How To Avoid Common Upholstery Cleaning Mistakes

Millions of people prefer to clean their own homes rather than use professionals. And for many tasks, this makes perfect reasoning. Most people are capable of vacuuming and dusting. Cleaning windows may require a bit more effort, or perhaps the use of a professional cleaner, but still, the majority of people are perfectly able to clean their own house or apartment.

Nevertheless, some areas are often best left to professional cleaning services. Some such as oven degreasing because it is unpleasant, and other areas because they can go wrong. This is partly why the carpet and upholstery cleaning services industry was worth $55.8 billion in 2021. It is expected to almost double by 2027, as people realize how easy it is to damage upholstery and carpets through DIY cleaning methods.

What are the most common upholstery cleaning pitfalls?

Household furnishings such as floor coverings and upholstery are not always the simplest to clean. Lifting cushions and vacuuming your sofa and armchairs will help to remove dust and crumbs, but it won’t give a proper deep clean.

And it is very easy to damage carpets and upholstery by cleaning with DIY methods. Crown Cleaners offer their experience in upholstery cleaning by pointing out some of the common mistakes people make below.

Failing to read the manufacturer’s guidelines

Furniture manufacturers will include cleaning guidelines, yet many individuals choose to ignore these instructions. This approach can result in your upholstery being damaged. Stains could spread, and color can bleed when cleaning guidelines are ignored.

Not using the right cleaning products

This links in with the manufacturer’s guidelines. The wrong cleaning products might make your stains worse, or even damage your sofa. Certain chemicals work on certain stains, but not on others. DIY methods such as baking soda can be good for smoke odor removal. But, not all home cleaning tips are safe for your upholstery.

Not hiring professional upholstery cleaners

Trying to save money by using store-bought products can lead to more costly problems. If you scrub too hard you can damage the fibers in your upholstery and simply push dirt further into the fabric.

Upholstery cleaners are experienced with all manner of spills, stains, and materials, and you can hire a service that provides a quality guarantee.

A professional cleaning service can perform a deep clean that will help to improve air quality and alleviate certain symptoms of allergies. Upholstery can provide a gathering ground for dust mites, mold spores, and other pollutants. There are ways to know you have allergies such as runny noses, and puffy eyes. These might be caused because your upholstery isn’t properly cleaned.

Using too much water

Certain stains, especially old and ground-in ones, need steam cleaning or some form of spot cleaning. Scrubbing away will not help, and many people will be tempted to soak the stain with water.

If you try to soak a stain out you will be left with watermarks, and the stain will remain. Use a steam cleaner, or spot clean with a very small amount of water.

Failing to include an end-of-tenancy clean when renting

If you are a landlord, overlooking your upholstery would be a mistake. One of the best property management tips is to ensure your home is clean and well-maintained.

In an ideal world, your previous tenants will use a checkout cleaning service, but they might not pay for the upholstery to be included. Get this done professionally, and your property will look far more inviting to potential tenants.

Not conducting a spot test

You can carry out a patch test by using your chosen cleaning product on a small area of your curtains, furniture, or even a carpet. Select an area that is the least visible, and use the cleaning product sparingly.

This should help you establish whether the product is likely to cause damage or discolor the fabric. While not foolproof, it is a better option than going full steam and cleaning a sofa with an untested cleaning product. This could lead you to find your cleaning has ruined the look and feel of your furniture.

Using too much heat to clean

Steam cleaners are great for removing certain stains and helping to deep clean, but some fabrics such as silk require a more gentle approach. Boiling water is also a bad idea for cleaning upholstery, and heat will cause a leather sofa to crack and dry.

Summary

There is no reason why you can’t clean your upholstery yourself, but you should research how certain chemicals affect fabrics. You’ll need to carry out a patch test first to ensure your upholstery won’t be damaged by your cleaning products.

And avoid scrubbing, soaking, and too much heat. If you have fabrics that need extra care then make sure you read the manufacturer’s guidelines, or use a professional cleaning service. Good upholstery can last a long time, but only when it is cared for properly.