There are several rules to follow to maintain your sofa and keep it in good condition. When we are at home, we necessarily want to feel good. So, to stylize its interior a little, nothing better than to give it a boost with a few changes. The important thing is to create an environment that resembles you and inspires you. From grandmother’s tips to the use of specialized products, many actions can be taken to take care of it.
Maintenance adapted to the type of sofa
The maintenance of sofas is not always done in the same way. Indeed, it differs firstly depending on the coating. Depending on whether the furniture is in leather or fabric, the steps to take and the products to use vary considerably. If specialized products are effective in overcoming most maintenance problems, it is however not always necessary to use them. It is quite possible to clean a sofa using simple everyday products: a solution that is both economical and ecological! Try also: Best Sofa cleaning in Manly
Caring for a faux leather sofa
The term imitation leather encompasses materials that imitate leather, in particular leatherette and polyurethane. Although your faux leather sofa looks like a leather model, it doesn’t clean the same way. However, you can restore its shine by using various products that are easy to find on the market:
- Use a cotton ball soaked in cleansing milk and a few drops of white vinegar or 90° alcohol to rid your furniture of any ink stains.
- You can also opt for a mixture of claystone or white stone and one to two drops of white vinegar or alcohol. Apply it in a circular manner on the stain using a sponge. This trick is also suitable for removing a mark left by clothing that has rubbed off on your sofa.
- If the ink stain resists these two solutions, rub it lightly with a cloth moistened with white spirit. Rinse with another damp cloth to stop the action of the product.
- You also have the option of using oil-limestone liniment or a preparation based on soda crystals and lukewarm water to restore cleanliness to your furniture.
If the use of these common products allows you to easily clean your imitation leather sofa, the fragility of this coating requires you to observe certain rules to avoid damaging it:
- Once a week, clean your sofa regularly with a damp soft cloth to prevent dust and dirt from settling deeply.
- Use a soft-bristled brush to remove dust embedded in the ribs.
- Avoid rubbing too hard or dry.
- Banish abrasive sponges and scouring powders which can scratch the coating.
- Avoid bleach, pure alcohol, glass cleaners, or dust-repellent sprays.
Clean a fabric sofa
The fabric sofa is also not immune to unfortunate stains. To clean it and preserve its shine, it is essential to follow the following advice:
- In the case of a fabric sofa with a cover, the protection should be machine washed or sent to the laundry once or twice a year. Twice a month, it is advisable to use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush to dust the furniture. In case of persistent stains, use a specialized product and be sure to treat the entire fabric without soaking it.
- For a fabric sofa without a cover, it is necessary to use a stain proofer. This will protect the textile: do it as soon as you buy it and after each cleaning. Twice a month, it should be dusted with a vacuum cleaner and a soft brush. It is also recommended to clean the furniture with dry foam or shampoo and a little water once or twice a month.
To get rid of specific stains that are difficult to leave, there are also some tips:
- In order to remove a food stain, avoid rubbing so as not to grease the surface of the sofa. To make it go away, use a vacuum cleaner instead, then apply a special textile shampoo that will clean thoroughly. You can also gently blot the stain with a paper towel. To do this, dab it gently from the outside to the center to prevent it from spreading.
- To remove chewing gum, place an ice cube in a plastic bag and apply it to the stain. When this trick starts to work and the stickiness of the chewing gum wears off, gently scrape the stain away. Turpentine is also effective in this situation.
- In the event of varnish or paint stains, call a specialist who will advise you on the right product.
Caring for a leather sofa
Leather being a delicate material, it is important to follow a few rules in order to maintain it without leaving traces:
- Once a week, it is advisable to pass a damp sponge over the leather sofa to remove dust. Be careful never to soak the material!
- If the sofa is made with full-grain leather, it must be maintained once a month with specialized products. To clean it, simply soak a cloth in the appropriate product and wipe it over the entire sofa.
- For corrected leather furniture, use a neutral pH washing base to spread from edge to edge and from seam to seam. The ideal maintenance frequency is also once a month.
- You can dilute specialized products with water or cleansing milk to prevent them from lightening or darkening the leather and from creating a difference in shades spoiling the aesthetics of the furniture.
Products containing certain substances such as lanolin, ketone, silicone, or cellulose thinner should be avoided because they can damage the leather. Instead, use a homemade cleaner to maintain a leather sofa without risking damaging it. To prepare it, beat an egg and then add lemon juice. All you have to do is pass this mixture over the entire piece of furniture to clean it.
It is also possible to preserve the quality of a leather sofa by applying the following tips:
- After cleaning it, constantly make sure to soften and nourish its coating
- Soak a cloth in glycerine and apply the solution to the leather
- Then spread after-sun cream to optimize the effect of glycerin
- Allow drying before rubbing gently with a soft cloth to shine
- If the leather of the sofa is cracked or dried out, it is possible to remedy this by applying several coats of petroleum jelly
Additional tips to optimize the maintenance of a sofa
A sofa is a long-term investment. It is therefore normal to seek to preserve it for as long as possible and by all means. The following tips will allow you to optimize the maintenance of this piece of furniture, which is as practical as it is aesthetic:
- Direct light on the sofa should be avoided as much as possible at the risk of damaging its colors.
- Before using a new cleaning product, it is important to always test it on an inconspicuous part of the sofa. This allows you to check that it will not alter its material or its color.
- Clean your sofa on sunny days to ensure quick drying
- Clean your sofa immediately after a stain appears. It is important to apply this measure to prevent the stain from becoming embedded in the fibers.
- If in doubt about stain removal, seek advice from a dry cleaner or hire a sofa cleaning specialist.
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