We all have spills from time to time. A certain amount of messiness is just a part of life—especially if you’ve got kids or pets in your home. That’s why knowing the right way to go about upholstery cleaning is so important.

If you get it wrong, you could be left with a permanently stained or damaged furniture item. But when you know how to do it, you’ll be able to clean most any stain.

If you want to learn how to become a master of cleaning stains, this is the guide for you. Right on time for spring cleaning season, it’s upholstery cleaning 101!

Read the Label

Before you do anything else to your upholstery fabric, the very first thing you’re going to want to do is read the label. The label will have instructions about how to care for your furniture and tell you exactly what you can and can’t do.

Did you know that most upholstery labels actually have a cleaning code? It’s in the form of a series of letters. Here’s what they all mean.

  • W – water-based cleaners only
  • S – mild, water-free cleaner and no nearby open-flame
  • W-S – water or solvent-based product
  • X – vacuum or gentle brushing only—no cleaning agents

Time Is of the Essence

If you spill something on your couch, chair, or ottoman, the best thing you can do is to take care of it immediately. If you leave it, it can set in, dry, and it becomes exponentially more difficult to remove. Act quickly when you spill something and you have a much greater chance of removing the stain entirely.

Know Your Stains

Different substances stain in different ways. Because of this, different types of stains require different responses. Knowing the correct way to deal with different stains will give you a much better chance of removing them when they do occur.

With red wine (and most liquids) for example, first, use a towel to blot as much as possible before cleaning.  Then mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 3/4 warm water, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Put the mixture in a spray bottle, mist the soiled area, and scrub until the stain is gone.

For pet pee, you can follow the first step of the above instructions, but then you want to use a cleaning formula that’s enzymatic to do your scrubbing. This helps to break down the urine and lift any lingering smells.

Oil-based stains can be some of the trickiest to lift from fabric. If you do get an oil stain on your sofa, absorb as much as you can by dabbing cornstarch, talcum powder, or baking soda on top. Leave your chosen powder to absorb for a minimum of fifteen minutes before vacuuming it away and then scrub according to the upholstery’s instructions.

Call the Upholstery Cleaning Professionals

Even with the right knowledge, upholstery cleaning can be tricky. If you’ve got stained, dirty, or old fabric that needs some freshening then one thing you can always do is call in the experts.

At Blue Jay Carpet Cleaning, we’ve seen it all and cleaned it all. Give us a call today to see how we can help get your home sparkling clean.