There comes the point when your furniture has an unmistakable odor from your family pet, or perhaps you have one too many stains, and it just isn’t fit for company anymore. That’s when it’s time for a good old-fashioned upholstery cleaning.

Before renting an upholstery cleaner or borrowing one from a friendly neighbor, consider these important do’s and don’ts to get the most out of your furniture cleaning.

Do Vacuum Your Furniture Before Cleaning

Vacuuming your upholstery is the first preparatory step to eliminate fine dirt, pet hair, and snack remnants. Thankfully, this is a quick and straightforward process and may even be profitable if you are the first to find any loose change between the cushions!

Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals When Cleaning Upholstery

Unfortunately, our furniture can experience many mishaps from daily living. Our furry friends may drool or have “accidents” on the sofa. Wine and beer stains may result from an unwatchful eye or a rather exciting sports game. Kids don’t always color within the lines and find your armchair with their felt markers.

The temptation may be to whip out household cleaners to stave off a permanent stain or remove a doodle, but those chemicals could damage the fabric. Instead, only use designated upholstery cleaners meant for the upholstery.

Do Spot Test Any Cleaner on an Inconspicuous Area Before Using

Just as your clothing has washing instructions, so too does your upholstery. If possible, follow the cleaning instructions to ensure you don’t inadvertently damage or discolor the fibers. 

However, if you can’t locate the manufacturer’s directions, test your upholstery cleaning solution on the underside of a seat cushion or the bottom of your chair. Let the area dry thoroughly and inspect for unwanted changes before cleaning the rest of your furniture.

Don’t Saturate the Fabric With Water or Cleaner— A Little Goes a Long Way

Where the fabric may not take too long to dry, the dense foam core will absorb excess moisture and retain it, leading to damp odors and even mold growth. You don’t need to douse the fabric with water; the specialized steam head will help moderate the flow as it passes over each section.

Additionally, following the cleaning product instructions is essential for a suitable mixture. You want to avoid excess soapy residue or water and chemical stains on the fabric’s surface.

Do Blot the Fabric Dry With a Clean Towel After Cleaning

After the cleaning process, use a clean bath towel to help blot up any access moisture to assist your furniture’s drying process. 

You may not think this a necessary step; however, you may not realize where you have too much water, which can affect how the material dries.

Don’t Leave Furniture in Direct Sunlight to Dry— Place it in a Shaded Area Instead

Fabric reacts differently to heat depending on its composition. So, if you think about doing laundry, your washer and dryer have different temperature settings so that you can adjust for the fabric types in the load. 

If you leave your furniture in direct sunlight while drying, the fabric could dry at different speeds and cause it to pull or shrink. The result is oddly aligned or wavy-looking material which is avoidable by moving your furniture away from the windows.

Do Hire a Professional Cleaning Service

Take the guesswork out of cleaning your furniture. Professional cleaning services, like ASAP Carpets & More in Atlanta, GA., know every fabric and how to remove the toughest stains and odors without damaging your upholstery. So you can leave the upholstery cleaning to the experts, confident that your furniture will look—and smell—like new again!

Say goodbye to pet smells and game night stains today! Book your furniture cleaning online or by calling 404-600-1199 now!