Rules for the care of upholstered furniture. Furniture Care - How to care for fabric and leather upholstery. General advice on the care of furniture (120 photos). Caring for fabric surfaces

Upholstered furniture is present in every interior. Such items are quite expensive and they are not purchased with the aim of throwing them away after a couple of years. However, improper use, careless attitude to such things can lead to a quick loss of their presentable appearance. It is necessary to take care of sofas and armchairs, regularly clean them from dust and dirt, sometimes even dry cleaning of furniture is required to remove stubborn stains.

  • Apart from proper care upholstered furniture, it is necessary to adhere to the recommendations of its location and use.
  • It is not recommended to place sofas in an environment that is too cold. Temperatures below 2 ° C will ruin the material.
  • High humidity (over 70%) also destroys the fabric of the upholstery.
  • Do not place furniture closer than a meter to a heat source.
  • Try to position the sofa out of direct sunlight.
  • Do not install furniture in rooms with uneven floors. This factor aggravates the looseness of mechanisms and fastening systems.
  • Do not jump on the furniture, do not stand on it, do not swing it.
  • Check the serviceability of all mechanisms and fasteners from time to time.
  • Do not drag furniture across the floor by moving it. The product must be lifted from below, having previously released it from the load.
  • Clean your furniture regularly.

Sofas can be cleaned of dust by covering them with a damp cloth and tapping on them. So, the dust will not rise up, but will remain on the scarf. The fabric itself must be changed until it becomes clean after being knocked out again.

Care of upholstered furniture

The furniture showrooms offer a fairly large selection of sofas and armchairs. You can choose not only interesting design, colors, but also to choose the desired material. Depending on this, the care of the product and methods of removing dirt will be determined. If you do not know how to clean a sofa, do not be lazy to clarify the information in the salon or on the Internet. Proper care will prolong the life of the product.

To make it easier to clean upholstered furniture, it is recommended to use special covers. As a rule, they are sewn from a material that is easy to clean and is not afraid of machine washing. This can be Scotchguard, Thermojackard, or Tapestry. In addition, these fabrics can be dry-cleaned.

One of the most finicky fabrics is velvet. He is afraid of a vacuum cleaner, brushes, aggressive detergents. This also includes plush fabrics. To care for such a chair, it will be enough to use a soft cloth. Remove stains from velvet with a cotton swab dipped in gasoline. After complete drying, part of the product is treated with ammonia.

Flock, like chenille, can be wiped clean with an alcohol-free detergent. It is recommended to vacuum it regularly.

Velor and bouclé are washed with warm water and mild detergents. They can even be washed at temperatures below 30 ° C. However, it is best not to wring or iron these materials.

The Scotchguard has the same preferences. In addition, it is sensitive to bleaching agents and aggressive substances such as acetone.

Jacquard does not tolerate well high temperatures... However, it takes a soft brush and warm water well.

The tapestry "shrinks" during washing. Try to keep moisture away from such a surface. This sofa can be dry cleaned.

Furniture mat should only be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or soapy water.

  • Don't rub stains. This will only make the situation worse.
  • Use absorbent sponges.
  • Avoid aggressive products.
  • Remove the stain starting from the center.
  • The washed-up stain should dry on its own.
  • Do not use several stain removers at the same time.

It is quite easy to get rid of animal hair. To do this, it is recommended to take a roller and wind it around it. regular scotchsticky side out. Swipe across the sofa. When the maximum amount of wool adheres to the roller, change the strip of tape.

Leather furniture

Furniture made of genuine leather requires special care. This material is both capricious and practical.

The skin is afraid of high humidity and direct sunlight or artificial light.

This material can crack if special impregnation dries. Therefore, once every six months, the sofa must be treated with a stearin-impregnated sponge.

The sofa should be cleaned with a regular microfiber cloth using warm water and soap.

Fresh coffee grounds can help restore shine to dark skin.

Do not put leather clothing on top of a product made of the same material. May form dark spotthat cannot be displayed.

How to remove stains from skin:

Drink stains can be easily removed with rubbing alcohol.

It is almost impossible to remove greasy marks. Dry cleaning of upholstered furniture is required here. However, you can try using ammonia and baking soda solution. Soda and water are rubbed into the sofa and immediately wiped off with a clean cloth. After that, a mixture of ammonia, water and soap shavings in equal proportions is applied to the contaminated area. The remains are washed off. Please note that ammonia has a brightening effect.

Old stains can be removed by mixing 1 tsp. soap, ammonia and 0.5 tbsp of formalin. The solution is washed off a couple of hours after application.

Leatherette sofas

Leatherette is more practical than leather. However, he is also afraid of heat and direct light.

