How To Clean Fabric Chairs

How To Clean Fabric Chairs
How To Clean Fabric Chairs

How To Clean Fabric Chairs

Our homes are an extension of who we are and what we care about. We spend our time cooking and entertaining, reading and watching TV together in the living room, dining room, and kitchen. We host big parties and sit with our kids for hours to work on homework.

When we want to relax, we head upstairs to the bedroom or the basement for some alone time with a book or movie. There are a lot of steps involved in cleaning upholstered chairs. These listed below are the most important ones, but there are also many other things that people will have to do depending on the type of fabric.

General Cleaning Tips

  • The first thing that people should do is remove any loose dirt or debris from the chair with a vacuum cleaner before washing it. They should then use an upholstery cleaner to eliminate any germs and bacteria on the fabric.
  • They must choose one that is specifically designed for this purpose. This liquid can either be sprayed or applied with a cloth. It can then be removed with a clean damp cloth and then left to dry for some time.
  • When cleaning any fabric chair, make sure you do not leave them sitting for more than three weeks. It would be best to break up the lumps of dirt that the chair has not absorbed.

Cleaning Tools

Cleaning Tools

Before we dive into cleaning fabric chairs, here is a list of things you will need to assemble to carry out the upholstery cleaning:

  • Vacuum cleaner + upholstery attachment(s)
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Liquid laundry detergent
  • Microfiber cloths
  • Hand towel
  • Paper towels
  • Soft-bristled toothbrush (optional)

Assembling these items beforehand will speed up the cleaning process. You can set a place on your patio or front porch for this cleaning.

Tips On Red Wine Stain Removal

Spills happen even if you are careful. One of the most common fabric chair stain problems is red wine. Whether it is on the chair, clothing, carpet, or table cloth, the stain can be harsh. The colour is easily transferred and difficult to remove. However, with a bit of time and effort, you can get that stain out of your favourite chair.

The first crucial step to red wine stain removal is acting quickly. Do not let the stain settle in, as it will be hard to remove it. There are many different ways that one can remove a red wine stain from a fabric chair. Below are guidelines you should follow to remove a red wine stain:

  • Dab and blot the area with the stain using paper towels or clean material. This will soak up the wine. The more it absorbs, the easier it will be to remove the stain.
  • Do not scrub at the beginning. Fight the desire to take a brush and forcefully scrub the stain off. This can make the red wine set in even more.
  • Wet the spot that has the stains as fast as possible to split the wine particles.
  • Do not use a bleaching agent – at least not at the beginning. Bleach is used to remove red wine stains from anything white in colour. However, if the material has another colour, it will discolour it. Try other methods first before trying a bleaching agent.

Tips For Handling Discolouration

When materials get too wet or dry slowly, a brownish stain can occur. To counter this, use a neutral pH-based, quick-drying fabric shampoo. To handle this type of discolouration:

  • First, vacuum the furniture carefully.
  • Read the manufacturer’s directions and mix the cleaning detergent in a bucket of water. You can use a hand-held egg beater or an electric mixer to beat it until it foams. There should be little water at the bottom of the bucket to know when the shampoo is ready to use.
  • Take a clean, white spongy towel and put it into the mixture. Then wring out all the water.
  • Using overlapping strokes, rub the whole material (it could be vertically or horizontally). Ensure that the strokes stay in one course.
  • If the mixture is not enough, keep adding more.
  • Let the mixture soak for five to ten minutes.
  • Take another piece of cloth and dip it in water. Wring out the excess water and use this cloth to remove the foam.
  • Any time you wipe with the clean cloth, give it a rinse before repeating the process. To help the wet place dry quickly, open the windows or use a fan to ensure the air moves. Do not use anything that will apply heat to the part, such as a hairdryer.

Fabric Cleaning Methods

No-Nonsense Pressure Washing

Take a damp cloth and put it over the fabric chair. Use gentle pressure to wash the fabric and then dry. Let your fabric chair air dry in the sun for 20-30 minutes or until completely dry. This will make the fabric lighten in colour. Therefore, invest in some high-quality furniture polish.

Steam Cleaner

Steam cleaners are excellent for cleaning upholstered chairs because the heat and moisture can dissolve dirt and stains better than regular vacuums. The other advantage of using steam cleaners is that they do not leave behind any residue like other cleaning methods, for example, dry-cleaning or wet-cleaning.

Steam cleaners are also considered the safest method to clean upholstered furniture because they won’t leave behind any toxic chemicals.

