Clean fabric sofa at home. How to clean a sofa from stains of various origins. How to wash a sofa from household chemicals

The sofa is the most significant piece of furniture in the house, the favorite place to relax, watch TV, lie down with a book, just sit with a cup of tea. For children - a subject for entertainment. It's great to jump, run, sometimes with your favorite pets, eat your favorite treats on it. Pets are also not averse to lounging on the couch, and no matter how you swear, they will not pay attention to your strict taboo.

The sofa is the most significant piece of furniture in the house, the favorite place to relax, watch TV, lie down with a book, just sit with a cup of tea.

A favorite place for guests who also like to sit on the sofa at the set table. In the end, various spots appear on the furniture, some can be difficult to remove. How to get rid of them, how to restore the original appearance, what should be used so as not to spoil the upholstery?

It seems like an impossible task. If you correctly approach the cleaning process, then everything will be much easier than you thought. It all depends on the sofa cover and the origin of the stain.

Pets are also not averse to lounging on the couch, and no matter how you swear, they will not pay attention to your strict taboo.

Upholstery undergoes a lot of things while using the sofa. Even if you are clean, dust from clothes, traces of sweat and sebum will still remain on the furniture. You've got into the habit of sitting on the couch watching your favorite show or TV series, something to eat. And if there is no place to accommodate guests in the room, they, of course, will sit on the sofa. After their "invasion" there will certainly be stains from pizza, fat, beer, wine, tea or coffee, jam.

A favorite place for guests who also like to sit on the sofa at the set table.

Small children are a separate issue. They can smear the sofa with anything - smear plasticine, paint with paints, felt-tip pens, chalk, some like to stick chewing gum, grab with chocolate hands, or, who did not have time to run to the toilet, just pee on it. Urine, penetrating into the fabric, leaves not only stains, but also a persistent smell. It can be difficult to get rid of it. Cats and dogs just love to sit on the couch, leaving hair, drool and unwashed paw marks. Dogs love to lie down on the sofa after a walk.

If the sofa is leather

How to clean a sofa at home? It all depends on what upholstery fabric it is covered with. It is unacceptable to clean leather and fabric with the same product. It is important to remember some tricks, then you can easily cope with hard-to-remove stains. Let's see how to properly clean the sofa if it has leather upholstery.

To remove difficult stains, it is better to turn to professionals.

It is better to clean such furniture with a damp cloth, it is advisable not to wet the coating too much. Can be cleaned with wipes designed specifically for the skin. Folk way: to add shine and mask cracks will help egg white. It must be beaten and applied with gauze to the surface. For the same purpose, you can use milk. Traces of wine, a marker or a pen, we remove them with an alcohol wipe or soaked in vodka or alcohol.

If you correctly approach the cleaning process, then everything will be much easier than you thought.

You can use a soap solution, water, preferably warm, and a fiber cloth. The solution is wiped with a sofa and carefully washed off. After applying the conditioner to the surface. This procedure will help add gloss and give an updated look. To prevent streaks, wipe with a fiber cloth.

With a vacuum cleaner with a special nozzle for furniture, you need to go through all the corners and joints.

A grease stain, still fresh, can be easily removed with starch. The blood is washed off only with ice water. Light leather upholstery can be cleaned with normal dishwashing detergent.

Upholstery undergoes a lot of things while using the sofa.

More problems are caused by mold that appeared on leather furniture due to humidity in the room, or liquid remained on the surface that was not removed in time. A favorite place for mold to appear is the folds of the sofa. Do not run, you need to immediately carry out the treatment with acetic solution. Wipe the affected area and wipe. When the mold is sufficiently ingrained, it is almost impossible to get rid of it at home. It is advisable to contact the experts.

If the upholstery is fabric

Nowadays, the services of cleaning the sofa by specialists are not cheap. But at home, you can get rid of the most difficult stains with almost no spending.

It is advisable to contact the experts.

Before you start cleaning a sofa from a fabric cover, you need to know a few rules.

Flock coatings are not recommended to be cleaned with products containing alcohol.
Microfiber upholstery is dry clean only. Only in exceptional cases, wet cleaning is used.
Light surfaces are cleaned with white cloths. If you use colored ones, then due to the action of cleaning products, the surface of the sofa may be stained.

Stains are removed, moving from the edges to the center.

