Furniture: it’s probably the most overused and underappreciated investment in our homes.  We regularly sit on it, sleep on it, put our feet on it, and leave marks and water rings and stains of all sorts.  But we don’t always practice the special care – sometimes, not even the preventive maintenance – that our furniture requires.  It doesn’t deserve neglect!  It needs a little tender loving care in order to look its best and last its longest.

Caring For Upholstered Furniture

• Preventative maintenance is your best bet for keeping upholstery looking new: vacuum it regularly using a specialized attachment (most vacuum cleaners come with upholstery attachments).  Applying a commercial stain-guard treatment such as Scotchgard can also help prevent future accidents from becoming permanent stains.
• Sometimes the fabric of your upholstery can snag when you vacuum it.  To remedy this problem, put a piece of nonmetallic window screen between the fabric and the vacuum nozzle.
• In the event of a spill, blot it with an absorbent towel (cloth or paper) immediately.  Since most upholstery is relatively thick, it takes longer for things to sink in.  If you take care of a spill right away, there’s less chance that it will stain.
• Turn over loose cushions and throw pillows every few weeks to evenly distribute the wear.
• To determine what kind of stain removal method is best for your upholstery, check the furniture tag for one of the following letters:
• “W” means to use a water-based or mild detergent solution and spot-clean.
• “S” means to use solvent only and spot-clean in a well-ventilated room.
• “SW” means to use either solvent or water-based cleaner.
• “X” means vacuum only.
• Never remove and wash the cushion covers, even if there is a zipper on them – the zipper’s just there to make the “dressing” process easier during the furniture’s manufacturing.
• If you have slipcovers, they should always be dry-cleaned unless they are specifically marked “washable.”
• To clean your upholstery:
• Remove loose cushions and throw pillows, and loosen the dirt with a handheld brush.  After that, vacuum both sides of the cushions and pillows using an upholstery attachment.
• Vacuum all the furniture’s surfaces: the back, sides, arms, skirt, and cushion platform.  Replace the cushions.
• Mix ¼ cup of mild laundry detergent with one cup of water.  Using an electric hand mixer, mix the solution together until it foams up and reaches the consistency of whipped cream.  It should form peaks. 
• Before tackling a large surface area, test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area, such as the bottom hem of the back.  If you note any discoloration, fading, or shrinking, toss out your suds and have the job done professionally.
• If the spot-test proved to be okay, it’s safe to do the rest of the piece.  Dip a clean cloth in the suds, spread them over a small area, and gently rub them into the fabric.  You will see dirt collecting in the suds as it is drawn out of the depths of the upholstery; use a scraper or spatula to scrape the dirty suds away.
• Rinse the area with a slightly dampened cloth.  Don’t over-wet!
• Repeat in other areas until you’ve cleaned the entire piece.
• Allow the furniture to dry overnight.  If possible, aim an electric fan or two at it and let them speed the drying process.
• When you are cleaning the fabric, be sure not to rub too vigorously or the fabric could pill.
• If you have a spill that is made of grease or caramelized sugar, use a solution of 50% water and 50% white vinegar to spot-clean the area.
• Greasy stains may also respond to baking soda; sprinkle it on the stain, leave it overnight, then vacuum up the next day.