The sofa is often used as a place to sit or sleep, and if there are children in the house, sometimes as a play area. With such intensive use, the sofa quickly becomes dirty and over time loses its original appearance. If you take proper care of the sofa, it will remain in almost perfect condition for a long time.

So, in order for your favorite sofa to remain in good condition, and its upholstery to look like new even after a long time, you must adhere to the basic rules for caring upholstered furniture.

Rules for caring for upholstered furniture:

1. Follow the instructions and recommendations for caring for upholstered furniture from the manufacturer.

2. Carry out regular maintenance and clean upholstered furniture from dust using a vacuum cleaner. Don't forget about hard to reach places. Try to lift more often sofa cushions, armrests and mattresses and remove accumulated dust. Using a vacuum cleaner, it is enough to clean the sofa once a week, and it is recommended to thoroughly clean it from dust at least once a month. In the presence of washing vacuum cleaner Regular care of upholstered furniture becomes much easier.

3. Try to remove any local contamination immediately and promptly.

4. Do not experiment with using several types at the same time chemicals and stain removers.

5. If the furniture has removable covers, use the services of companies specializing in sofa dry cleaning to remove dirt.

6. It is recommended to periodically wipe decorative parts of upholstered furniture made of wood with a dry, soft, clean sponge.

Most suitable conditions for the operation of upholstered furniture is the appropriate temperature - from 15 to 28 degrees, as well as relative air humidity, ideally ranging from 30 to 80 percent. To save original color upholstery, place furniture at a distance of at least 25-30 cm from radiators, radiators and other heating devices.

It is very useful to steam a sofa using a steam generator to destroy germs to prevent allergies to dust and sofa ticks. However, before steaming, make sure that there are no food stains or other organic or chemical pollution. Because hot treatment can fix stains on the sofa upholstery forever.

It is worth remembering that in addition to regular cleaning from dust and stains, furniture also needs spring cleaning. After several years of use, it is necessary to correct the upholstery and pillow fillings, as well as repair small or large defects.

Regular proper care of upholstered furniture is the key to its durability. By following these simple rules for caring for your sofa, you will significantly extend its life.

Prepared by Maryana Chornovil

"Prevention - best treatment"is a universal principle that works in any situation. To new sofa preserved its original appearance for as long as possible; its upholstery must be properly cared for.

All care activities can be divided into two groups:

Preventative care . These are weekly measures that must be taken to maintain the appearance of the sofa or chair. The simplest and affordable way- dry cleaning with a vacuum cleaner or soft brush. We recommend wet cleaning once a month - most modern fabrics are moisture-friendly. Go over the surface with a damp sponge (use a cleaner if necessary) and then thoroughly vacuum all elements.

Wet cleaning is contraindicated for mixed fabrics containing viscose. Over time, its fibers lose the ability to fully recover after drying.

Removing local stains. The result of this activity depends primarily on how soon after the substance hits the surface you begin to remove it. All stains can be divided into three categories: fatty, liquid and mixed. Liquid ones are easily removed with a wet sponge and soap solution. Grease and mixed - using special chemical cleaners and stain removers.

Basic Rules

• Regardless of the type of fabric, we do not recommend using aggressive cleaning agents. IN " people's councils» You can often find the use of alcohols, acids, solvents, and gasoline. Our practice shows that it is better to leave these liquids for other household purposes.
• If a stain appears, blot it as quickly as possible with dry wipes or any fabric that absorbs liquid well.
• There is no need to rub the area with the stain - this will “drive” the stain even deeper.
• The stain should be removed using light circular movements from the edge of the stain to the center.
• Do not use several chemical products (even professional ones) at the same time. Wait completely dry the first and, if it does not bring the desired result, start applying the second.
• Woven upholstery should dry naturally after cleaning. Do not use hot air from a hair dryer or place a heater closer.
• There are special protective sprays designed to make upholstery care and dirt removal easier. The essence of their work is this - a special substance “impregnates” the fabric fibers, due to which they begin to repel dust and moisture. When spilling coffee or juice, know - protective covering won't save you.