Before you start cleaning, you need to remove the accumulated dust, crumbs, hair left after pets. With a vacuum cleaner with a special nozzle for furniture, you need to go through all the corners and joints.

After their "invasion" there will certainly be stains from pizza, fat, beer, wine, tea or coffee, jam.

Velor upholstery is cleaned with a fiber cloth and vinegar solution (1 teaspoon per liter of liquid). All movements are made in the direction of the pile. To remove difficult stains, it is better to turn to professionals.

On a fresh stain, you need to put napkins, gauze, as they perfectly absorb the liquid.

For suede, take a brush with soft bristles. Grease marks are perfectly removed with alcohol or an eraser.

The tapestry does not tolerate wet cleaning, only vacuuming is suitable, because due to cleaning agents, the coating does not last long, wears out in short time and changes color. If you can’t do without wet cleaning, then the stain is covered with foam.

Traces of wine, a marker or a pen, we remove them with an alcohol wipe or soaked in vodka or alcohol.

We clean the dirt on the velor cover with a foaming agent - do not a large number of must be diluted in 250 ml of water and applied to the stain.

If there are stains on the furniture, it is better to try to remove them immediately, do not delay.

For silk and velvet, powder cleaning is acceptable.

Children can smear the sofa with anything - smear plasticine, paint with paints, felt-tip pens, chalk, some like to stick chewing gum, grab chocolate hands, or, who did not have time to run to the toilet, just pee on it.

Removing different types of stains

If there are stains on the furniture, it is better to try to remove them immediately, do not delay. Then they are absorbed into the upholstery, dry. On a fresh stain, you need to put napkins, gauze, as they perfectly absorb the liquid. Stains are removed, moving from the edges to the center.

Plasticine smeared on the sofa, cream, greasy food residue	We remove all this with some hard object, then pour salt - it will absorb fat.
Beverages	Place napkins on stains from coffee, tea, beer, then clean soapy water, in which to add vinegar - about 2 tbsp. l. per liter of liquid. A napkin is applied to wine stains, then sprinkled with salt and rubbed. Juice and fruit stains are cleaned ammonia and vinegar, mixing them 1: 1, applied to the dirt, allowed to dry and washed with water.
Products	Traces of condensed milk, jam, chocolate are first dried so as not to be smeared, removed from the surface and cleaned with soapy water. On the chewing gum left by the children on the upholstery of the sofa, you need to put something cold - an ice bag, a freeze. After it will be very easy to remove with a knife.
Blood, urine	The blood is only washed cold water. You can add aspirin (1 tablet per 250 ml) or salt (1 tablespoon per liter of water). Urine is removed with a napkin, then a carpet cleaner or liquid soap is applied.

It is important to remember some tricks, then you can easily cope with hard-to-remove stains.

When traces remain after the initial cleaning, they are easily removed by Vanish.

Before you start cleaning, you need to remove the accumulated dust, crumbs, hair left after pets.

How to get rid of odors?

Upholstered furniture, as you know, perfectly absorbs odors. It holds in everything - from filler to wood. This matter is fixable.

Do not use undiluted vinegar or bleach for cleaning.

Vinegar easily copes not only with beer, but also with various other drinks. We take an unnecessary sheet, moisten it in a weak solution of vinegar, squeeze it out and put it on the sofa. Press firmly to the surface. We do this several times. Removes odor and stains.

You can use a soap solution, water, preferably warm, and a fiber cloth.

A soapy solution with the addition of 1 tbsp will help remove the “aroma” from the leather covering. l. ammonia. Apply to the upholstery with a sponge, wipe with a damp cloth and a dry cloth.

Light surfaces are cleaned with white cloths.

The child peed on the sofa, iodine will help eliminate the smell. Take 15-20 drops per liter of water and wipe the “crime scene”. It is worth remembering that this tool is used only on a dark surface! We clean the light coating with potassium permanganate, lemon or lemon juice, and a solution of vinegar. If the smell has already eaten into the sofa, it is better to use laundry soap. The surface must be moistened with water and rubbed with soap. Let it stand for 20 minutes. Then rinse with a solution of vinegar, wipe with water and dry.

A favorite place for mold to appear is the folds of the sofa.

If the urine is not for children, but for an elderly person, first we apply vodka or ammonia on the sofa, let it stand for half an hour.

Microfiber upholstery is dry clean only.

