How to clean the sofa from dirt without streaks at home?

A room with stale, dirty furniture looks untidy, especially when it comes to a sofa that occupies one of the central places. And if dirt appears on the upholstery, it is necessary to get rid of them as soon as possible and restore order. It is quite possible to cope with this on your own using folk methods or household chemicals.

The method of cleaning the sofa depends on the type of sofa cover. If this rule is not followed, not only the appearance of the upholstery may suffer, but also its service life will be reduced.

• Leather. At first glance, it seems that taking care of such a sofa is as easy as shelling pears - just wipe it with soapy water. However, you should be careful to remove complex stains from the skin, since any alcohol-containing products are prohibited. In some cases, petroleum jelly, vegetable oil, or special skin cleansers can help.

• Leatherette, arpatek, eco-leather. Under no circumstances should such a surface be heated or sprayed with steam. Use only soap, in extreme cases - a weak solution of vinegar, lemon juice or nail polish remover without acetone. This is where soft brushes, rags, and in some cases an eraser come in handy.

• Jacquard. Do not use alcohol-based products, acid-containing products and bleaches. The coating is very moody and may shrink after drying.

• Tapestry. Natural material that requires careful handling, as in the previous case. It is better to use a store-bought product, in case of difficult stains - try vodka or ammonia solution.

• Chenille. Only dry cleaning is applicable to such a sofa.Water ingress or cleaning with a damp cloth may leave streaks.

• Fleecy fabrics such as velor, flock should not be rubbed, scrape or vacuum with a rigid nozzle. In order not to damage the pile, light troubles are removed through a light damp cloth using a gel or shampoo for delicate fabrics. In this case, it is better to move in the direction of the fibers, subsequently dry this place well and raise the pile.

• Scotchguard. Coating with dirt-repellent properties. It is enough to wipe it with a wet sponge or napkins.

• Microfiber (microfiber, eurofloc). Less dirty due to its fiber structure, wear-resistant - it can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, brushes, steam cleaner on a delicate mode. For local cleaning, it is allowed to use any means, including alcohol-containing ones.

• Matting. The material is quite unpretentious - it can be washed and cleaned with any available solution or powder.

The most difficult thing to deal with is not general dirt, but individual stains. However, there are also some nuances here. If the stain is fresh and the origin is known, it will be much easier to remove. Otherwise, you will have to make an effort and try several ways.

When you start washing your sofa, start with the simplest things - wet wipes, water or soap. If the stain persists, you can turn to the store's arsenal.

According to customer reviews, several drugs are the most effective among them.

• Pro-Brite Lenot - a cleaner that can even deal with stubborn stains.
• Grass Universal cleaner - a universal spray suitable for cleaning textile surfaces.
• Bagi "Shtihonit" - spray with high efficiency, but on delicate surfaces should be used with caution.
• Iviclean Protect - is able to clean furniture from stains of coffee, tea, felt-tip pens. Eliminates unpleasant odors, preserves the texture and color of the fabric.
• PiP for interior - a concentrate with a natural composition that will gently clean sofas and armchairs from any stains.
• Nordland for carpets and upholstered furniture - foam for removing any, even difficult stains, easy to use.
• Vanish - shampoo for carpets and upholstery. It refreshes and cleans well, removes even protein and greasy dirt.
• Tuba Emsal - foam for dry cleaning of upholstered furniture. Acts delicately, efficiently and does not leave streaks.

It takes time and money to find and buy special tools, so it is better to leave them as a last resort. If the stain appears suddenly, you need to act quickly and use whatever remedies are at hand.

• Greasy stains you need to sprinkle with salt, starch or gently blot with paper towels. It is not necessary to press hard so that the fat does not go deeper. Then you can apply dishwashing detergent or laundry soap gruel to this place.
• Wine is quickly absorbed, so you need to act decisively. Can be cleaned with any alcohol-containing product - for example, vodka. Light coat can be cleaned well with hydrogen peroxide or citric acid. On dried wine stains, you can apply a little glycerin and after 15 minutes apply any of the above methods.
• Traces of tea or coffee can be easily wiped off with regular laundry soap or baking soda solution.
• Blood stains can be washed with soap and very cold water.
• On fruit, berry or juice stains you can apply a slurry of soda and vinegar. The remaining traces should be wiped with ammonia or medical alcohol until they disappear completely.
• Ink, paints better removed with acetone-free nail polish remover or alcohol.Provided that the area is large, they can be sprayed from a spray bottle and rubbed with a cloth.

Cleaning the upholstery of a sofa involves several steps.

• First, the sofa must be cleaned of dust, crumbs, hair, wool and other debris. Most fabrics can be vacuum cleaned and need to go through all hard-to-reach areas, including the seams between the sides, seat and back. In addition to a vacuum cleaner, you can use a slightly damp cloth, which is spread on the surface of the sofa, patted, removed and rinsed from adhering dust. The tissue procedure can be repeated several times.
• After preliminary cleaning, all local contamination and their boundaries become more visible. Therefore, it's time to start eliminating them.
• Then you need to put in order metal or wooden parts, if any. The sofa must be cleaned from all sides.
• In order to avoid streaks, the residues of cleaning agents should be removed well, the foam should be evenly dried.

If there are no stains, but the sofa looks untidy and greasy, you should refresh its upholstery.

• Severely shiny areas can be sprinkled with salt and left for a couple of hours. After the time has elapsed, the grains are removed with a vacuum cleaner.
• Then you should prepare a vinegar solution: 1 tbsp. spoon for 5 liters of water. Moisten a sponge with the resulting liquid and walk over the entire surface of the sofa several times.
• The areas that suffer the most can be separately wiped with a cotton pad moistened with ammonia and water in equal proportions, or, if the fabric permits, rubbed with a brush.

Despite the fact that there are many ways to remove dirt from the sofa, there are general tips that will help in a difficult situation.

• So that cleaning the sofa does not cause trouble, it is better to exclude the possibility of dirt getting on it: designate a place for receiving drinks and food at the table, restrict the access of pets, organize a workplace for children in another room. In extreme cases, use a blanket or cover - they can be washed and dried much faster.
• Light and fresh dirt is easier to remove, so cleaning should be timely. Changing the upholstery of a sofa is more costly than keeping it clean on a regular basis.
• Any remedy must first be tested in order not to make it worse. To do this, you need to select an inconspicuous area (side or back), apply, rinse, wait until it dries completely, and only then evaluate the effectiveness.
• Much depends on the cleaning technique. Stains should not be smeared, so as not to increase the area of ​​contamination. In case of local problems, you need to act very carefully, moving from the edges to the center of the designated area.
• If there are wooden or metal elements on the couch, you need to find a separate product for them.
• The cleaned furniture should dry on its own - in two or three days. To make this happen faster, do not use too much water when cleaning.

A good way to remove stains from a sofa is shown below.