Individual characteristics of fabrics

Velours. The velor pile can be easily cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. To remove stains, you must use water-based products. We do not recommend washing removable velor covers - dry dry cleaning is preferable.

Chenille. Most stains can be easily removed from the shell surface using regular aqueous solution. Wet cleaning is recommended (with a soft brush or just a sponge).

Flock. Specific material with very good performance characteristics. Flock is contraindicated in products based on alcohol and solvents. Exclusively water base and gentle composition. We recommend vacuuming the surface weekly - this will keep the fabric shiny and literally shining.

Upholstered furniture with flock upholstery should not be placed close to heating devices and also in direct sunlight!

Jacquard. Does not tolerate water well, so we recommend dry cleaning. If you cannot do without water, make sure that it is not too hot - use close to room temperature.

Scotchgard. An unpretentious material from which removable covers for sofas and armchairs are usually made. Scotchgard can be washed by hand or in a machine at temperatures up to 40 degrees, and also ironed. But at the same time, you cannot wring it out and dry it in an automatic dryer.

Microfiber. To maintain a beautiful appearance, weekly cleaning of the pile with a soft brush or vacuum cleaner is required. We recommend periodically treating the fabric with water or a mild soap solution.

Gozhka. Clean with a vacuum cleaner or brush, stains are removed with water. Do not wash the matting or use solvents or bleaches on it.

Before you “test” any product on your sofa, do a small test on an “invisible” surface, for example, under the seat. New and beautiful sofas to everyone!

Creates style, coziness and comfort of a home environment. It's no secret that quality furniture It is not cheap and is often purchased for many years. Therefore, in order for the furniture to last as long as possible, and to please the neat appearance, furniture requires regular care. And the furniture is from different materials And different colors requires an individual approach.

How to care for leather furniture

Leather sofas, corners and armchairs captivate with their chic appearance and add solid respectability to the interior. Furniture made from genuine leather and its substitutes is purchased mainly for living rooms, offices and office premises. If you have animals in your home, but you dream of leather furniture, you should think carefully. Mechanical damage to leather furniture from the claws and teeth of animals cannot be corrected or disguised.

Also, leather furniture is not very good convenient option as everyday upholstered furniture. In winter it is cold and uncomfortable, in summer it is hot, and the wet body sticks to the surface.

Leather is a rather capricious material, so caring for it consists of prevention, protection and cleaning.

1) The skin does not like temperature changes, so place it away from batteries and direct sunlight.

2) Take care leather furniture from contact with liquids. Spilled tea, coffee and even plain water spoil the structure of the skin, disrupting its original balance. And stains from food, grease and colored liquids will be difficult to remove later. Try not to sit on leather furniture after cosmetic procedures, with a wet body after applying creams.

3) Use regularly protective equipment, keeping the material soft and elastic. Lack of nutrition can lead to dryness and cracking. Such products based on oils and wax create a protective water-repellent film.

Stains and accidentally spilled liquids are easily removed from leather treated in this way. Prophylactic drugs are purchased in special departments household chemicals furniture care. Products for the care of leather shoes or the leather interior of a car are also suitable.

You can also prepare your own care mixtures for leather products at home.

Recipe for a mixture for caring for leather furniture:

2 parts olive (linseed) oil (will nourish and refresh furniture);

1 part vinegar (will help remove dirt);

A few drops essential oil citrus fruits of your choice (lemon, orange, grapefruit) to give the furniture a pleasant aroma.

Proportions are taken depending on the area of ​​the furniture being processed.

Mix the ingredients well, moisten a towel or napkin with the mixture. Wipe the dust-free furniture with a soaked cloth and leave for 30 minutes. After time, wipe with a dry towel.

By the way, this recipe is good for caring for wooden furniture. For convenience, the mixture can be placed in a spray bottle and shaken before spraying.

Leather furniture will thank you if you periodically wipe it with milk, low-fat cream, an aqueous solution of glycerin (1:1), and beaten egg white. Before refreshing procedures, it is advisable to clean the furniture from dust with a damp cloth or vacuum cleaner. These simple home remedies maintain skin elasticity and give it a well-groomed glow.

