 |
 |
Upholstery Spotting Tips
Spills and accidents should be addressed immediately to prevent permanent damage. Spots and stains from spills can be prevented
if immediate steps are taken to absorb the spill. If you purchased an upholstery protection plan when you purchased your furniture,
use those instructions to ensure you don't void a warranty.
Standard cleaning codes are under the seat cushions or platform of your upholstered furniture. The codes are:
Solvent Cleaner Only
Spot clean using a mild, water-free solvent or dry cleaning solution. Use these products in a well ventilated room as the odor can be
overwhelming and avoid products containing carbon tetrachloride or other toxic materials. Dry cleaning solvent can usually be found at
a grocery store or hardware store. Alcohol is also used as a solvent cleaner. DO NOT use lighter fluid or other flammable fluids.
Water Based or Solvent Cleaner
Spot clean with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or dry cleaning product,
make sure you follow the instructions carefully and make sure the room is ventilated. These products can usually be found at the
grocery store.
Water Based Cleaner
Spot clean using only the foam from a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply the foam and use a soft
brush to gently work in a circular motion. Vacuum the area once it is dry. A home made substitute for a store bought product would be
a teaspoon of white or clear neutral detergent (liquid dishwashing detergent with no strong alkalis or bleaches) and a cup of lukewarm
water. Two other substitutes that are more agressive would be one tablespoon of household ammonia with a half cup of water OR
one-third cup of white vinegar with two-thirds cup of water.
No Cleaning Agents
Upholstery with this label should only be cleaned by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust or grime.
Homeowner use of a cleaner of any kind could cause shrinking or distortion of the surface pile.
Steps for Stain Removal
Regardless of the solution used, which is specific to the spill or spot and also specific to the fabric, the basic steps to follow are
below.
WARNING: If you have any doubts, have a professional clean the spot. Many stains will be permanent if the wrong remedies are
used. Also, the longer a stain remains on a fabric, the more permanent it becomes and even a professional cleaner may not be able
to remove it.
Caution
Spills and accidents should be addressed immediately to prevent permanent damage. Spots and stains from spills can be prevented
if immediate steps are taken to absorb the spill. If you purchased an upholstery protection plan when you purchased your furniture,
use those instructions to ensure you don't void a warranty.
Standard cleaning codes are under the seat cushions or platform of your upholstered furniture. The codes are:
- S = Solvent Cleaner Only
WS = Water Based or Solvent Cleaner
W = Water Based Cleaner
X = No Cleaning Agents
Solvent Cleaner Only
Spot clean using a mild, water-free solvent or dry cleaning solution. Use these products in a well ventilated room as the odor can be
overwhelming and avoid products containing carbon tetrachloride or other toxic materials. Dry cleaning solvent can usually be found at
a grocery store or hardware store. Alcohol is also used as a solvent cleaner. DO NOT use lighter fluid or other flammable fluids.
Water Based or Solvent Cleaner
Spot clean with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo, or foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or dry cleaning product,
make sure you follow the instructions carefully and make sure the room is ventilated. These products can usually be found at the
grocery store.
Water Based Cleaner
Spot clean using only the foam from a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply the foam and use a soft
brush to gently work in a circular motion. Vacuum the area once it is dry. A home made substitute for a store bought product would be
a teaspoon of white or clear neutral detergent (liquid dishwashing detergent with no strong alkalis or bleaches) and a cup of lukewarm
water. Two other substitutes that are more agressive would be one tablespoon of household ammonia with a half cup of water OR
one-third cup of white vinegar with two-thirds cup of water.
No Cleaning Agents
Upholstery with this label should only be cleaned by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust or grime.
Homeowner use of a cleaner of any kind could cause shrinking or distortion of the surface pile.
Steps for Stain Removal
Regardless of the solution used, which is specific to the spill or spot and also specific to the fabric, the basic steps to follow are
below.
WARNING: If you have any doubts, have a professional clean the spot. Many stains will be permanent if the wrong remedies are
used. Also, the longer a stain remains on a fabric, the more permanent it becomes and even a professional cleaner may not be able
to remove it.
- Immediately blot the spill with clean white absorbent cloth, a towel, paper towel, cloth diaper, etc.
- Test spot whatever you have purchased or made at home in an inconspicuous area of the furniture piece. To test, put a few
drops of the cleaner on each color and use a clean white towel to hold against the fabric for about fifteen seconds. If any dye
has bled onto the white towel or if there has been a change in the colored area of the fabric, do not proceed. You won't be able
to clean without bleeding and/or color loss--contact us as we have professional products and trained personnel to handle the
spot. - If your test in an inconspicuous area of the furniture was successful, i.e. no color loss or transfer of dye, then apply small
amounts of the cleaning solution with a clean white cloth. Only use a small amount of cleaner and avoid overwetting the fabric.
If the fabric is overwet, the backing materials can be affected and can affect the fabric covering.. - Blot. Do not rub or brush. Aggressiveness can cause permanent distortion in the fabric. For water based solutions you can
use a soft brush and work gently in a circular motion, but don't scrub. - Always work from the outer edge of the spot toward the center to avoid making the spot larger. When you are working with a
solvent cleaning solution, use one cloth to apply and a different cloth to pat and blot. It should start picking up the stain as you
blot. Repeat several times turning the cloth as it becomes soiled. - Continue to apply and blot until the spot no longer transfers to the cloth. You MUST be patient...some stains respond s l o w l y.
- When you have removed as much of the stain as possible, blot any remaining moisture or cleaning solution. For water based
cleaning, dab with clear water to remove detergent residue and then press the area with an absorbent white towel. For solvent
cleaning, blot away excess with a clean white dry cloth and press down with an absorbent towel. For both, weigh the towel
down and let it dry. - Fast drying helps prevent rings. Use a fan or hair dryer set at cool to speed the drying process.
Caution
- If the fabric is not colorfast to water (i.e. an S or X cleaning code), do not use methods involving water. You'll ruin it.
- Never mix ammonia and bleach during the cleaning operation. Ever.
- Don't use cleaners that contain an oily, soil attracting residue since it is difficult to remove all traces of these cleaners and the
fabric will resoil fast because dust and dirt will stick to it--like glue. - Keep cleaning solutions out of the reach of children and pets.
- Do not use water on rayon. It is susceptible to shrinkage and color bleeding.
- Always, always, always test your cleaning method in an inconspicuous area of the fabric to determine if the colors bleed or if
the fabric shrinks.
 |  |  |  |
| All rights reserved. |