How did your furniture fare during your Thanksgiving get-together?
If your sofa saw more stuffing stains than your tablecloth, then you are likely in need of some serious cleaning solutions. Fortunately, there are a number of reputable commercial cleaning products on the market today that allow furniture owners to tackle stain-busting on their own without having to call in the experts.
However, before taking on the task, you will need to locate the cleaning instructions on your particular piece of furniture. The manufacturer lists cleaning suggestions and warns against the use of certain products on cleaning tags that are attached to the bottom or sides of large furniture pieces. Read the tag on your sofa or chair and make sure you know what kind of material you are working with.
If your upholstery is made of delicate fabrics, such as silk or silk blend, then you may have to consult a cleaning professional to treat your furniture. Likewise, wool, linen, rayon, and Haitian cotton can shrink or be discolored by water, so you may not want to treat these types of fabric without first consulting a cleaning expert.
Water is a huge factor to consider when tackling tough furniture stains. One of the biggest mistakes people make when cleaning their upholstery is using too much water. To avoid this, simply fill a spray bottle that has a mist setting with water and use it to dampen the stained area.
Next, select a commercial cleaner that will work best for your upholstery. Some top picks include:
Bissell Oxy Deep Pod Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner: The convenient all-in-one tool is safe to use on most upholstery. The hand-sized pod is filled with powerful oxygen-activated cleaning formula that helps remove set-in stains. The pod features a fabric-safe brush and gentle cleaning pad, which can be used gently lift food and other protein-based stains.
Bissell Upholstery Shampoo with Scrub Brush: This Bissell product also comes with a built-in scrub brush located on the top of the can. The shampoo safely lifts spots and stains and protects against re-soiling. Plus, it leaves behind a light fresh scent.
Woolite Foaming Fabric & Upholstery Cleaner: This is my go-to cleaner. I’ve used it on everything from beer stains to beef stew spots. The aerosol can contains foam cleaner with fabric freshener. According to the back of the cleaner, the product contains technology, which eliminates the toughest odors by “helping to prevent the release of malodor molecules into the air.” Basically, if safely cleans your upholstery and doesn’t leave behind sticky residue.