Advice: If you decide to check the action folk recipe When caring for furniture, it is better to do this first on a small surface of the material in an inconspicuous place to check the effectiveness of the product.

How to care for upholstered furniture

Upholstered furniture made of fabric is comfortable and easy to clean. In the manufacture of such furniture, special upholstery fabrics: flock, velor, tapestry and others.

If you have pets, choose flock upholstery– the claw marks are almost invisible on it.

When purchasing upholstered furniture with fabric upholstery, remember that On fabrics with patterns and color combinations, defects are less visible than on plain furniture.

Fabric furniture must be vacuumed during cleaning using a special nozzle. Cleans furniture well from dust old proven method. Cover the furniture with an old sheet soaked in water and wrung out and tap the wet fabric with a carpet beater. It’s a good idea to repeat the procedure several times, washing the sheet until it becomes clean after knocking it out.

Dirt and stains should be removed immediately using fresh upholstery care products. They can be used to remove stains or refresh general form furniture. To do this, the stain remover is sprayed onto the furniture and wiped first with a damp cloth, and then with a dry cloth.

Remove chewing gum from furniture You can use an iron. Place a cloth napkin on the gum and iron it with an iron. The gum will heat up and stick to the napkin.

How to care for wooden furniture

Wooden furniture has long been famous for its strength, reliability, and now environmental friendliness. Proper care is able to keep furniture well-groomed and strong for many years.

Caring for wooden furniture is easy. It is important to remember that the tree dries out from direct sunlight, elevated temperature air, and from the abundance of moisture it swells.

If you don't mind the prospect of spending most of your free time with a rag in your hands, rubbing gloss, then this section is for you.

When caring for glossy furniture, you absolutely must not:

• Use abrasive products, hard brushes and sponges. Gloss care materials should be as gentle as possible. Otherwise, scuffs and scratches will hopelessly ruin your elegant furniture.
• Use a large number of water for washing furniture. Excessive moisture can cause the film, which is sometimes used in the furniture industry for a glossy effect, to peel off.

To care for shiny furniture, you should have on hand:

• Microfiber cloths or soft flannel cloths.
• Wet wipes (without alcohol) quickly and easily remove stains. Moreover, both special wipes are effective for polishing furniture and for polishing car bodies.
• Glass and mirror care products and sprays do not leave streaks and do an excellent job of removing dirt.
• Household chemicals for washing dishes, hands and hair. The foamed product is applied to the glossy surface, then quickly removed with a damp cloth and wiped dry with a napkin.

How to care for polished furniture

Polished furniture, just like glossy furniture, is difficult to maintain. It shows all the defects - dirt and the slightest damage. For caring for polished wood, the tips from the section on glossy surfaces: careful handling, minimal use of moisture, and exclusion of abrasive materials and products. Take care of such furniture using a special polishing agent. pay attention to products with antistatic agents in the form of the same polishes, wipes and sprays with anti-dust effect. After this treatment, dust will settle on the furniture less often.

Cool tea leaves have worked well for cleaning dark polished wood. Wipe the furniture with a cloth soaked in tea and remove moisture stains.

As can be seen from the presented review, caring for furniture made from different materials requires special knowledge and skills. However, the cleanliness and comfort of your home will be a reward for your efforts and will keep your furniture beautiful and attractive for a long time.

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Tanya

Several different personalities coexist in it at the same time. He flutters around in pink scarves and stockings, but loves black humor, rock music, arthouse and unusual people. Likes to quote Cheshire cat. IN free time splashes in the pool, reads classics and science fiction. I recently discovered my interest in copywriting, and hopes that it will be mutual. He believes that this is real creative cuisine. And my favorite topics for articles are clothing, various accessories, cosmetics and gift topics.

• Nadezhda 09/01/2016

  Very useful article I especially liked the recipe for cleaning furniture made from white clay and vinegar. My child is allergic to all kinds of cleaning products, so I will try proven and effective methods.

  Answer

• Alexander 09/02/2016

  If there are animals at home, then you can forget about leather furniture. Unless you have to buy the so-called. “liquid” leather to somehow hide the scratch marks. And it seems to me that vinegar is not suitable for such material.