They cope with the “fragrances” of pets as follows: a solution of vinegar (1: 3) is applied, moisture is removed with a napkin, covered with soda, on top is a solution consisting of hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing detergent. Let it stand for two hours, then you need to wipe it with a damp cloth and a paper towel.

Nowadays, the services of cleaning the sofa by specialists are not cheap.

You can remove odors with cleaning products or a pet odor absorber. It is first necessary to check the product in a hidden place so as not to spoil the look of the furniture.

So, as you can see, the problem is solvable.

Those products with which you are going to clean the fabric upholstery must be checked in an inconspicuous area so as not to spoil the look.

VIDEO: How to clean (remove) stains from a sofa

50 photo ideas on how to clean a bistro sofa from stains

Upholstered furniture is an integral part of every modern apartment.

No matter how hard we try to preserve its original appearance, it still gets dirty. The question arises of how to clean the sofa from stains, dirt and odors at home quickly, efficiently and without streaks with your own hands. This article contains cleaning tips. different types upholstery. Independently, without contacting specialized firms and using expensive funds. Only what is in the house of every hostess. Accordingly, a situation that is too neglected cannot be saved in this way. Here you can not do without the help of specialists.

The first step is to determine what type of fabric is on your headset. To understand how she will react to this or that method of cleaning. Plush, velor and velvet, when treated with soapy water, lose their original appearance. From some components of the paint fade and discolor. When using a large amount of water, the furniture does not have time to dry. Excessive moisture that has got inside contributes to the formation of mold and a musty smell. To avoid possible trouble, before cleaning, test the reaction of the upholstery by treating small plot, in a place that is not conspicuous.

The second important factor is what needs to be cleaned. The type of pollution affects the choice of means, how you can wash or clean the fabric from stains at home. Remember, a fresh stain is always easier to treat than an old one. Therefore, carefully monitor the cleanliness, and do not postpone the removal of the resulting salting for later.

Simple rules for preventive care

When buying, try to pick up a set with upholstery, the care of which does not create unnecessary trouble.
To make furniture less dirty, cover it with a blanket or cover with a special cover.
Avoid eating on chairs and couches. Food particles lead to the formation of the most difficult to remove impurities.
Regular grooming doesn't take long. BUT general state the headset is much better preserved.

Soft upholstery made of flock, velour, chenille is pleasant to look at and to the touch. But they also tend to collect as much dust as stuffed animals, which means cleaning your couch at home is a must. Do not bring to a state where, sitting down to rest, you immediately want to sneeze. It is better to try to clean the furniture from dust at least once every six months. This can be done in several ways.

Vacuuming

Using a special nozzle, it is necessary to thoroughly vacuum all surfaces, not forgetting to climb into hard-to-reach places- corners and joints. It is undesirable to use a conventional brush head for such purposes. In the absence of an optimal one, it is better to walk without any nozzle, with an open hose. At the same time, turn on the operating mode to maximum power.

Alternative method - knocking out

Sometimes it is possible to replace vacuuming with wet cleaning. You will need to wet and wring out the sheet. Cover the soft parts of the pillows with it and walk with a carpet beater. All dust will thus be collected on wet tissue which will then need to be washed. If necessary, the process can be repeated. The only inconvenience of this method is that until the upholstery dries out, it is not recommended to cover it with a cover and sit on the sofa. But you can always find something to do at this time - for example, wipe and tidy up the handles from the sofa and armchairs.

Most stains can be removed with a mild stain remover. It is used instead washing powder, diluted in a ratio of 1:9 with water. Beat until foamy and cover the stain with it. Then gently wipe this place with a soft brush. Wait 15 minutes and then wash everything off.

Drink marks

Unpleasant stains on the upholstery left by various drinks can be tried to be removed using a bar of laundry soap or soapy water. Wet the surface with a regular soap bar. Using a soft-bristled brush, lather thoroughly, making circular motions over the contaminated part. And leave it like this for 10 minutes. Then remove the dirt with a damp sponge. If after cleaning up the spilled, an unpleasant odor remains, it will be neutralized by treatment with vinegar.

When it is impossible to remove stains from drinks from the sofa with soap, ammonia or ammonia can be used at home. This method is relevant for spilled wine. Lay a napkin over freshly spilled wine to soak and prevent the alcohol from dripping. Then sprinkle it with salt - it will remove the remaining moisture. After 15 minutes, sweep the salt with a brush, and wipe the residual trace with ammonia. After this treatment, let the upholstery dry and after another half an hour, in order to avoid the formation of stains, wash this place with soapy water.

