can be done using a medium-hard brush or vacuum cleaner. Shiny and worn areas should be rubbed with salt or fine sandpaper.
In cases of severe abrasion of the material, a piece of refined sugar or semolina will do.
Cleaning with salt and semolina should be done using a cotton pad, replacing it as necessary. A greasy or oil stain is sprinkled with crushed chalk or starch and after half an hour is cleaned with a brush. You need to use the brush carefully so as not to damage the bristles or create puffs on the fabric.
If the upholstery material is sufficiently vulnerable to mechanical stress. then it is better to use a vacuum cleaner. Knocking out furniture also applies to dry methods.
The wet method allows for deeper and better cleansing and helps to cope with extensive and old stains. When using this method, you need to remember that Excessive surface wetting is unacceptable. Moisture that gets deep inside soft elements can cause the appearance of mold, mildew, pathogens and cause rotting of the material. The essence of the wet method is that a foam composition is applied to the surface of the upholstery and, after a certain time, it is removed using a sponge, brush or vacuum cleaner.
The most effective way cleaning furniture at home is using a steam cleaner. It is recommended to do it at least once every three months. This method allows you to clean the upholstery from surface dirt, completely disinfect the filling, rid the furniture of insects and refresh the brightness of the colors of the upholstery fabric.
Cleaning upholstered furniture at home can be done using traditional methods and funds household chemicals. When choosing special chemical compositions you need to pay attention to the appearance fabric upholstery and what type of pollution - chemical or biological. You should also carefully read the instructions for use. Exist as solutions general action, with the help of which regular furniture treatment is carried out, as well as specialized products designed to remove stubborn stains and old dirt.
The products are available in the form of sprays, tablets, powders, aerosols and gels. The most common are Sama, Denkmit and Gallus, they are quite effective and have many positive reviews.
The use of home remedies is required in cases where there are people in the house suffering from allergic reactions on chemicals. The most common upholstery cleaning products are soda, salt, lemon acid, ammonia and vinegar. To remove heavy stains, you need to mix a tablespoon of salt and two tablespoons of diluted vinegar and ammonia. Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly until the salt is completely dissolved, and moisten a sponge or soft brush in the resulting solution and quickly clean the upholstery fabric. It is very important to avoid excessive moisture and try to wipe the cleaned surface as quickly as possible with a damp, clean cloth, and then with a dry cloth.
A solution consisting of a liter of water, 50 grams of salt and 5 tablespoons of vinegar is very effective. For general cleaning of the fabric, you need to moisten a soft cloth in this solution and wipe the surface with quick movements.
A good remedy is soapy water made from laundry or liquid soap. This solution copes well with fresh stains and significantly refreshes the material. The cotton fabric used for processing should be rinsed periodically under running water. You can also use a mixture made from shampoo and bubble bath. The components are taken in equal quantities and beaten well. This composition does not penetrate deep into the filler and perfectly cleans the upholstery.
Before using any product, it must be tested for inside furniture and wait until completely dry. Mixing homemade formulations with household chemicals is unacceptable. This may cause chemical reactions between components, which will lead to the appearance of streaks and white spots.
There are many proven ways to get rid of stubborn stains and old dirt. Along with industrial stain removers, which can slightly discolor the area where the stain was located or leave whitish outlines, simple and affordable home remedies are often used. Their use will not cause difficulties and will not require significant costs. Old stains are easily removed nylon brushes, and using a sponge you can remove freshly planted wet dirt. Cleaning should be done from the edges of the stain to its center, this will avoid the appearance of the contours of the removed contamination.
For example, wax drops can be carefully scraped off and applied to the remaining stain. paper napkin and iron it with an iron. The wine stain should be generously covered with salt and left for a while. After the salt has absorbed the remaining liquid, you need to soak a clean, lint-free cloth in an alcohol-containing liquid and wipe the contaminated area. Liquids containing fragrances and fragrances should not be used. The fabric will absorb the smell, and the furniture will smell of perfume for a long time. It is better to use alcohol or vodka.