  Answer

  • Tanya 09/03/2016

    Answer Alexander:

    In the presented recipe, vinegar is in the minority. Personally, I prefer not to reinvent the wheel, but to use special products from the store. However, I know many who are wary of them and prefer to prepare substitutes for household chemicals with their own hands.

    Answer

    • Ivan 09/05/2016

      Tanya's answer:

      For glossy furniture it is better to use special napkins, but folk remedies more suitable for leather furniture. At least nothing happened to my couch when I used the oil and vinegar mixture.

Upholstered furniture is present in every interior. Such items are quite expensive and are not purchased with the intention of throwing them away after a couple of years. However, improper use and careless handling of such things can lead to a quick loss of their presentable appearance. It is necessary to take care of sofas and armchairs, regularly clean them of dust and dirt; sometimes even dry cleaning of the furniture is required to remove stubborn stains.

• In addition to proper care of upholstered furniture, it is necessary to adhere to the recommendations for its location and use.
• It is not recommended to place sofas in an environment that is too cold. Temperatures below 2°C will damage the material.
• High humidity (over 70%) also destroys upholstery fabric.
• Do not place furniture closer than a meter to a heat source.
• Try to place the sofa so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.
• Do not place furniture in a room with an uneven floor. This factor aggravates the looseness of mechanisms and fastening systems.
• Do not jump on furniture, do not stand on it, do not swing it.
• From time to time, check the serviceability of all mechanisms and fasteners.
• Do not drag furniture across the floor when moving it. The product must be lifted from below, having previously freed it from the load.
• Clean your furniture regularly.

Sofas can be cleaned of dust by covering them with a damp cloth and tapping them. So, the dust will not rise up, but will remain on the scarf. The fabric itself must be changed until it becomes clean after the next knocking out.

Caring for upholstered furniture

Furniture showrooms offer quite big choice sofas and armchairs. You can choose not only interesting design, colors, but also choose the desired material. Depending on this, the care of the product and methods for removing contaminants will be determined. If you don’t know how to clean a sofa, don’t be lazy to check the information in the salon or on the Internet. Proper care will extend the life of the product.

To make cleaning upholstered furniture easier, it is recommended to use special covers. As a rule, they are sewn from a material that is easy to clean and is not afraid of machine washing. It can be scotchgard, thermal jacquard or tapestry. In addition, these fabrics can be dry cleaned.

One of the most finicky fabrics is velvet. He is afraid of a vacuum cleaner, brushes, and aggressive detergents. This also includes plush fabrics. To care for such a chair, it will be enough to use a soft cloth. Stains from velvet are removed using a cotton swab dipped in gasoline. After complete drying, part of the product is treated with ammonia.

Flock, like chenille, can be wiped with alcohol-free detergent. It is recommended to vacuum it regularly.

Velor and boucle wash warm water with sparing detergents. They can even be washed at temperatures no higher than 30°C. However, it is better not to wring or iron these materials.

Scotchgard has the same preferences. In addition, it is sensitive to bleaches and aggressive substances such as acetone.

Jacquard does not tolerate well high temperatures. However, it takes a soft brush well and warm water.

The tapestry “shrinks” during washing. Try to prevent moisture from coming into contact with this surface. This sofa can be dry cleaned.

Furniture matting should only be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or soap solution.

• Don't rub stains. This will only make the situation worse.
• Use absorbent sponges.
• Avoid harsh products.
• Remove the stain starting from the center.
• The washed stain should dry on its own.
• Do not use multiple stain removers at the same time.

You can get rid of animal hair quite easily. To do this, it is recommended to take a roller and wrap it around regular tape, sticky side out. Swipe across the sofa. When it sticks to the roller maximum amount wool, change the strip of tape.

Leather furniture

Furniture made from genuine leather requires special care. This material is both capricious and practical.

The skin is afraid of high humidity and direct rays of sunlight or artificial light.

This material may crack if the special impregnation dries out. Therefore, once every six months the sofa needs to be treated with a sponge impregnated with stearine.

Clean the sofa with a regular microfiber cloth using warm water and soap.