Treatment of blood stains

You can only remove them when fresh. Dried dirt is almost impossible to clean completely. Before the blood dries, coat it with talcum powder mixed with water. But remember that you can only use cold, otherwise the coagulation process will accelerate. Using a sponge, wipe the area of contamination in the direction from the edges to the center. If the upholstery is light, you can add a little vinegar to the composition. After, wash everything with laundry soap and rinse well after 10 minutes. But do not spend a large amount of liquid on this procedure or use a hairdryer to dry it.

Removing urine stains

A similar problem occurs in families with small children and animals. Even if the trace itself is not always noticeable, an unpleasant smell is felt throughout the room. In such a situation, at home, such a sofa can be cleaned of dirt and odor with both soda or vinegar, and a light solution of potassium permanganate.

The stain must be dried before treatment. Then treat it with soapy water or any detergent composition from powder, shampoo. A mixture of a liter of water, a spoonful of soda and the same amount has proven itself well. detergent with vinegar. Mix everything thoroughly. Use a brush to clean dirty areas with this composition and dry again. Next, prepare a light pink solution of potassium permanganate and disinfect the upholstery. If the fabric is light in color, you can try to remove the foreign smell with vinegar or by sprinkling baking soda on the wet area.

Fat spots

Sprinkle such a stain first with chalk, salt, starch or talc. Leave it like this for a couple of hours, then sweep it with a brush or vacuum cleaner. Cover the contamination with the same composition again and wipe it with a sponge and soapy water. Rinse off any remaining dirt with warm water.

Marks from ink and ballpoint pens

In this case, most likely, you will have to call the masters of the cleaning office. They have enough powerful tools for such a case. It is impossible to remove such stains from the sofa at home somehow differently. To discolor them, you will have to use acetone or hydrogen peroxide. But these compounds will also affect the dye of the fabric.

Removing chewing gum

The gum can be removed when it hardens. Cover it with ice cubes for a few minutes. When it is completely hardened, carefully cut it off. sharp knife. Another effective method removal is associated with the risk of further contaminating the upholstery. Therefore, it is recommended to use it only on leather surfaces or wooden armrests. Coat the gum with plain Vaseline. After an hour, it will completely crumble, and it will not be difficult to remove it. After, wipe everything with a damp sponge or cloth.

Removal of old layers

If not cleaned for a long time upholstered furniture, then the upholstery darkens, takes on a neglected look. It is easy to remove such raids from leather and leatherette. Simply wipe with a damp cloth. With a textile coating, everything is much more complicated. How to wash the sofa from stains of old dirt, wear and greasy at home depends on the type of fabric.

tapestry

Soap solution is ideal. Moisten the dirty surface with it and leave for 20 minutes. Then wash away clean water and blot with a dry cloth. It is advisable to repeat the same action with the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe product, but rinse immediately, without exposure. This will help make the washed area stand out from the rest of the upholstery.

Hairy surfaces

When cleaning such fabrics, a foam rubber sponge and dish detergent are used. But it must be borne in mind that light-colored products will have to be washed entirely. And it is unacceptable to use electrical appliances for zone drying. Divorces may appear, which will be very difficult to remove.

Leather cleaning

In case of slight contamination, it is enough to wipe the surface with a damp cloth with the addition of vinegar. If not all stains are removed, try moistening them with soapy or detergent solution and wiping after a couple of minutes. Do not leave for a long time, whitish spots may appear from the paint eating away. Another very convenient tool, how and how you can wash the upholstery of a leather sofa from dirt at home, is ordinary petroleum jelly or baby oil. They not only cleanse and soften the skin, but also prevent it from drying out and cracking. After, thoroughly wipe the entire surface from excess fat.

Caring for wood finishes

Very often in the design of upholstered furniture are used wooden details. We must not forget about them when cleaning the fabric. Dirt is easily washed off with a damp cloth with the addition of ammonia. Small cracks in the lacquer, traces on it, left by mugs of hot - all this is perfectly removed with oil or petroleum jelly. Apply it with a cloth to the entire surface of the part. Wipe dry after 15 minutes. White spots will disappear completely in a few hours.