For removing chewing gum, as well as the stain remaining from it, you need to put ice cubes in a plastic bag and cover it with chewing gum. Once it freezes, the residue can be easily scraped off without leaving a trace.
Tea, coffee or cocoa that has just been spilled on light-colored furniture upholstery should be immediately washed off with warm water and any detergent, being careful not to over-wet the fabric. It is better to do this by repeated blotting, and then quickly remove the moisture with a dry membrane napkin.
You can also use a mixture of water, vinegar and dish soap, taken in equal quantities. Beer stains can be easily removed with a soap solution. Fruit juice will help remove a solution of water, vinegar essence and ammonia, taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. The composition is applied to the stain and left until completely dry. Then the stain is treated with a wet cloth soaked in warm clean water and wipes dry.
Traces of blood from the sofa and armchairs can be cleaned with a solution prepared from a glass of water and a tablet acetylsalicylic acid.
It is also permissible to use a mixture consisting of a liter of water and thirty grams table salt. Dried cream, barcode corrector, plasticine residues or grease should be cleaned off with a damp, stiff brush, after dipping it in soda. Then the stain should be slightly moistened and generously covered with salt, chalk or starch. If the stain is fresh and still wet, then there is no need to moisten it additionally.
Old greasy stains are removed using a mixture that consists of 2 tablespoons of vinegar essence, 1 tablespoon of soda, 2 tbsp. spoons of washing powder without bleaching effect and a liter of warm water. The components are mixed until a homogeneous composition is obtained, the solution is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the contamination. Then, using a dry sponge, the stain is cleaned, the composition is removed with warm water and the surface is wiped dry. You can use a hair dryer to dry furniture.
You can clean the upholstery from traces of jam and chocolate using warm water and liquid product for dish washing. The treatment should be carried out with a medium-hard brush, after which the material should be washed clean water and wipe with a dry cloth. Pollution from ballpoint pen and lipstick are removed using a 10% alcohol solution, followed by rinsing with clean water and drying. Stains from berries and fruits can be easily cleaned with a mixture of vinegar and ammonia, taken in equal parts.
Green stains are the most complex and difficult to remove stains. There are several ways to get rid of such stains, but none of them gives a 100% guarantee.
The most rational way is to use a household stain remover.
If cleaning does not bring results, you can try to scrub the stain 10% ammonia solution, which is applied to the dirt and blotted with a clean napkin.
Can also be applied to stains paste of starch and water, leaving it until completely dry. After which the product must be removed with a stiff brush. Instead of starch you can use washing powder, but in this case the surface will need to be rinsed with clean water after removing the composition.
The use of chlorine bleaches is not recommended. This will lead to the formation of whitish spots, which will no longer be possible to enter.
Leather upholstery can be easily cleaned with 10% rubbing alcohol applied to the stain and left for 10 minutes. After time has passed, the surface should be wiped with a cloth dampened in clean water and wiped dry. In this way you can wash off fingerprints, oil, grease stains, traces of pencil, felt-tip pen and marker. After treatment, you can wipe the leather surface with lemon and then apply a special cream; if you don’t have it, you can use regular hand cream. When removing stains from leather furniture, you need to remember that the material does not like excessive moisture and must be wiped dry after each cleaning.
Upholstery made from materials such as nubuck, velor, suede and flock can be cleaned against lint. For dry cleaning, you can use a rubber brush or a hard cloth. Using a vacuum cleaner is not recommended due to the risk of damaging the pile. General regular treatment is carried out with a soap solution, followed by rinsing with warm water and drying the upholstery material. Pile materials allow water to pass through well, so cleaning should be done as quickly as possible, which will prevent excessive moisture and will not let water into the filler.
Fat is removed from velor using a microfiber cloth, pre-moistened and lightly soaped.
Stains from cosmetics and ink are removed with an alcohol solution, and fresh coffee and wine stains are sprinkled with powder and carefully cleaned off.
To remove old contaminants, it is better to use a steam generator or steamer. This will allow you to effectively wash the surface and will not spoil the pile.