To restore the shine of artificial leather, use silicone.

Furniture with natural wood inserts

Often furniture is provided with armrests made of natural materials... When caring for the upholstery, we must not forget about these details. Experts give the following care recommendations:

  1. Use only a dry soft cloth.
  2. Do not place utensils on the armrests or use special supports.
  3. Avoid getting moisture on the wood. From this it can swell.
  4. Furniture polishing is carried out using special aerosols.

Means for the care of wooden furniture can be of several types:

  • the former are intended for all types of wood;
  • the second protects polished surfaces, giving them additional shine.

The sofa is often used as a place to sit or sleep, and if there are children in the house, sometimes as a playground... With such intense use, the sofa quickly becomes dirty and loses its original appearance over time. If the sofa is properly cared for, it will remain in almost perfect condition for a long time.

So, in order for your favorite sofa to remain in good condition, and its upholstery to look like new after a long time, you must adhere to the basic rules for the care of upholstered furniture.

Rules for the care of upholstered furniture:

1. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations for the care of upholstered furniture.

2. Perform regular maintenance and clean upholstered furniture with a vacuum cleaner from dust. Don't forget about hard-to-reach places... Try to lift your cushions, armrests, and mattresses as often as possible, and remove any dust that may collect. Using a vacuum cleaner, it is enough to clean the sofa once a week, and it is recommended to thoroughly clean it from dust at least once a month. With a washing vacuum cleaner, regular maintenance of upholstered furniture becomes much easier.

3. Try to immediately and promptly remove the arisen local contamination.

4. Don't experiment with using multiple views at the same time chemicals and stain removers.

5. If the furniture has removable covers, use the services of companies that specialize in dry cleaning of sofas to remove dirt.

6. It is recommended to periodically wipe decorative parts of upholstered furniture made of wood with a dry, soft, clean sponge.


The most suitable conditions for the operation of upholstered furniture is the appropriate temperature - from 15 to 28 degrees, as well as the relative humidity of the air, ideally between 30 and 80 percent. To preserve the original color of the upholstery, place furniture at least 25-30 cm away from radiators, radiators and other heating appliances.

It is very helpful to steam the sofa with a steam generator to kill germs to prevent allergies to dust and sofa mites. However, before steaming, make sure it is free of food stains or other organic or chemical contaminants. Because heat treatment can permanently fix stain marks on the sofa upholstery.


It is worth remembering that in addition to regular cleaning from dust and stains, furniture also needs a general cleaning. After several years of operation, it is necessary to correct the upholstery and pillow fillers, as well as to repair minor or major flaws.

Regular proper care for upholstered furniture - the guarantee of its durability. By following these simple rules for caring for your sofa, you will significantly extend its life.

Prepared by Mariana Chornovil

Furniture is a significant attribute of comfort in every home. About completeness design solution says not only its very presence, but also the placement, taking into account functionality and certain rules.

Proper care of the furniture will lengthen its service life and provide comfort in the house.

The main rules for placing furniture

Furniture sets are usually chosen with great care and are designed for long-term use. And in order to extend its service life, it is necessary to comply with the basic requirements for placement:

  • Do not install near heating devices;
  • Exclude direct sunlight;
  • Place furniture only in the rooms for which it is intended, that is, take into account the susceptibility to dampness

Maintaining a stable indoor climate will ensure a longer life for all headsets. This function can be easily handled by indoor plants or special devices, which regulate the state of the microclimate in the apartment.

Furniture care

Furniture care begins from the moment it is assembled. If you assemble it strictly according to the instructions, you can get an additional reserve of its strength. It remains only to follow the rules of furniture care.

How to care for fabric upholstery

Respect for soft upholstery consists primarily in the elimination of mechanical damage that can be caused by hard and sharp objects.

The main furniture care takes place at home. The main assistant in this matter is a vacuum cleaner. After all, dust tends to dig into the fabric. If you continue to use sofas and armchairs with dust, oily stains will appear.

Upholstery fabrics that are regularly cleaned from dust are always fresh and silky. In order for furniture sets to retain their original appearance for a long time, delicate cleaning is used when caring for upholstered furniture.

For this you need:

  • Prepare a weak soap composition;
  • Carefully moisten the dirty areas with a soft brush;
  • Clean up stains without too much effort;
  • Carry out the treatment with vinegar solution (3 tablespoons per liter of water);
  • Dry and straighten the crumpled pile with a brush

A good way to get rid of dust is to knock it out. First, you need to cover the areas with a damp sheet or towel. You can enhance the effect of this knockout by wetting the towel with a weak vinegar composition. From this paint upholstery fabric will become much brighter.