Rules of care or how to give upholstered furniture freshness

If you do not want to go to dry cleaning, do not forget to regularly care for the surface, clean with a vacuum cleaner. Use available detergents to clean the upholstery of the sofa at home from dirt, sweat, traces of animals and food debris. For such procedures indispensable assistant turns out to be a household steam generator. By passing the steamer over the fabric elements, you will not only clean them of dirt, but also destroy germs and insects. You will update the entire thread structure. Just be sure to let the upholstery dry before use.

You can remove extraneous odors by airing all parts of the sofa in disassembled form. Or try sprinkling silica gel cat litter on the fabric. Leaving it in this form for an hour, sweep or collect everything with a vacuum cleaner.

With all these simple tricks, your furniture will last much longer, while remaining clean and well-groomed.

Professional dry cleaning of a sofa, upholstered chairs, armchairs or other upholstered furniture is an expensive service. Sometimes you can’t do without it, but in most cases even complex contaminants like blood stains, baby urine, wine, etc. can be removed on your own for mere pennies.

In this article, we have presented 2 step by step guides how to clean a sofa at home using products that are in every home.

How to clean a fabric sofa

Before cleaning your sofa, read the following tips and cautions.

All upholstery cleaners must first be tested on invisible areas (for example, under or behind a sofa).
Before cleaning a flock sofa, make sure that the selected product does not contain alcohol. After cleaning, go over the entire upholstery with a soft-bristled brush to straighten the pile.
To clean a microfiber sofa at home, use only dry methods. Wet cleaning possible only in extreme cases.
To clean a light-colored sofa, use only white rags. Colored fabrics under the influence of detergents can stain light-colored upholstery.
Do not use bleach or undiluted vinegar.

Step 1. The first step is to get rid of the dust. You can skip this step if you are only concerned with local contamination. However, if you get down to business thoroughly, then first the upholstery of upholstered furniture must be cleaned of accumulated dust, and at the same time from wool, scattered crumbs, etc. You can do this in two ways:

Method 1. With a vacuum cleaner: If you have a vacuum cleaner at home, great, you just need to vacuum the upholstery, giving Special attention all joints and corners. You can use a special furniture nozzle (preferably with a brush) or just a dust pipe.

Method 2. Without a vacuum cleaner (for fleecy fabrics): If there is no vacuum cleaner in the house or if the upholstery of the sofa is made of velor, velvet or any other fleecy fabric, then the dust is simply knocked out. Prepare an old sheet and carpet beater. Wet the sheet in water (you can use soapy water) and wring it out (you can do this with a washing machine in the rinse and wash cycle). Next, cover the furniture with a cloth and start actively knocking out the dust, not missing a single corner. So you can clean the sofa of dust without polluting the air, because it will remain on the fabric.

Step 2. Manually remove solid contaminants, if any. If necessary, the dirt can be scraped off with the butt of a knife, spatula or other object with a blunt edge.

From fabrics with pile (flock, velor or chenille), it is impossible to scrape off hardened dirt. They need to be soaked in soapy foam.

Step 3. Finally, get rid of the stains.

For starters, you can try a universal upholstery stain remover that is suitable for all types of fabrics - lather from soapy water or any mild detergent, such as Vanisha carpet cleaner. Simply apply the foam directly to soiled areas, let it work for 10-15 minutes, then rinse the fabric clean and finally remove excess moisture with a clean rag. If the stain still remains, try removing it:

A solution of 9% vinegar (2 tablespoons / 1 liter of water);
Shampoo solution with warm water and 10 drops of ammonia.

In most cases, these simple procedures are enough to clean the sofa, for example, from stains of tea, coffee, chocolate, white wine, beer, jam, cola, etc.

If the soap did not cope with the stain, but you can determine its origin, then look for your case in the following collection of cleaning recipes:

Urine. This is one of the most complex organic contaminants, which may not be noticeable on the fabric, but exudes a pungent odor. As a rule, over time, the inhabitants of the house can get used to it and not feel it at all, but guests catch a specific aroma right away. How to clean the sofa from children's urine or animal urine? As soon as this trouble occurs, blot the soiled area with napkins so that the urine is absorbed. Then dry it with a hair dryer so that there are no streaks left. If the upholstery fabric is colored, then treat the stain with a solution of 9% vinegar (in a ratio of 1:5) or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. How to clean a bright sofa from urine at home? In this case, the stain must be treated with a solution citric acid(in a ratio of 1:10). After 30-60 minutes, wash the area with a soap/shampoo solution and finally wash the upholstery with clean water and dry.
Oily spots. Sprinkle a fresh stain with fine salt and let it absorb all the fat (3-5 minutes). Soak the remaining trace in Fairy foam or any other dishwashing detergent for 10-15 minutes, then rinse the area clean and dry.