How To Clean Different Types Of Fabric Chairs

Fabric Chairs

Wooden Upholstered Chairs

There are many ways that wood and upholstery chairs can be cleaned. However, you will first need to deodourise the wooden chairs.

To deodourise the wood, you will need to spray it with an enzyme cleaner. This can be either vinegar or ammonia, depending on the type of wood. Apply a small amount of the cleaner to the seat and let it sit for a while.

Once the stain is completely removed, spray it with a water-based stain remover. Rinse the seat with water, then apply a small amount of distilled water. Allow this to sit for 10 minutes, then wash the stain with a microfiber cloth.

Rubber Chairs

Rubber chairs can be cleaned with water and dish detergent. You will have to apply a small amount of dish detergent to a cloth and wipe the surface of the chair down. Next, you can rinse and then wipe any residual soap off the chair and then leave it to dry.

Leather or Vinyl Chairs

Soak the fabric in a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, scrub with a sponge, rag, or brush. Rinse with water. Let dry completely.

Wool or Cotton Chairs

When it comes to wool furniture, you must remember that it is similar to other yarn apparel. Meaning it may have additional fibres within that will usually pop out. This is not something that should be of concern. It will ease up as soon as you have used your furniture for some time.

If you need to remove the fibres quickly, you can vacuum or use a soft cloth brush. The best way to maintain your wool or cotton chairs is to vacuum frequently. Vacuum your cushions, pillows, and frame of the furniture using an upholstery attachment often. If there is a build-up of dust and dirt, it can destroy the wool after a while.

Do not use a vacuum rotary brush to clean your yarn chairs, which will ruin the material. If your chair has a spill that has dried, such as crumbs or dirt, use a soft brush to clear them. You can vacuum after clearing to get rid of tiny pieces that may have been left. Make sure to remove any wet stains on your wool furniture as fast as you can.

If they dry up, it is not easy to remove them. Read the label on your wool furniture because some fabrics use some light detergent and water to wash the spill. Or else, you can use a mild detergent and water only. Use a circular motion to clean the stain coming from the outer side towards the middle.

Air-dry it. Contact a reliable and qualified furniture cleaner if the spill is big or not attended to immediately and has dried up.

Velvet Chairs

There is a distinct elegance when someone decides to choose velvet chairs. Velvet commands presence, and when it comes to stains, they are much more visible. As soon as the sun shines on a velvet chair, you cannot hide the irritating, allergy-making particles.

You will need a vacuum, absorbent cloth, detergent and water or a fabric cleaner, and a soft brush for cleaning velvet chairs. Follow the steps below to clean the velvet chair.

  1. Vacuum the material. Give your chairs a thorough dusting often. You can also use a soft brush to remove the dirt and sweep it away.
  2. Deal with the stain right away. Blot the area with clean, dry absorbent paper.
  3. Try any cleaning product that you have on hand on a small part to ensure it will not damage the velvet. Dip the cloth in soapy water and wring out, then blot on the stained area. Use a different cloth dipped in plain water to clean the area again, and air dry it.
  4. As soon as the velvet chair is dry, use a smooth and dry brush going the same way as the threads to bring it back to its original glory.

So before setting out to do any upholstery cleaning, remember to:

  • Gather all the items needed for cleaning.
  • Check the fabric type.
  • Remove dirt with a vacuum.
  • Try your DIY solutions before turning to commercial solutions.
  • Use hydrogen peroxide.
  • Use a steamer for deep cleaning.

Cleaning Fabric Chairs With Dry Cleaners

Dry cleaning is an industry. You can contact dry cleaning facilities that handle fabric. When you want to have something cleaned at the dry cleaners, you will first search for dry-cleaning in your area. You can then visit the fabric chair shops that offer dry-cleaning in your area. Once you have found a cleaner, you can contact them.

Most of the places you may visit do not offer all types of fabric cleaning. These shops are only suitable for most materials. If you are looking for a shop that does certain fabrics, you may have to order it specially.

Since dry cleaning is an industry, you might have to get the same person who will work on the process. Dry cleaning needs a certain amount of staff to keep the place clean and adequately treat the garment.

Contacting The Professionals

It is important to check for any special instructions that may be on the labels of the furniture. Ensure to follow these instructions and use the correct products and procedures when cleaning your upholstery. Some upholstery can even be machine washed, so familiarise yourself with the available options when buying fabric chairs.

If you try this and the stubborn stain is still there, it is time to call in the professionals who will come check the fabric and use the appropriate detergents to remove the stain. These professionals have the knowledge and expertise to ensure your furniture always has clean fabric, free from stains.