How to Clean a Fabric Lounge at Home: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

The placement of your lounge has been strategically arranged in your house. You are allowed to take time to relax after engaging in work-related activities through the process of seating in comfort while viewing some television shows. Should there be a need to lie down and indulge in your preferred foods on weekends, you could easily use the lounge as it is commonly used.

In the process of cleaning your lounge, the first effect that will result from this action is that it will no longer shine. Secondly, there is a need to clean your lounge because the sofa has an odor, which is caused by dust that gets stuck on it. This implies that dust turns out to be like tiny sandpaper whereby when you sit down on the sofa, friction is created.

It is very common to see many people being frightened to clean their fabric couches because they might be worried that they may get stained by the water or stain their fabric on the couch. But cleaning your couch can actually be quite easy when you know how to do it properly. In this article, we shall cover all the essential details regarding cleaning your fabric.

Equipment Needed Before Getting Started

These are some of the important things which need to be considered before the cleaning process starts. Under these circumstances, time will be saved because there will be no need for the individual to travel looking for tools required to sort out the problem.

• Vacuum cleaner and upholstery attachment: 

            Here, the person requires a vacuum cleaner and an upholstery attachment.

• Microfiber cloths:

 Microfiber cloths should always have a smooth surface for cleaning purposes. One should never use colored towels because the colors of the towels might transfer to the cloth during washing.

• Distilled water:

 Compared to tap water, which consists of various elements like calcium and magnesium, distilled water is much safer since it does not contain any elements and therefore does not stain.

• White vinegar: 

This is a very useful item, which will help you remove stains and odors from your carpet.

• Baking soda:

 This is the best drying substance; it absorbs water and acts as an odor masker.

• Dish soap:

 Normal dish soap without any coloring can be used to get rid of stains from your carpet. The dish soap must not have any color, otherwise, it might create some spots on your carpet.

• Brush:

 A completely clean brush without any bristles.

Step 1: Understanding the Code for Cleaning by the Manufacturer

You should not make any assumptions regarding how you clean your lounges. The code used in cleaning is unique to each lounge, and it is always marked somewhere within the lounge. When you ignore this code, your lounges stand a high chance of being ruined.

Step 2 : The Dry Clean (Vacuuming and Brushing)

Never spray a wet solution directly on a dirty lounge, as the combination of both liquid and dust will just end up creating mud. Scrubbing the mud just forces the dirt deeper into the thick foamy material of the lounge. Thus, dry cleaning is very crucial.

The Dry Brush Method

Using your brush, gently brush the whole surface area of the lounge in sweeping strokes. It is through this action that you loosen dirt, food particles, and other stubborn animal hairs that are stuck within the cloth fibers.

Vacuuming Procedure

First of all, attach the upholstery brush to the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum cleaner needs to be operated slowly on all areas, while special focus should be made on seat pad and arm rest area since dead skin cells accumulate on these parts. Detachable pads of furniture need to be detached first of all. Further cleaning of crevices should be done with plastic crevice tool.

Step 3: Handling Fresh Spots and Spot Cleaning

The best thing to do would be for the individual who spills their food and beverages to attend to the spill immediately because, otherwise, the liquids will continue to seep through the padding that is put underneath the carpet, the longer it takes.

Golden Rule : Do Not Scrub the Spot

In case there is a stain found on the carpet from spilled wine or coffee, the first thing the individual can do is scrub the spot with a wet cloth. However, this is a very poor decision, considering scrubbing would only worsen the situation.

Cleaning Up the Spill

No, just use a clean and dry white paper or microfiber towel. Lay the towel over the spill and press down on it. It is crucial that the dry towel absorbs the liquid.

Lift the towel straight up, turn it over, and put the new side of the towel over the spill. Again, press down on it. Repeat the process until the towel no longer picks up any more liquid. Note that you should always work from the edges to the center.

Specific Stains and How to Treat Them

Not all stains can be blotted out; some stains need chemical processes to be effectively removed from fabrics.

• Grease/Oil Stains (like pizza, butter, lotions): 

Using water on grease stains only makes matters worse. If you spill greasy food, quickly apply a generous layer of baking soda or cornstarch on the stain.

