Upholstery cleaning Orange County
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DIY upholstery cleaning in Orange County
Upholstery cleaning is expensive. A professional sofa cleaning costs about $100, while chairs can cost about $50 each — additional fees may be charged for each cushion. Given that all upholstered furniture should be cleaned every 12 months, it can get pricey to keep your upholstered pieces fresh and free of stains.
You might want to consider cleaning upholstery yourself. It’s not difficult, and most upholstery can be safely cleaned at home. Check your upholstery tags for cleaning codes. They are usually found under the seat cushions on one side of the furniture.
Upholstery tags that read “W” or “WS” can be cleaned at home with a water-based cleaner. Upholstery tags labeled “S” must be cleaned with a water-free dry cleaning solution. Because dry cleaning solvents contain toxic chemicals, it’s best to have “S” rated upholstery cleaned professionally. Upholstery labeled “X” should also be cleaned by a professional.
It’s not a good idea to wait too long between upholstery cleanings. The more dirt that accumulates on the fabric, the harder it is to remove, the more damage it does to the texture, and the more difficult it is to restore upholstery to its original color and appearance.
Being careful to clean uphostery properly is a critical element to execute a job well-done. Follow these steps to ensure success before tidying up your furniture:
1. Remove furniture cushions2. Vacuum all surfaces thoroughly with an upholstery attachment3. Be sure to vacuum all the nooks and cranniesOne of the best water based upholstery cleaners is very easy to make at home. Put one cup of warm (not hot) water into a mixing bowl and then add 1/4 cup of biodegradable dish washing soap. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until the liquid becomes a thick foam. This foam will remove built up dirt and most food or drink stains. Not only is this cleaner simple to make and cheap to use, it’s also nontoxic and environmentally-friendly. Most commercial upholstery cleaners contain hazardous ingredients like acetone or carcinogenic agents like nitrilotriacetic acid.
Once your ready to take on cleaning, implement this process to keep your task on track:
1. Test the cleaner in an inconspicuous area for shrinkage and colorfastness2. Use a soft-bristled brush to rub foam gently onto the fabric3. Dirt will lift out of the upholstery fabric and into the foam4. Remove used foam with a spatula5. Dampen a clean white cloth with fresh water and wipe away the remaining suds6. Rinse the cloth and wipe againTake care to use a minimal amount of water. Too much moisture can leave water stains and cause fabric shrinkage. Keep the foam away from wood surfaces such as armrests and steer clear of recliner levers to prevent rust. This process can be used on individual stains or on an entire upholstered surface. If you clean the entire surface, be sure to let it dry completely before replacing the cushions and pillows or sitting on it.
Leather upholstery is even easier to clean because you don’t have to wait for it to dry. Make your own leather cleaner by adding a few drops of moisturizing soap to a slightly damp washcloth. Gently wipe off a section of the leather upholstery, use another slightly damp washcloth to remove the soap, then buff with a dry washcloth. Repeat this process over the entire upholstered area.In between cleanings, vacuum upholstery thoroughly every two weeks and treat stains immediately. If spills are wet, blot the moisture first with paper towels and then spot-treat with a cleaner. If the spill involves solids such as food, scoop it off with a spatula and then treat with a stain-remover. Avoid rubbing staining agents into the upholstery. The water-based cleaner suggested above will lift stains out instead.
The chief reason you would hire a professional upholstery cleaner is that there are many stains you can’t remove yourself. Most furniture is upholstered with specific fabrics that do not respond well to normal cleaning methods. Special chemicals are needed to clean this upholstery, chemicals that most homeowners do not possess. Professional upholstery cleaners have expertise in using these chemicals to clean all kinds of furniture.Furthermore, the unique shapes of upholstered furniture call for special tools to clean all the nooks and crannies found on most furniture. It’s not cost effective for most homeowners to buy these tools. It is far more efficient to hire a professional upholstery cleaner instead.Cleaning companies will come to your home and clean the furniture wherever it is located. In rare circumstances, a professional upholstery cleaner may have to take your furniture to another location for a special cleaning. This will only happen in the case that the furniture is particularly soiled or when it is made from an extremely unusual fabric.Most of the chemicals that professional upholstery cleaners use are similar to the chemicals used in the dry cleaning of clothes. As a rule, these chemicals are generally safe for people and animals once they have dried. At the same time, however, they can cause respiratory issues, so it is important for upholstery cleaning to always take place in a well-ventilated area.The most dangerous upholstery cleaning chemicals are those chemicals that contain volatile organic compounds. These chemicals are still safe once they have dried, but they can lead to respiratory problems if they are inhaled. To prevent these difficulties, make sure to ventilate well the room in which the furniture is cleaned. Those who are particularly concerned about these chemicals can hire a professional upholstery cleaner that uses chemicals with low levels of volatile organic compounds. There are also many professional upholstery cleaners that use green chemicals, which are chemicals that are not harmful to people, animals or the natural environment.
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