GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS
The cleaning of each stain depends on the nature of its appearance and the type of fabric, but there are general rules:
Dry cleaning
- Furniture fabrics are not intended for laundering and dry cleaning is recommended for all upholstery fabrics.
- To keep upholstery in good condition, it is recommended to clean the fabric surface regularly with a soft-bristled furniture brush. If the surface is textured, then it is better not to use a brush, but a vacuum cleaner on minimum power with a special narrow nozzle for cleaning furniture.
- DO NOT rub vigorously!
- It is necessary to vacuum furniture upholstery only when necessary, especially if it is in a pile, as the vacuum cleaner can suck up fine lint along with the dust, leading to a deterioration in the quality of the upholstery.
- Don't hammer the upholstery (this method is only suitable for coarse homemade fabrics) to avoid warping the product or impact marks.
- Do not use vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaners, otherwise the fabric will quickly lose its attractiveness and the underlying layers of foam rubber will become damp, which can lead to damage to the sofa (odor, mold).
- Do not vigorously clean dry dirt stains to avoid damage to the hair and fabric structure.
Wet cleaning
- Wet cleaning is not suitable for daily care of furniture and can only be used in exceptional cases to clean local dirt.
- It is strongly recommended not to wash the upholstery fabric in order to avoid deformation, loss of quality and loss of the original characteristics of the product.
- Before any wet cleaning, the surface should be thoroughly dusted with a dry brush or vacuum cleaner.
- Only fresh stains can be removed with the wet method. Dirt should be removed with a sponge, cloth or paper towel in a dabbing motion as quickly as possible and in no case should it be rubbed to prevent the dirt from penetrating deeper into the fabric structure.
- Any stain should be removed with gentle circular motions from the edge of the soil towards the center.
- Do not scrape dry stains from the upholstery fabric to avoid damaging the fabric structure.
- Do not use aggressive liquids and substances such as chlorine, acid, vinegar and soda to clean furniture fabrics. It is also necessary to avoid any cleaning products containing abrasives.
- Special cleaning agents should be selected for each type of fabric so as not to damage the fabric structure.
When using detergent for the first time, check it on an unseen area of the fabric, then apply a small amount of detergent to the sponge. Do not pour cleaning products directly onto the fabric surface! - Never use several cleaning products or products one after the other at the same time.
To prevent the detergent from forming a halo, it is advisable to treat the surface of the furniture from seam to seam. But don't get the upholstery wet! - It is very important to dry the furniture thoroughly after wet cleaning - open the windows, turn on the heating, use a fan or a cool hair dryer. If moisture remains inside the upholstery for more than 12 hours or penetrates the stuffing, the product may start to emit an unpleasant odor.
- A universal and safe way to quickly remove stains from fabrics is to use wet wipes. These are moderately moist, do not damp the upholstery unnecessarily and are impregnated with mild compounds that gently deal with soiling.
Contamination | Cleaning method |
Chewing | Freeze the chewing gum with ice cubes (in a plastic bag) and scrape very gently with a blunt object, taking care not to damage the lint. Velvet is the most vulnerable! |
Tea/coffee | Dry the stain quickly with a towel or paper towel. Next, treat the stain with a neutral pH soap suds (e.g. baby soap) and remove the stain with a tissue using gentle strokes from the edge of the stain towards the center, avoiding excessive wetting of the fabric. Then dry the upholstery thoroughly with paper towels and pat it dry. |
Blood | Dry quickly with a towel or damp tissue. Wash the stain with a sponge dipped in cold water in gentle circular motions from the edge of the stain towards the center. Wipe with a damp cloth and pat dry thoroughly with a paper towel. Do not rub. |
Chocolate / Yoghurt | Pick up dirt particles with a spoon or soft brush, then wipe with a damp cloth or treat the stain with soap suds (baby soap) and gently remove the dirt with a tissue from the edge of the stain towards the center, avoiding excessive wetting of the fabric. It is important to clean in this direction to avoid contamination penetrating into the fabric structure. When treating a stain, the napkin or cloth should always be clean to avoid rubbing dirt into the fabric. Then dry the upholstery thoroughly with paper towels and pat it dry. |
Red wine | Quickly dry the liquid with paper towels and sprinkle salt on the damp stain, leave for 5-10 minutes, then remove the salt with a brush or vacuum cleaner and wipe the stain with a damp cloth. Dry thoroughly. Do not rub! |
Fat patches | Sprinkle the dirt with salt or starch. Wait a while for the excess fat to be absorbed and remove the salt particles with a dry brush or vacuum cleaner. Wipe the stain with a cloth dipped in dishwashing detergent suds, using gentle strokes from the edge of the stain towards the center. It is important to clean in this direction to avoid contamination penetrating into the fabric structure. When treating a stain, the cloth or cloth should always be clean to avoid rubbing dirt into the fabric. Then dry the stain thoroughly with paper towels and pat dry. |
Dry dirt (ash, dust, flour, powder) | Vacuum dirt with a narrow nozzle or a special nozzle for cleaning upholstered furniture. If dirt remains, remove it with a soft dry brush or a dry cloth. It is not recommended to use water to remove dry stains to avoid further contamination of the surface. |
Candle wax | Gently crush the drop and scrape very carefully with a blunt object, taking care not to damage the structure and pile of the fabric. Cover the stain with absorbent paper towels and iron very gently with a hot iron so that the wax is absorbed into the paper. Be especially careful with velvet! The fabric does not tolerate rough rubbing because of the risk of damage to the plush. |
Removal of specific contaminants
For the most effective and safe removal of certain types of soiling (tea stains, cakes, red wine, pen, grease, etc.), it is worth contacting a professional furniture cleaning company.