 Let it sit for twenty minutes. The dry powder actually extracts the oil from the fibers of the material. Once it has absorbed the oil, vacuum it. In case a stain persists, gently apply a small amount of clear dish soap with a cloth.

• Red Wine/Berry Stains: 

Begin by blotting out as much liquid as you can. Afterward, make a thick paste using baking soda and water in equal amounts. 

Apply this paste liberally to the stain and leave it until it forms a dry crust. While drying, the paste absorbs the dark pigments of the wine from the material. When dried, the crust should be carefully vacuumed off, followed by a rinse with a wet cloth.

• Blue Ink Pen: 

With the help of a damp cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol, the substance should be applied on the stained area, without putting any pressure on the stained area, since this would make the stain spread. In other words, one needs to be extra cautious while dealing with this stain, since the pressure exerted would spread the stain even further.

• Pet Urine:

 One can't just clean up this stain using cleaners because the pet is bound to return to the same place because of the smell. In this case, one should start off by blotting the stain, then spraying the stained area with vinegar and water. In other words, one should start off by blotting the stain, then spraying the stained area with vinegar and water.

Step 4: Safely Washing of the Cushion Covers Which are Removable

Removable cushion covers make lounges really handy because sometimes they have zipper attachments from where you can remove them for cleaning. But washing them carelessly will ruin them forever.

It's important to identify whether your cushion covers are dry clean only. To start washing them using a washing machine, begin by removing the cushion covers and zipping them tightly together so that the metal teeth cannot cut into the cover when they rub against each other during washing.

In order to wash your cushion covers safely, put them in the washing machine and wash them delicately using cool water. Avoid using detergent with bleach or fabric conditioner as well, because the fabric conditioners form a wax layer on the covers making them dusty and dirty again.

Lounge Cover Dryer Golden Rule: 

Don’t ever put your lounge covers inside a tumble dryer at very high temperatures since this will make them shrink considerably, and you won’t be able to get them back on to the foam. Take out the wet covers from the washer and hang them outside on a clothes line, avoiding direct sunlight. When the covers become about 90% dry but still a little bit moist, put them on top of the foam inserts. They’ll continue to shrink while drying and wrap around the foam perfectly fine.

Step 5: Hand Washing Main Frame of the Lounge

If your lounge's main frame does not have removable cushion covers or is made of leather, then you may try to clean it yourself using the technique described below. Please make sure that your lounge can be cleaned by hand-washing before proceeding to wash it. That means that it must have either “W” or “WS” washing code.

Mix a Homemade Cleaner

Take a little clean spray bottle and put in one cup of warm distilled water, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and one drop of dish liquid. Shake gently to mix and not to create many soapy foam.

Test on a Less Visible Spot First

When using any new cleaner for the first time, never try to spray it directly on the seat area of your lounge chair. 

Spray only a little spot on the back of the lounge near its bottom edge. Then wipe it with the help of white cloth. If your furniture's color transfers onto the cloth, stop right now. If it stays white and nothing changes, then go on.

The Wipe Down

Make sure you do not drench your sofa. Lightly spray your cleaning agent onto a microfiber cloth rather than spraying directly on the furniture. Carefully rub the fabric with smooth and long strokes. The moisture will loosen the thick buildup of sticky dirt, perspiration, and body oil on top of the fabric.

Step 6: Drying the Fabric

The next thing that will come after you have cleaned the lounge is drying because of the presence of moisture in the fabric which results in the growth of fungi and molds which ultimately destroy not only your furniture but also your health while you sit there.

Firstly, it is advised that you should open up all the windows of the lounge in order for there to be fresh air coming in from them. Instead, you can turn on the ceiling light or pedestal fan that blows in the direction of the wet areas.

It should also be kept in mind that you shouldn't use the lounge if it has not been dried since sitting on it will ruin its look.

Step 7: Removing Musty Odors

If the lounges seem clean but there are still unpleasant odors, which do not disappear, then we can be sure that these are musty odors. They might come from various places such as dog odor, rotten food, or even musty sweat. To eliminate musty odor, it should be taken out of upholstery fabric.

You should not try to solve this problem using aerosols because they will only mask the odor by covering it with some other smell and leave some chemical coating on your furniture. Instead, start with cleaning and drying the lounge completely. You should use a large amount of baking soda on your seat, backrest, and armrests.