Dust removal from upholstered furniture should be carried out regularly - at least once every two months. This will help prevent dust mites and eliminate the risk of dust allergies. Cleaning is done using a vacuum cleaner or mechanical knocking and scooping. To carry out the knocking out procedure, you need to prepare a solution from a liter of water, 50 grams of table vinegar and the same amount of salt. The components are thoroughly mixed until the salt crystals are completely dissolved. Then you need to moisten and squeeze out a cotton sheet in the resulting solution, cover a chair or sofa with it and start scooping it out. This method will deeply clean the filler and prevent dust from flying around the room.
When using a vacuum cleaner, the nozzle can be wrapped in damp gauze, after moistening it in a solution of a liter of water and 35 grams of salt. This procedure will refresh the color and allow you to remove difficult spots. Cleaning with a vacuum cleaner is not suitable for velor, velvet and other pile fabrics.
Every housewife does daily cleaning of the apartment: dusting, vacuuming carpets, washing the floor. But upholstered furniture is not cleaned so often. And in vain, because the upholstery of sofas, armchairs and chairs absorbs dirt, dust and odors, which makes it a source of germs and bacteria.
Many people simply don’t know how to clean upholstered furniture at home, which is why they avoid it when cleaning. In fact, this process is not difficult at all.
Wet cleaning is the main type of cleaning of many types of upholstered furniture. By consistently taking the following simple steps, you will update the appearance of the upholstery without causing any harm to it:
Wet cleaning varies in method depending on the degree of contamination. Ridding furniture of stains is not difficult if you choose the right product to remove them, for example:
Often the problem is not only dirty furniture upholstery. You can get rid of the smell in the following ways:
The method for removing dirt from upholstered furniture depends on what material its upholstery is made of. We will give you some tips on how to clean dirt from upholstered furniture without damaging the upholstery material.
When purchasing, choose environmentally friendly detergents and cleaning products. Read the label carefully and avoid using aggressive chemicals, as they are extremely harmful to human health and the environment.
How can you safely clean furniture to get it in order? The following folk remedies will help you:
Why contact specialized companies who are involved in removing dirt from furniture, if you can clean upholstered furniture yourself? Knowing how to remove dirt, dust and stains from upholstery will help make your home cleaner and fresher.
The kitchen is one of the most visited rooms in an apartment or house, which requires daily care, cleaning, housekeeping and other hygiene procedures. What’s most unpleasant is that even if you spend time every day cleaning the countertops, tiles, and furniture, you will still have to thoroughly scrub all surfaces at one point. And if you need to clean it from days-long deposits, when daily cleaning has been relegated to the second, third or more distant plan, it’s very difficult. In this article we will tell you how to clean wooden furniture in the kitchen at home.
Every housewife has faced a similar problem, because there is not always the energy and time to thoroughly clean the kitchen surface immediately after contamination, and grease stains very quickly turn into a persistent, difficult to wash off coating.
Kitchen sets have at least three various types surface coatings, each of which requires an individual approach. It is necessary to choose a cleaning agent based on the furniture material, since chemical and mechanical impact may leave negative consequences on a particular material.
Using a caustic cleaning powder will help instantly clean a stained kitchen surface. However, it may leave scratches on the glossy headset and over time the product will become unusable. Therefore, before purchasing and choosing a product, you need to determine the material from which your kitchen set is made.
Important! The packaging of the detergent always contains instructions for use and states for which surfaces it is intended.
In order not to harm the surface being cleaned, the product must be applied in advance, with warm water. After a few minutes, you just need to wipe the headset without the risk of leaving scuffs or scratches on it.
Important! You should be more careful about furniture made from cheap materials or fiberboard, which can become saturated with moisture and swell. Such processing can ruin them.
If you have purchased a new, unknown product to remove grease from your headset, then it is better to test its effect on an inconspicuous small area furniture.
Important! Individual products should be selected for each surface. All work must be carried out with gloves, thoroughly rinse the surface with water after treatment and ventilate the kitchen area.