Red wine. Blot a fresh stain with a napkin and cover it with fine salt. Allow the salt to absorb moisture, repeat the procedure if necessary. Brush off the salt with a soft-bristled brush and scrub the stain with ethyl alcohol and then with soapy water. Next, remove the soap residue with water and blot the area dry with napkins.
Gum. To remove chewing gum from sofa upholstery, it must be frozen. To do this, put a couple of ice cubes on it alternately (you can in a bag). When the gum hardens, gently scrape it off. If there is a stain on the upholstery after removing the chewing gum, apply methyl alcohol to it and wipe it clean.
Felt-tip pen, ballpoint pen, traces of lipstick, nail polish. Apply ethyl/ammonia or acetone to the stain, then rinse the area clean.
Candle wax. Let the wax dry, then break it apart and scrape it off. Cover the trace of wax with a thin cotton cloth or two or three paper napkins and iron several times. If necessary, repeat the procedure again.
Blood stains. Fresh blood stains should be quickly soaked in cold water until they disappear completely. If the stain is old, then you need to hold it longer under ice cubes, soak it with a weak solution of vinegar (2 tablespoons of 9% vinegar per 1 liter of water) and, finally, wash the area with soapy water.
Fruit or vegetable juice. Apply a solution of ammonia and 9% vinegar to the stain, then rinse the fabric with a clean, damp cloth.

Step 4. If your sofa's upholstery is dull or smelly and simple dusting doesn't solve the problem, you can wash the entire upholstery:

Soap solution: warm water + mild soap;
Shampoo solution: warm water + shampoo;
A weak solution of 9% vinegar with water (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water);
Alcohol (such as vodka) can be used to clean upholstered furniture with microfiber upholstery.

For convenience, spray the product from a spray bottle

To remove odor from a light-colored sofa, you can sprinkle baking soda all over the upholstery, leave it for 20-60 minutes, and then vacuum it up with a furniture brush attachment. The baking soda should absorb the bad smell.

After cleaning a sofa with pile upholstery, go over the entire fabric with a soft to medium-hard bristle brush. This technique will allow you to "fluff" the fibers and refresh the color.

And finally, we suggest watching the following video on how to clean the sofa from dust and dirt at home.

Instruction:

Step 1. Make a warm soapy solution with warm water and mild soap.

Step 2 Dampen your rag with soapy water and thoroughly wipe the upholstery with it.

Step 3 Wipe the sofa with a dry, clean cloth to remove moisture.

Step 4. Now, we need to use a conditioner that will protect the skin and refresh it. appearance. To do this, mix one part of vinegar with two parts of linseed or olive oil. Wipe the mixture all over the leather upholstery of the furniture and leave it for 10 minutes.

Step 5. After 10 minutes, buff the skin with a dry microfiber cloth.

Do not use undiluted vinegar or wet wipes containing alcohol, as they will draw moisture out of the leather and cause cracking.

Step 6. How to clean leather sofa from stains? In order to remove any contamination, you need to locally apply a soft toothpaste or hairspray (after testing on an inconspicuous area!), then quickly wipe off with a clean cloth. Repeat the procedure if necessary.

Hairspray is especially good for removing ink from pens and markers.

As practice shows, professional dry cleaning is not always necessary when the sofa is dirty. Most often, you can do it yourself and clean the furniture from stains at home. To do this, you need to know some subtleties, for example, why the pollution appeared and what kind of upholstery the sofa has. The wrong approach will lead to the fact that the stain may not only not disappear, but also become larger, and it will no longer be possible to remove it. Of course, any upholstered furniture loses its original appearance over time, but there are some preventive measures that prolong the service life and aesthetics of the product:

choosing a sofa with easy-to-clean upholstery (this will ensure that the surface is quickly cleaned of dust and animal hair);
the use of special bedspreads for upholstered furniture, which is used most often in the house;
the use of interior items for their intended purpose (for example, it is better not to eat or drink brightly colored drinks while sitting on the couch);
tracking the status of products and timely care behind upholstered furniture (it is necessary to vacuum, beat out the dust and wash the outer covers).

