How to Clean Upholstered Chairs at Home? Easy DIY Steps

Homeowners tend to spend a lot of money on furniture, its cleaning, and maintenance. However, you can save the extra expense of cleaning with DIY.

For cleaning upholstered chairs to make the chair appear clean and smell brand new, you need baking soda, vinegar, and a few drops of natural essential oils. This blog covers the tools and steps to effectively clean upholstered chairs easily.

Know the Fabric Before Cleaning

It's important to be aware of what kind of fabric is shielding the chair.  Manufacturers have provided different codes for the fabric to safely clean it. The following are these codes, which are generally mentioned underneath the chair or cushion tag.

Code W: Fabrics are cleaned with water-based cleaning solutions.

Code S: Dry cleaning and water-free solvent should be used to remove stains and soils from the upholstery. While cleaning an upholstered chair, ensure to stay in a well-ventilated area. Avoid open flames such as fireplaces or candles during cleaning.

Code W-S: Fabrics with a code W-S can be cleaned with both water and solvent-based solutions.

Code X: Hire a professional to clean the fabric with Code X. Otherwise, clean it by vacuuming.

Avoid home cleaning products as they can lead to shrinking and staining of the fabric.

How to Clean an Upholstered Chair?

Here are the tools and steps to clean an upholstered chair safely:

Tools

Now that you know what kind of solution is best suited for the upholstered chair, let's look into the tools that are required to clean it.

• Vacuum with a hose and an attached upholstery brush

• Microfiber cloths

• Medium bowls

• Electric mixer or whisk

• Sponge

• Soft-bristled brush

• Plastic buckets

Steps:-

Step #1: Vacuum

Vacuuming is one of the easiest and simplest ways to clean the upholstered chair. Clean it weekly or whenever you clean the floor to avoid getting dust from the carpet onto the couch.

1. Dust off the cushions outside the house.

2. Larger areas, like the back and the seat of the chair, can be easily vacuumed by the upholstery cleaning attachment tool.

3. Use a smaller attachment to clean the narrow and tiny space between the corners.

4. In case it's tough to reach these corners, use a soft brush to easily sweep the dust and vacuum it again.

Step #2: Treating Stains

1. In a medium bowl, take one-fourth of the normal dishwashing detergent or washing-up liquid and mix it well with warm water.

2. Try using an electric mixer or whisk to form some bubbles.

3. Take a sponge (or soft bristle scrubbing brush for cleaning heavily soiled areas), then damp it into the bubbles(not the water). Afterwards, gently scrub the stains areas.

4. Rinse the sponge after every use in a separate bowl of water to get rid of dirt. Squeeze the sponge well to maintain the dampness and not allow the solution to drip.

If the upholstery needs a dry cleaning solvent (code S), then use it according to the instructions mentioned above or consult a professional upholstery cleaner for the dry cleaning.

Step #3: Regular Cleaning

If the code is W or W-S, then make a mild solution of dishwashing liquid and water for regular cleaning or chair upholstery.

1. To make this simple solution, mix one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in a gallon of warm water.

2. Dip a sponge or microfiber towel in it. Then, squeeze out excessive water so it does not drip and stays damp.

3. Begin from the top of the chair and slowly go all the way down to the fabric surface. Ensure to work in small segments for easy and quick cleaning.

4. Make sure the solution does not oversaturate the metal and wooden parts of the chair.

Step #4: Rinsing

1. You cannot simply clean your upholstered furniture with the dishwashing solution and leave it. The dishwashing solution stays on the fabric and can catch dust and soil easily.

2. Wipe the area with clean water using a sponge or microfiber cloth to remove the remnants of the cleaning solution.

Step #5: Drying

1. Take a clean cloth and dab it on the areas you cleaned to absorb any excess solution left on the fabric.

2. Place the chair in a well-ventilated area to air dry. To dry the chair quickly, you can use a circulating fan. However, avoid objects of direct contact with heat, such as hairdryers. Also, never leave it in direct sunlight as it can lead to discoloration.

Conclusion

Upholstery cleaning is necessary to keep your upholstered chair clean and attractive. With little effort and an understanding of what the upholstered fabric demands, you can save money. Then, identify the fabric through codes and keep it clean with precautions. If there's any confusion, consult a professional agent.