How to clean a fabric sofa
If you’re looking for something comfortable and contemporary for your café or restaurant seating area, you can’t go wrong with a fabric sofa. Whilst they may look comfy, they aren’t so durable in comparison to leather sofas. However, with the right approach and level of care, fabric upholstery can be kept in top condition as long as any other material.
We’ve put together some Trent top tips to help you keep your sofa excellent condition.
Vacuum your sofa to draw out all the loose dust and dirt from both under and above the surface. Use a soft brush to avoid marking or scratching your sofa material- important for delicate fabrics like velvet.
When you’re giving your sofa a quick clean, you should take care of any grime or light marks with a damp cloth. Once or twice every month, you should use a fabric-friendly cleaning product to perform a much deeper cleanse —apply some with a small amount of water (without soaking the material) and leave it to work.
Leave your sofa to dry naturally before sitting on it again. This will prevent creases forming. In the warmer months, open your windows and doors to improve air flow and speed up the drying process.
Removing stains from upholstery
All furniture is prone to wear and tear, and no matter how diligent you are, spills and stains are likely to occur, especially in a busy, commercial setting. The good news is that most stains can be treated without too much effort and without risks to the furniture, and we’ve put together a short guide to show you how.
Creating your own cleaning product can help you save more money than hiring a professional to do the job.
Combine one cup of biodegradable soap with one cup of warm water and shake the mixture until it forms a viscous foam.
Apply the foam to the furniture until the dirt is removed. Do not let the fabric get too wet. To do this, use a soft bristle brush as it helps clean the furniture without soaking it. To remove the excess moisture, use a dry cloth and let the furniture dry.
Another great solution to remove spots or stains is to use club soda and hydrogen peroxide. Be careful in using this solution, not all fabric reacts well to it. Test a sample fabric first and see the results.
While it may be tempting to use the same cleaner for a multitude of furniture in your café, bar, or restaurant, it's important to understand that not all disinfectants and cleaning products are created equal. In fact, one cleaning product for a specific piece of furniture can act as a finish stripper on another. Avoid damaging the look of your furniture by following our tips below.
Deep cleaning fabric furniture
Until a spillage occurs or a stain mysteriously appears, it can be easy to forget about deep cleaning your upholstery, especially if you run a bustling café or restaurant. Given how often these items of furniture are used, and how much hidden dirt and dust builds up on them, it’s important to freshen them up every now and then.
White vinegar is a great natural stain remover for most types of fabric furniture.
- Start by blotting the stain with equal parts water and vinegar, mixed together.
- Using a clean microfibre cloth, start blotting and gently wiping the stain.
- Follow up with a mixture of mild detergent and tepid water to remove any lingering vinegar smell.
- Leave to dry naturally. For the best results, always tackle the stain as soon as possible.
Trent top tip:
To keep your fabric furnishing items smelling as good as they look, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda all over the surface and the leave it over night to let the powder absorb the smells. Remember to vacuum it all off in the morning.
Cleaning wooden furniture
There might be times when your wood furniture needs a deep clean. Prior to cleaning, it is important to make sure the surface can withstand any soaps or cleaners you use. If the surface of the wood is significantly damaged — for example, if it has a lot of scratches or water stains — your best bet might be to send it to a professional or a conservator for care and cleaning.
Trent top tip:
Unless your furniture has a protective plastic coating, avoid cleaning with water or commercial cleaning products that are not specifically designed for wood.
Using an oil based commercial wood cleaner will cut through the layers of dirt and wax on the surface of your piece of wooden furniture. Harder stains such as watermarks or alcohol spots can also be cleaned, but will require a stronger solution such as polish.
If wood cleaner alone doesn't bring the furniture back to its original lustre, switch to a solution of warm water and liquid detergent. Apply the mixture with a cloth, taking care not to let the wood get too wet. Rinse the area thoroughly, and dry with a soft, clean cloth to avoid water damage to the wood.
At Trent, we pride ourselves in providing high quality furniture, as well as outstanding customer service. Our friendly team are on hand to answer any furniture related questions you may have - why not give us a call!