Fresh coffee grounds can help bring back the shine to dark skin.

Do not place leather clothing on a product made of the same material. A dark stain may form that cannot be removed.

How to remove stains from skin:

Drink stains can be easily removed with alcohol.

Greasy marks are almost impossible to remove. This will require dry cleaning of upholstered furniture. However, you can try using ammonia and baking soda solution. Rub soda and water into the sofa and immediately wipe it off with a clean rag. After this, a mixture of ammonia, water and soap shavings in equal proportions is applied to the contaminated area. The remains are washed off. Please note that ammonia has a bleaching effect.

Old stains can be removed by mixing 1 tsp. soap, ammonia and 0.5 tbsp formaldehyde. The solution is washed off a couple of hours after application.

Leatherette sofas

Leatherette is more practical than leather. However, he is also afraid of heat and direct light.

To restore the shine of artificial leather, use silicone.

Furniture with natural wood inserts

Furniture often includes armrests made of natural materials. When caring for your upholstery, you shouldn’t forget about these details. Experts give the following care recommendations:

1. Use only a dry, soft cloth.
2. Do not place dishes on the armrests or use special stands.
3. Avoid getting moisture on the wood. This may cause it to swell.
4. Furniture polishing is carried out using special aerosols.

Wooden furniture care products can be of several types:

• the first are intended for any type of wood;
• the latter protect polished surfaces and give them additional shine.

Natural wood

Humidity, high and low temperatures- these are the main enemies of natural wood. Be sure to use special stands when placing hot dishes: this way you will avoid difficult to remove marks. Wipe the furniture with a dry soft cloth, and if it is heavily soiled, use special means for wood. You can also clean wood using a solution of olive oil(1 tbsp) and lemon juice(2 tbsp.) Dampen a soft cloth with this solution and wipe with it. wooden furniture. The acid will remove dirt from wooden surfaces, and the oil will prevent them from drying out. After wooden surfaces dry, treat them with special polishes, lemon or linseed oil.

Chipboard or MDF

The density and moisture resistance of compressed laminated wood makes it simple and unpretentious to clean. Furniture made from this material can be wiped with a damp (not wet) cloth and treated with cleaning agents that do not contain chlorine. The only exception is MDF with a glossy surface, which is strictly not recommended to be treated with brushes and powders and for which only a soap-based product and polish are suitable for cleaning. It is not advisable to place such pieces of furniture in direct sunlight or near heating devices, otherwise it may crack and quickly fail.

Polished or varnished chipboard surface

The most important thing in caring for this type of surface is not even the regularity and care of treatment, but keeping the furniture away from sources of moisture and heating devices: It is harmed by dampness, excessive dryness, dust, heat from radiators and sunlight. Due to these unfavorable factors, cloudy spots and cracks may appear on the beautiful surface, it may burn out and warp.

On the shiny surface of such furniture, both dust and finger stains are immediately visible, so you need to take care of it often: you can purchase napkins with lint and special impregnation that perfectly remove dust and prevent its accumulation.

Rattan

Rattan furniture is most often furnished country houses or terraces. Despite its lightness, this type of material is one of the most durable and easy to clean: wipe the furniture soft cloth, soaked in a soapy solution, clean the weaving with a brush, then dry (this can be done with a hair dryer). To simplify future maintenance, coat the rattan with wood varnish. To remove stains, apply more water and dishwashing detergents.

Eco leather

Caring for furniture with artificial leather upholstery is not difficult: a soft cloth, acid- and chlorine-free cleaning products, treatment with water-repellent impregnations - these are, perhaps, all the secrets of cleanliness for this popular type of material. To remove old stains, use vodka (wipe the stains with a rag soaked in alcohol), then remove any remaining moisture with a rag soaked in water, and then wipe the upholstery dry.

Glass

Wipe stains and stains with a rag soaked in a cleaning solution, let the stain soak, then wash the countertop with warm soapy water and rinse clean water and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Use special glass cleaners to help avoid streaks. Tabletops and glass facades should not be cleaned with metallized sponges or cleaned with powders containing abrasive particles: this will make the glass cloudy, and it will be problematic to restore its shine.