Soft chairs and armchairs are a good solution for a kitchen or dining room. They are comfortable, distinguished by a variety of upholstery, and will be an excellent addition and highlight of the interior. But when cooking and eating food, it is difficult to avoid stains and dirt, and if they are not immediately removed, they will leave unpleasant and unattractive marks. We will tell you how to withdraw them in this article.
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Fundamental rules
There are no exact and effective recommendations for all cases, there are only a few main subtleties that are followed when cleaning and removing stains:
- The right choice of cleaning method. It depends on the type of upholstery fabric – leatherette, cotton, gunny, velveteen, velour, etc.
- The shade of the upholstery, since some products can only be used on light canvases, and some only on dark ones.
- Type of pollution – juices, yogurts, wine, chewing gum, etc. Each of the stains is removed by its own methods.
- You can not combine several cleaning agents at once and try them at the same time. So you can ruin the finish, and not solve the problem.
Ways to clean upholstered chairs and furniture
- Dry cleaning. Only suitable for light dirt and dust, crumbs, and other small household debris. In this case, a vacuum cleaner is used, a non-rigid brush, and sometimes a knife if the upholstery is strong enough. Soft chairs or pillows can be knocked out by first covering them with a damp cloth.
- Wet cleaning. A more complex method, since it involves the use of various cleaning products and water. Not suitable for all types of upholstery – for example, it is not recommended to wet suede or nubuck. Product descriptions usually indicate whether they can be wetted if necessary.
How to remove stains from upholstered chairs
The method of cleaning depends on the nature of the contamination. There are several standard methods that are used more often than others.
Fruits and juices Stains
Vinegar and ammonia are mixed in equal proportions, quickly applied, and erased. Also, soapy water is sometimes used. It is rubbed into the dirt, left for five minutes, and blotted with a clean, damp cloth or rag.
Coffee Tea Stains
It is advisable to wipe them immediately since both drinks have a strong coloring effect and are difficult to remove after drying. If, however, the stains have already appeared and they were not removed in time, then soapy water applied for 10-15 minutes will help. You need to wipe it in one direction, because otherwise, stains may remain.
Wine Stain
As in the previous case, it is better not to leave, but immediately cover with salt. When it is soaked, you can wipe it off with a soft cloth. If the upholstery allows, it is wiped with a mixture of vinegar and ammonia.
Ink Stain
Not every finish can be easily and easily cleaned, since any of the solvents is used to remove such contaminants – acetone, alcohol solution, nail polish remover. You need to moisten a cotton ball or disc in them and wipe the soiled area.
Blood Stain
It is excreted by a mixture of salt with crushed aspirin. They dissolve in warm water and mix thoroughly.
Chocolate, yogurt Stain
The remains of the product are collected with a spoon, the remains are wiped with a soft microfiber cloth. Can be soaked in soapy water.
Urine Stain
Wet marks are removed with dry wipes. To get rid of the smell, you need to dilute 10 drops of iodine per 1 liter of water for dark fabrics, and for light ones – 9% vinegar in three parts of the liquid.
Gum
A frozen product is placed on it and left for a while. Once the gum has hardened, it can be removed with the blunt side of a knife.
How to clean different types of upholstery
Various furniture fabrics are used to decorate upholstered chairs and armchairs, and each of them needs an individual approach. With careful removal of dirt and regular care, they will last much longer, they will delight with the richness of color and pattern.
- Artificial leather. For cleaning, only soft rags and soapy water are used, since coarse brushes and caustic compounds will easily ruin the coating. If the pollution is old and strong, then it can be treated with a mixture of glycerin and ammonia.
- Nubuck, suede. For them, it is advisable to buy special cleaning compounds, for example, foams. They are more gentle to the coating and are easily erased after application, and do not leave marks and streaks.
- Leather. Any stains and puddles are wiped with a dry cloth. Alcohol is allowed.
- Velours. Clean with soft cloths or paper towels soaked in water.
- Vinyl. Since it is a durable material, it is easy to clean with common cleaning products, such as for dishes.
- Tapestry. It is very whimsical in service, it is undesirable to wet or wash it.
To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is better to check any of the funds in an inconspicuous and hidden place. This is especially true for old and complex stains. They’re already dry, so time isn’t a big deal, and a little check will help you avoid bigger mistakes and waste.
Also, if you are not confident in your abilities or the pieces of furniture are custom-made with a rare finish, then it is better to call specialists.
How to get rid of bad smell
There are always a lot of aromas in the kitchen and not all of them are pleasant, but they are very easily absorbed into the upholstery of upholstered chairs and armchairs. You can bring them out in several ways:
- You can cover the seat with salt and leave it like that for 8 or more hours. Collect the rest with a vacuum cleaner.
- A cloth soaked in an alcohol solution, which covers furniture, is also suitable. It is beaten out and vacuumed.
- A mixture of soap, vinegar, and citric acid is also sometimes used. Take 1 tablespoon of each substance, add to a small amount of water and beat until foamy. The latter is distributed over the upholstery and allowed to dry. Then brush off with a stiff brush.
In order for the furniture to smell pleasant and last as long as possible, you need to take care of it. It will be enough to regularly ventilate the room and vacuum the products, to prevent the accumulation of dirt and food debris.
Upholstered chairs and armchairs are the decoration of any kitchen and dining room. They are convenient and comfortable for rest and gatherings, they are often part of the interior. But where food is prepared, it is difficult to do without accidental stains. It is undesirable to leave them for a long time and immediately wash them, but if this happens, then there are many effective remedies. Each of them is selected taking into account pollution, type of coating and recommendations from the manufacturer.