To clean vertical kitchen surfaces, it is better to use a spray or gel composition. This way you can avoid dripping and control the intensity of application.
How and with what to wash wooden facades in the kitchen? Our grandmothers hardly used chemical cleaning products in their kitchens, but their spaces were always clean and attractive.
Wondering how to wash off fat on kitchen cabinets, pay attention to the following:
Before you start using the panel, you need kitchen furniture wet for soaking hot water. The cleaning process itself is carried out according to the following algorithm:
Important! If the surface is heavily soiled, it will not be possible to remove plaque immediately, and therefore you will have to make some effort to clean it.
To clean heavy and old dirt:
To clean the surface with lemon, follow the following instructions:
Important! The result is an excellent result, the advantage of which is a pleasant citrus aroma.
The following recipe is suitable for cleaning any surfaces, including glossy and unfinished wooden furniture in the kitchen:
Remove greasy stains from the headset solid wood You can, oddly enough, by using vegetable oil and soda:
Important! Basic operating principle this method lies in the fact that fat is dissolved by a similar oil, which removes it from a dried state. The soda absorbs the released oil and washes it off the surface of the headset.
Furniture polishes are quite expensive and can also be harmful to health. Therefore, to avoid extra costs and negative effects on the body, it is possible to use ordinary potatoes - the surface of the furniture is rubbed with a tuber cut lengthwise. Washing this way is very easy and quick.
Important! The result will please you, because the effect will be no worse than using sprays purchased in a store.
To wash your furniture, you don’t need to call a cleaning company; you can do everything yourself. The use of modern steam cleaners in the kitchen is becoming increasingly popular. Without using detergents, this device can clean any surfaces, materials and fabrics with a powerful jet of steam.
Important! Its only drawback is that under the influence of high temperatures, wooden furniture with a thin film coating and a soft surface can deteriorate.
Melamine sponge is similar to rubber or plastic that shrinks when compressed. Its action is similar to the action of a stationery eraser, erasing pencil marks from a sheet of paper.
Important! The sponge removes dirt without using it detergents, so it’s great if you need to clean wooden furniture in the kitchen in a delicate way. But then you will need to wipe the surface with a damp cloth, quite thoroughly, since particles of the miracle sponge can be absorbed into the wood. Melamine itself is a substance harmful to human health if ingested.
Over time, the sponge wears out and decreases in size. Using this device is quite convenient and harmless to health if you follow the rules specified by the manufacturer.
To ensure your furniture lasts a long time, take care of it regularly.
♦ So, don't forget! Furniture is sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. Increased humidity or, on the contrary, dry air, deviations from normal room temperature, straight sunlight- all this has a harmful effect on varnish coating furniture. In damp rooms it becomes stained and dull. In rooms with elevated temperatures, the varnish layer becomes covered with a network of small cracks due to drying of the wood. Therefore, it is not recommended to install furniture closer than 0.5 m from the heating radiator.
♦ Furniture should not be placed close to balcony door and a frequently opening window.
♦ To protect your furniture from exposure sun rays, apply a layer of wax to the varnish coating, which absorbs these rays. At the same time, the wax film, if well polished, will give the furniture a glossy finish.
♦ In dry rooms and rooms with high temperatures, it is good to place an aquarium or vase with water to improve the overall microclimate.
♦ To prevent the furniture grinder bug from starting up, it is useful in summer time every year, wipe the lower parts of the furniture (legs, etc.) with a cloth moistened with turpentine.
♦ It is very important that the furniture is placed on a level floor. Irregularities in the floor cause distortions and changes in the shape of individual furniture parts. If the floor is uneven, then wooden wedges should be placed under the front legs of the cabinets.
♦ Furniture should be arranged so that it cannot be touched by the opening door. If for some reason this cannot be done, you can use a rubber suction cup from a soap dish for protection, securing it at the bottom of the opening door.