This dry cleaning product is one of the most effective odor absorbers. It works great at pulling unpleasant smells from fabrics. Once you sprinkle a generous layer of white powder all over your lounges, let it do its job for at least half an hour or even more, if necessary. Vacuum off the powder, and the smell will be gone!

Popular Mistakes That Destroy Your Lounge Furniture

Most individuals destroy their lounge furniture when they are cleaning it. Examples of such mistakes are:

• Pouring in Too Much of Liquids: 

If you pour in a lot of liquid solutions that have been combined with water to the area of your furniture where the stain exists, there is a high chance of your lounge furniture being damaged as the entire solution will absorb through the cloth of the upholstery into the foam inside, hence remaining there for a long time.

 The moisture can stay in there for almost one week, which provides an environment for mold growth and springs to rust. Don’t use wet cloths but only make sure that the cloths are slightly moistened with liquid products.

• Scratching the Cloth of the Furniture: 

The material used in making upholstery for lounges is highly fragile and should not be scratched using a sponge if you are removing the stain as the fibers will easily break down and leave fuzz marks on the material.

• Application of Powerful Chemicals:

 You should not apply powerful chemicals to your lounges such as chlorine. They destroy the color of the furniture.

When To Hire An Professional Cleaner

There will be times when you are able to deal with ordinary dusting, minor accidents, and other such problems in your own home. There will also be certain instances where you simply need to know better than trying to clean your furniture by yourself and contact professionals.

Your lounge is made from fragile materials such as natural silk, crushed velvet, or even 100% pure linen, then water or any type of DIY cleaning procedure could result in permanent watermarking and destruction of the fragile fabric texture. Another indication that professional help should be sought is an "X" label on the manufacturer tag.

Hot water extraction machines that are utilized by professional cleaners involve injecting a very fine spray of cleaner directly into the fibers of your furniture and immediately removing the same amount of dirt and grime that has collected over many years through the use of the same machine.

Keeping Your Fabric Lounge Fresh at Half Price Funiture 

Cleaning your lounge may take some effort on your part, but knowing your cleaning codes, acting swiftly when any spill occurs, and staying away from harsh chemicals ensure that the job becomes an easy task. Ultimately, you should try to create an environment that is healthy and enjoyable for the whole family.

But if your lounge has been ignored for years, and there are stains that just won’t come off despite your efforts to clean, maybe it’s high time you give your living room a facelift. To do so, make sure you check out Half Price Furniture.

As one of the biggest providers of luxury furniture products, we are pleased to present you with some of the best choices when it comes to the Best Fabric Lounges for Sale. Our range is aimed at those homeowners who want to add some elegance to their homes by furnishing them with luxurious products but still do not want to spend much money. The highly durable lounges provided by us will be able to last for a long time thanks to their robust nature, and they are available in various types of premium materials, colors, and designs to suit any of your preferences.

Find out more about our extensive range online now or stop by one of our Sydney branches and discover the best fabric lounges available today!

FAQs

1. Is it possible to clean my lounge using a steam cleaner?

Make use of a steam cleaner if your lounge is marked by W as the steam cleaner releases tremendous amounts of heat making the plastic fibers melt due to high moisture content in them. Should your lounge contain natural fibers, then it will shrink permanently as a consequence of heat.

2. What is the frequency of deep cleaning of my lounge?

It is required to vacuum weekly so that there could be no dust build-up. It is necessary to do deep cleaning once in six months. However, in case you have some pets sitting on the lounge, then you may need to clean it more often.

3. Can baking soda cause white spots on my black lounge?

Do not worry, for it will not happen as long as your lounge is completely dry before using the powder as it will still maintain its adhesive qualities in high moisture and will leave white stains on your lounge.

4. Can it be applied to stain removal with the help of baby wipes?

It is unlikely that any problems would occur during removing of the stains through the use of baby wipes. Nevertheless, one should realize that the presence of oil-based products, such as lotions and other components, in baby wipes can lead to staining of the fabric. One can easily apply some water with detergent to the surface and then use a microfiber towel.

5. How do you remove water stains?

To begin with, one should consider the fact that water stains occur due to water drying that does not take place evenly. Therefore, the first step to take would be the application of distilled water to the entire cushion. Second of all, one will need to dry the cushion thoroughly with a hair dryer at cold air setting.