5 Tips You Have To Keep In Mind If You Want To Maintain Your Sofa’s Longevity
Making your furniture’s fabric last isn’t about just spending a bomb at the beginning and waiting it out. You need to occasionally put in some care and attention if you want it to last a lifetime.
Buying furniture is a big deal. Whether it’s an entire living room set, chaise longue for your bedroom or outdoor pieces for your patio, plenty of time, money and effort are put into scouring for the perfect pieces at perfect prices. From conversation pieces with a touch of Indian royalty, to a 3-seater sofa set with a taste of Scandinavian influence, the furniture that you select for your home is a reflection of who you are. In fact it is a reflection of your entire life.
Pets, kids, your lifestyle and everything else come into play when selecting what goes into your home. If you’re someone who loves to entertain, there’s a high chance that you need something larger than a 2-seater. If you have kids and pets, you probably need a sofa set with removable cases for easy cleaning. No matter what you end up picking, there’s no denying that you’re going to have to invest time and effort into making your furniture look just as good 10 years down the road as they did when you first brought them home.
As beautiful as leather furniture is, there’s no denying that fabric-bound pieces tend to be more cozy and comfortable. The fact that they are softer, smoother and resemble your bed make it perfect for napping, watching television, entertaining, reading a book and doing just about everything else. Just like any material, fabric will undergo wear and tear if you don’t look after it. From spills to stains to dust collection, it’s impossible to tell just when a little accident is going to happen. Love pigging out to cake and a movie? There’s a high chance you already have cream cheese stains on your couch. Have kids? You probably know what it means to have tiny crayon stained handprints all over.
If you are stuck in a rut and have no idea how to upkeep and maintain your fabric encased furniture, here are 5 simple tips that you need to keep in mind when going about your mission.
1. Be sure of the fabric
Firstly you need to determine exactly what sort of fabric your furniture is made of. Start with the most conservative form of cleaning with cold water and work your way up from there. Be sure to test a small patch first before cleaning the entire sofa. Use a clean cloth and bucket to be sure that unwanted residue won’t become a permanent part of your sofa. Like everything else in life, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
2. Conduct pre-cleaning
Before doing any cleaning, conduct a thorough pre-cleaning. This entails busting out your vacuum cleaner and having a go at the sofa. The vacuum cleaner will suck up all the larger particles such as dust, crushed up chips, fur, hair and so on. Be sure to remove all the cushions and only start vacuuming once you’ve stripped your sofa down to its bare bones. If you have a handheld vacuum, it will make life easier for you as it is simpler to maneuver and easier to get to hard-to-reach spots.
3. Invest in a steam vacuum
If efficiently cleaning your fabric sofa is your goal, then you should invest in a steam vacuum. Alongside getting your sofa professionally cleaned, steam cleaning is certainly one of the most effective ways to get the job done, not to mention far cheaper. Sure, you have to fork out the cash for the initial investment but think of how beneficial it will be in the long run! If you have no idea what a steam cleaner looks like, envision a vacuum cleaner-esque device with hot water within and steam shooting out. The great thing about steam cleaners is that you can add the recommended cleaning solution directly into the device and not have to worry about wasting time engaging in multiple steps. Be sure to only use the proper cleaning agent because the last thing you want is to worry about additional stains, color bleeding and changes to the fabric’s texture. Be sure to read the instructions carefully or seek advice from your sofa’s manufacturer or retailer.
4. Focus on the stains
Something all of us struggle with is cleaning up stains. This is especially true if you have kids as grime, dirt, spills and stains happen more frequently with them around. If the stain just happened, be sure to spring into action before it sets. Blot the spill up with a cloth to minimize the spreading. The quicker you move, the less likely you’ll end up with a glaring stain. However most of the time, you won’t have the time or equipment on hand to blot up stains and even if you did, fat chances you’ll avoid a stain if you have a light colored sofa. Hence, you need to be well versed in cleaning up old stains just as well as fresh ones.For older stains, start with the simple clean cloth or sponge and water trick. If that doesn’t work, bust out your steam vacuum to loosen the stain up. Try the sponge and water trick again and if that doesn’t work, throw some fabric cleaner into the mix. Be sure not to rub the stain and use blotting motions instead. Test the cleaner on a discreet spot on the sofa first to be sure that it won’t negatively affect the fabric in any way. Repeat a couple of times and you should see the stain magically fade away.
5. Be very patient
Always remember to be very patient when cleaning your furniture. It’s not something that you can get done in a flash. You have to understand that the only way to do a good job is to do it carefully and that means taking your time. Once you’re done cleaning your fabric-encased furniture, be sure to steer clear until it’s completely dry. Keep in mind that it may look a little darker but don’t worry as it simply means it’s still damp. Turn on the fan and throw open your windows to quicken the process.Fear not if you have neither the time nor the patience for a thorough sofa cleaning session. There’s always the option of getting your furniture professionally cleaned. Although it can get pricey, you will have peace of mind knowing that your pieces are in capable hands.
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