♦ For quick dry cleaning of furniture, it is recommended to use a polishing cloth impregnated with a composition containing wax and antistatic agents. By wiping furniture with such a napkin, you can not only easily remove dust, but also cover the varnished surface with the thinnest film of wax, which gives the surface a brilliant gloss. The napkin retains its properties even after 3-4 washes in a warm detergent solution.
♦ For refreshing, updating and cleaning furniture good remedy is vegetable oil, burdock is best. Place a few drops on cotton wool and wrap it in a cloth. The oil should only seep through slightly. Wipe the furniture with this swab.
♦ Stains from furniture can be removed by sprinkling cigarette ashes on them and polishing these places with burnt cork. When the stains are gone, brush off the ashes and wipe the cleaned area first with a damp and then with a dry cloth.
♦ A mark left by a hot object on polished furniture can also be destroyed by rubbing the area with paraffin, covering it with blotting paper and pressing it with a warm iron. If the stain does not come off, repeat the procedure.
If in a hurry or absent-mindedly you put a hot iron or kettle on a polished table, don’t be upset. Take a tampon with table salt, moisten it with vegetable oil and in a circular motion Wipe the stain until it disappears.
Old stains should be covered with a mixture of table salt and vegetable oil, and after two or three hours, shake off the salt and wipe the furniture with a woolen cloth.
♦ You can clean the furniture with a cloth soaked in milk, then wipe it dry with a woolen or velvet cloth.
♦ Stains from polished furniture come off easily if you wipe them with a soft cloth dampened with warm soapy water, and then wipe dry with a soft woolen rag or a piece of old felt. Do not use alcohol, acetone, or cologne for this purpose.
♦ It’s very easy to get rid of a stain left by a glass of hot tea on a varnished table surface. Take a soft eraser and erase the stain on the table as you would erase pencil marks on a piece of paper, and then wipe the entire surface with polish. The table will look like new.
♦ Sprinkle a water stain on a varnished surface a small amount flour, and then with a swab dipped in vegetable or machine oil, rub until it disappears.
Such stains can also be removed by rubbing them with a walnut kernel. After allowing the film of oil contained in the nut to dry, the varnished surface is rubbed with cloth.
♦ Fingerprints on polished furniture can be removed by wiping them with a freshly cut raw potato.
♦ Grease stains from a polished surface can be removed by rubbing them with talcum powder.
♦ A deep white scratch on a polished surface is not difficult to deal with. Rub some shoe polish into it suitable color and polish with cloth. The scratch will become invisible.
♦ If the furniture has been in a damp room, mold stains may appear on it. They are removed with a cloth or sponge soaked in gasoline.
♦ Furniture splashed with lime or chalk paint, wipe with a rag moistened with vinegar and a few drops of vegetable oil.
♦ Painted lacquered furniture is cleaned of traces of flies with a cloth slightly moistened with kerosene.
♦ Mahogany furniture is refreshed by wiping with a well-wrung out cloth, and then linen fabric wipe dry.
♦ Oak furniture can be cleaned well with warm beer. To make the surface shine, wipe with a warm boiled mixture prepared from 1 glass of beer, 1 teaspoon of sugar and a small piece of wax.
♦ Scratches on furniture made of oak, walnut and mahogany can be made invisible if they are lubricated with a weak iodine solution.
♦ Furniture painted in White color, can be refreshed if, after washing, you wipe it with a mixture of tooth powder with water and a small amount of linen blue.
♦ Unpolished (matte) furniture is cleaned of dust with a dry soft cloth, and once a week with a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment. From time to time it can be wiped with a damp swab, and when heavy pollution- Wash with warm soapy water and wipe dry.
♦ Metal parts of furniture that are tarnished and darkened can be cleaned by making a mixture of ammonia (30 g), chalk or tooth powder (15 g) with water (50 g). Shake the liquid, soak a flannel cloth in it and wipe the fittings. Rub the cleaned metal with a cloth until it shines. Baking soda will have the same effect. lemon juice, onion cut in half.