However, if dirt still appears on the sofa, then it is better to get rid of it as soon as possible, because this not only spoils its appearance, but also creates a favorable environment for the reproduction of various microorganisms. Let's take a closer look at how you can quickly clean the sofa at home.

How to clean upholstered furniture

The method of cleaning the sofa depends on how heavily soiled the product. For example, when dusting, it will be enough to moisten gauze or cloth in water, spread it over the entire surface of the sofa and pat it lightly. So, all the dust accumulated during operation is absorbed into the wet material. This method is suitable for cleaning sofas with a velvet or velor surface.

For other materials, a simpler method is suitable. The gauze soaked in salt water is attached to the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner and the entire accessible surface is cleaned. After such a reception, the colors of the upholstery become richer, and the upholstered furniture is noticeably updated.

What other ways are there to clean sofas? As a rule, they all boil down to finding optimal remedy from various types of dirt and stains.

Let us dwell on the most commonly used substances for cleaning furniture.

Sofa cleaners

It should be borne in mind that a separate tool is intended for cleaning certain surfaces and materials. To clean the sofa from stains and dirt at home, the following compositions are most often used:

warm soapy water(used to clean the sofa from greasy and small dirt);
special chemicals with strong foam(the diluted substance is applied to the dirty area, left to dry completely, then the dried foam is carefully removed with a vacuum cleaner);
ammonia and vinegar (effective remedy, however, this method may change the color of the material);
alcohol solutions and acetone(used when removing stains of any nature);
lemon juice and soda(discolor dirty spots on the upholstery);
petrolatum(used for cleaning leather upholstery, wooden armrests);
laundry soap(well removes stains from wine and other brightly colored drinks);
shaving foam(well cleans the upholstery of ink and greasy stains).

It is often necessary to mix the above remedies in order to achieve maximum effect. For example, if you dilute soda and a little detergent in 1 liter of warm water, you get a fairly effective remedy for cleaning even hard-to-remove dirt. But even here a measure is needed, in no case should the sofa be wetted strongly, otherwise it will not dry out and an unpleasant smell will appear over time.

In any case, it is important to be aware of the possible ways cleaning the sofa, which can be found on the upholstery label or on a sticker under the sofa. Usually the manufacturer indicates what impacts the material is able to endure, and what is better not to do so as not to spoil it. And, of course, you should carefully read the composition and instructions for the chemicals used when it becomes necessary to clean the sofa at home.

Furniture cleaning instructions

Before you can effectively clean the sofa at home, you must perform several steps to prevent damage to the product:

test the cleaner on the part of the sofa hidden from the eyes, if no changes have occurred, you can safely proceed to the treatment of the contaminated surface;
smooth out fuzzy upholstery in one direction with a soft brush, do not use alcohol solutions to clean this material:
purify microfiber sofa can only be dry, in extreme cases, with severe contamination, solutions can be used, but this threatens to change the appearance of the product:
use as handy material only white napkins, especially in the case of a light sofa upholstery, otherwise a bright fabric treated with chemicals may leave unwanted stains:
do not use concentrated vinegar and strong bleaches for any materials.

So, what tools will you need to clean the sofa:

sponges for washing dishes;
napkins;
brushes with different bristles;
detergent container;
vacuum cleaner with special nozzles for upholstered furniture;
gloves if aggressive agents are used.

To remove light dirt, napkins or sponges are enough, but for a dried old stain, brushes with stiff bristles will come in handy.

Now we will sequentially consider the stages of furniture cleaning:

pillows and removable covers from the sofa wash in advance in the mode delicate wash;
the place around the sofa must be covered with polyethylene so as not to contaminate anything during cleaning;
a product requiring thorough care must first be cleaned of dust, crumbs, adhering wool and hair with a vacuum cleaner, carefully going through all corners and joints;
gently scrape off solid dirt with a knife or spatula (here is a caveat: it is better to wet the fleecy upholstery before that);
Treat spots with stains with a cleaning solution, starting from the backs and ending bottom a sofa, as a rule, an ordinary soap solution or a special agent can easily cope with everything (you need to apply the products carefully, brushing one place with a brush for about 30 seconds);
leave the foam on the contaminated surface for about 15 minutes, then it is necessary to cleanly wash off its remnants from the upholstery of the sofa;
dried pieces of foam along with dirt can be removed with a vacuum cleaner.

If the stain still remains, you can use a vinegar solution or a mixture of shampoo with ammonia (about 10 drops) diluted in warm water.

