If you have upholstered furniture, it will last you years with proper care.
If you have upholstered furniture perhaps the best way to take care of the pieces is to "preventive clean" them. If you don't keep the upholstery clean, dust and soil will eventually seep into the fabric and the stuffing, and this will encourage fibers to disintegrate.
A lot of the new fabrics are treated the protective finishes that last for years but that doesn't mean the fabric doesn't still need care. Either it has been treated at the factory or perhaps you have sprayed a protective coating on it when you brought it home, either way you
have to keep it clean for it to last.
The best idea is to brush all exposed area with an upholstery brush or even a light whisk broom. Remove all the cushions first of all from off the frames if possible. My couch has a wood frame and then 3 cushions on the top and three on the bottom. On the botom of the couch there exists a strong wire intertwined across the bottom and I
lay a light weight blanket on this plus a pad that fits under the cushions. When I clean the upholstery naturally I remove the pad, vacuum and wipe it off with a solution of pine sol diluted in warm water, the I take the light weight
blanket off and shake and sometimes launder and put back on. Then I vaccum around the wires and on the sides where dust has formed.
You will need to use the crevice tool to get at areas on for example your couch that the upholstery brush or whisk broom can't enter. A helpful hint also would be to use the dusting attachment for all napped fabrics (velvets, velours, etc.) and the upholstery nozzle for smoother fabrics.
Should you decide to shampoo your upholstered fabric there are a few cautions that may be in order. Some fabrics may not be color fast, others may have glued on trim which could be removed by the moisture from the shampooing. Also you could have shrinking as a reslt of some cleaners.
It is best to test the fabric in an inconspicious area first to determine if it s washable.
If you have velvet or a similar pile fabric or if its extremely fragile, do not shampoo it yourself as this fabric needs professional care.
There are three do it yourself mthods, home and commercial foam, dry cleaning fluid or powder. Commercial foam cleaners are products you may find more convenient and trust more than making your own suds.
The dry cleaning method is food is you feel your fabric is not color-fast. Look in your local store or perhaps go to a store that specializes in cleaning products. Please open all windows before using these products, dust first, then
take a piece of clean turkish toweling and dip into the dry cleaning solution, wring almost dry. Using a circular motion, clean a small area at a time, rinsing and wringing the cloth dry after each application. As you go along overlap the areas that you clean.
The powder method will require that you spread newspapers around on the floor on the base of the furniture, then sprinkle the cleaning powder on the fabric and leave on for several hours or overnight, then brush off with a soft clean brush and vacuum with your attachments. This method
is best for removal of fresh grease stains or for overall greasy soil.
If you decide to use any of the above three methods or you have a professional clean your upholstery you will have added years to the life of your beautiful upholstery and also years of enjoyment.