♦ If the veneer on the furniture has come off, or bubbles have appeared, you need to iron these places through several layers of paper with a non-hot iron. If necessary, make a puncture or cut along the grain of the wood, put a little glue into the hole formed and iron it again.
Despite the fact that many new residents prefer an unpolished surface wooden furniture, there are many fans of the polished one, which, in their opinion, thanks to its characteristic shine, gives a more solemn and, as it were, festive look to the home.
Of course, only if the pieces of furniture look neat and well-groomed. And for this you need to make some effort and use by special means and materials.
Most The best way- Avoid stains and scratches. But in life anything can happen, and now a stain has formed on the polished surface. The fight against him will depend on the nature of his origin. How to clean polished furniture at home?
Such stains are removed using the “wedge by wedge” principle, wiping them with a woolen cloth moistened with vegetable (preferably burdock) oil. After a day they need to be polished using polish.
In order not to damage the shiny surface, you need to know what to wipe it with. It is recommended to do this soft views textiles: flannelette or wool, flannel or velvet rag.
Handle grease stain You can use tea leaves. Black tea leaves are brewed in the usual way, do light push-ups. Then they should be wrapped in a soft, dry cloth and the stain should be treated with this “tampon”. (You can just use tea that has been drunk). The resulting stains are removed with a dry cloth.
Grease stains are easily removed by heated beer: moisten a soft cloth with it and gently rub the surface.
Stains from droplets of moisture or wet marks from glasses/cups are removed by sprinkling flour on them. After half an hour, you can remove the flour and wipe off the dirt with a cloth moistened with vegetable oil.
Out of absent-mindedness, a hot kettle, or a cup, or some other utensil with a hot bottom, or even an iron (!) was accidentally placed not on a special stand, but directly on the varnished surface. The mark, of course, was imprinted. You can try to correct the mistake.
Mix equal amounts of oil and alcohol, moisten a linen napkin with this solution and wipe the marks.
The second method is even simpler: the resulting whitish stain is wiped with salt poured into a linen bag, and then polished.
The first of them “works” like this: lubricate the problem areas with Vaseline, leave it overnight, and polish them the next morning.
Homemade polish consisting of turpentine and vegetable oil, made from equal parts of substances, mixed and treated with a soft cloth.
Vegetable oil (a large spoon) can be mixed with kerosene (5 such spoons), apply the composition to the surface until dry, and then rub with a cloth.
An effective mixture of wine vinegar with olive oil - in equal parts. After moistening a napkin with it, wipe the polished coating, and then lightly go over it again with a dry cloth.
The following composition will help restore shine:
All ingredients are mixed and, if necessary, used as a polishing agent. By the way, when using it, dust settles on varnished surfaces less intensely.
This composition can be prepared in volumes calculated not in spoons, but in glasses. In this case, it will be “long-lasting”, and it can be used at any time needed. However, for an initial assessment of the result, a small, trial quantity is sufficient.
Not only for cleaning, but also for polishing furniture, beer is used, a glass of which is boiled with a lump of wax, and after cooling, the resulting composition is applied to the surface and carefully rubbed.
You can also clean and polish furniture with milk, rubbing it with a flannel cloth.
Among various advice There is also a recommendation to use acetone or alcohol when cleaning. But you still can’t do this: at first the shine seems to appear, but then the furniture begins to fade.
Chemical detergents should not be used to restore the polish of furniture in an apartment where there may be a family member with allergies. In this case, natural substances are preferable.
Cleaning products should not contain abrasive components. If such furniture is used, it will never be possible to achieve its original appearance.
To avoid some unpleasant moments, furniture should not be placed in places where heat, say, near a radiator, or direct rays of the sun fall: it can fade and lose its shine.
Furniture coated with protective resins and varnishes is polished in a special way, thanks to which it acquires such glossy look. But this varnishing is a double-edged sword: dust settles on it catastrophically, stains seem to appear by themselves, plus instability in the face of mechanical “injuries” - scratches and cracks.
That’s why such items require special care. And how and with what to please them - homemade or industrial polishes - is up to everyone to decide for themselves.