Cleaning a sofa with fabric upholstery

Owners often ask themselves: how to clean a fabric sofa at home? It all depends on the upholstery material:

tapestry (only a dry cleaning method is suitable, in extreme cases, you can use whipped foam);
velor and flock (dirt can be removed with a special cloth soaked in soapy water, a sofa with such a coating is cleaned in the direction of the pile, in addition, you can simply use a steam generator);
velvet and plush (the danger of caring for upholstered furniture made of these materials is that they easily discolor and shed).

Cleaning a sofa with leather upholstery

A distinctive feature of sofas with such a coating is easy care behind them. Dust and animal hair usually do not stick to the skin, and liquid is not absorbed into it. Most often, it is enough to simply periodically wipe the surface with a damp cloth and treat it a little with Vaseline for shine. But sometimes there are some nuances when cleaning, depending on the type of leather from which the upholstery is made:

leather and its substitutes (it is not recommended to wet the surface heavily while caring for upholstered furniture, you also can’t use a steam generator, a special cleaner for leather coverings or beaten egg white is best);
nubuck (a brush with rubber bristles is best, such material can be gently steamed);
suede (this coating collects dust and dirt, usually a special brush is used when cleaning, but if the stains are strong, then you can take alcohol or a solution of table salt).

For smooth skin, you can also use a weak solution of vinegar.

Cleaning upholstered furniture depending on the types of stains

As mentioned above, it will be possible to effectively clean the sofa only if you determine exactly which cleaning agent you need to use. For this, in turn, you need to know how stains of various origins are rubbed off. Let's take a look at how to deal with various pollution upholstered furniture:

tea stains: laundry soap is suitable, they need to rub the damaged place, after wetting the upholstery with water, and then rinse well with a sponge;
blood stains: this species pollution is difficult to influence, however, if you try to clean it right away, there is a chance to remove it without a trace. To do this, the place must be thoroughly washed with ice water, then rubbed with laundry soap and rinsed again. What if the blood got on the upholstery a long time ago? For this case, there is also a way out: dilute 2 aspirin tablets in 250 ml of water and rinse the contamination. Salt solution or vinegar (1 tablespoon of 9% acid per glass of water) also helps to remove dried blood.
urine stain: if the stain is fresh, then first it must be blotted with napkins, then treated with soapy water (a regular shampoo diluted in warm water will do), rinse well and dry with a hairdryer;
wine: As with any type of pollution, it is better to get rid of wine stains as soon as it is spilled on the sofa. First you need to absorb all the moisture as quickly as possible to prevent it from spreading over the upholstery, then sprinkle the place with salt and leave for a while, rinse everything well with soapy water and dry.
beer stains: pollution is removed similarly to the previous methods - blot moisture, dry with a hairdryer, treat with acetic solution and rinse with water;
greasy spots : Sufficiently difficult to remove pollution, however, it is quite possible to remove it. First, sprinkle the place with salt and leave for 20 minutes, at this time prepare a washing solution (dilute the dishwashing liquid to a thick foam), then rinse thoroughly greasy stains until their complete disappearance.
ink: a fairly common type of pollution, can be easily removed with alcohol or any other solvent.

How to get rid of odors

To remove odors from food or drinks, you can use special shampoos for cleaning upholstered furniture. The product must be diluted according to the instructions and rinsed upholstery. However, in some cases, the smell is not so easy to get rid of. In particular, urine and beer are very persistently eaten into the sofa. The smell of beer is easily removed with a solution of vinegar (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water). Bad smell urine is more difficult to remove, there are several folk remedies:

tincture of iodine (20 drops per 1 liter of water);
vinegar solution with lemon juice;
potassium permanganate solution;
vinegar 9% in water (1:3), then treat the place with soda and spray with hydrogen peroxide, leave it for a while, dry with a hairdryer.

But it is worthwhile to understand that the smell of urine from upholstered furniture does not go away immediately, sometimes it is necessary to repeat the cleaning procedure several times so that it completely disappears.

Professional dry cleaning

No matter how hard the owners try to clean the sofa from pollution at home, this is not always possible to achieve. In the worst case scenario, the furniture loses its aesthetic appearance. Therefore, if you have a question about how to effectively clean a sofa from stains without streaks, it is better to entrust this task to professionals. Dry cleaners use special chemicals, dry and wet cleaning methods. This not only returns the original look of the sofa, but also increases its lifespan.