The hospitality and cordiality of this type of furniture is expressed in its softness. Who does not want to lie in a chair with a cup of coffee or lie on the couch with fruit. However, it is only in rare cases that tea or other liquid can be avoided on the upholstery.

In order to prevent the liquid from spreading and penetrating deep into the base of the fabric, it is necessary to be quick and immediately start cleaning the furniture.

Chenille upholstery has a low moisture resistance, and therefore requires special attention. Best result achieved by regular cleaning with a vacuum cleaner. Chenille headsets can also be cleaned by specialized dry cleaners.

To avoid the appearance of streaks after cleaning at home, it is required to exclude abundant wetting with water. A thick soapy solution, which is applied with a soft sponge, works well for this procedure. Later, you need to treat the surface with a weak vinegar composition, and remove excess moisture with a napkin. You can also dry damp areas with a hair dryer.

To remove the gum from the fabric upholstery, you must first cool the area with ice in a waterproof bag. After strong cooling, the chewing gum is carefully scraped off with a blunt object.

Salt perfectly absorbs all fats and liquids, it will not harm sofas and armchairs, and should be used as a first remedy.

A low alcohol solution can be used to remove traces of grease, ink and lipstick from chenille, flock, jacquard, velor surfaces.

Fruit juice stains can be removed with an ammonia vinegar mixture.

Remove traces of chocolate with a neutral soap solution.

Before using ready-made stain removers, you should carefully study the instructions for use. The use of bleach, kerosene and gasoline is strictly not allowed.

How to care for leather upholstery

To remove stains from the surface of the skin, you will need a piece of soft, damp cloth.

Experts advise against using in the care leather furniture acetone, alcohol, soap. To extend the lifespan of the leather cover, regular use of commercially available leather cleaners is recommended.

If the skin has been exposed to excess moisture, then the liquid must be quickly blotted with dry napkins. Warm air currents for drying must not be allowed. The skin should dry naturally.

Artificial leather is more unpretentious to use, but efficiency is also needed when cleaning it. Spilled liquid should be immediately carefully collected with soft napkins and wiped with a piece of cotton cloth dipped in an alcohol solution.

How to properly care for wood surfaces

It is much easier to deal with wooden furniture than with upholstered furniture, but it also has its own requirements during operation:

  • Observe the temperature and humidity conditions in the room;
  • Eliminate distortions during installation;
  • When placing, exclude direct sunlight;
  • Do not place close to heating devices;
  • Do not allow liquid to get into cracks and joints of wooden coatings;
  • Do not use products containing alkali;
  • Do not use abrasive sponges when polishing furniture.

To wipe cabinets and bedside tables, use a pre-moistened and well-wrung out soft rag made of wool, velor or velvet. At the final stage of cleaning, all surfaces must be wiped dry.

Oiled wood surfaces are perfectly cleaned with a mixture of turpentine and linseed oil. The mixture, once it gets into the pores of the wood, restores its original shine.

Lacquered and polished surfaces do not like wet cleaning. To remove streaks or stains from a hot cup, you can use the following products:

  • Vegetable, castor or burdock oil;
  • A mixture of flour with machine oil;
  • Walnut;
  • Wax;
  • A mixture of ethyl alcohol with vegetable oil;

You can get rid of scratches on oak and walnut furniture by locally wetting the defect with a weak iodine solution.

To slow down the accumulation of dust during polishing, you can wipe the surfaces with special pastes that have antistatic properties.

Traces of iodine are easily removed with raw potatoes.

Matt wood furniture is even easier to maintain. Here it is enough to use dishwashing detergent and a soft sponge. The process must be completed by wiping dry.

Plastic coatings can be washed with different detergents and harder sponges.

Ink marks can be removed with match sulfur or baking soda.

Microbes on such surfaces are well removed with table vinegar.

Metal and glass surfaces of furniture should be cleaned with soft sponges using glass detergents and detergents.

In order to enjoy the comfort in your home for as long as possible and extend the life of your furniture, you need to responsibly approach its use and make the most of useful advice.

“Prevention is the best treatment” is a universal principle that works in any situation. In order for the new sofa to retain its original appearance as long as possible, its upholstery must be properly looked after.

All care measures can be roughly divided into two groups:

Preventive care ... These are weekly measures that need to be taken to maintain appearance sofa or armchair. The easiest and most affordable way is dry cleaning with a vacuum cleaner or soft brush. We recommend wet cleaning once a month - most modern fabrics are moisture-friendly. Walk over the surface with a damp sponge (use a cleaner if necessary) and then thoroughly vacuum all parts.

Wet cleaning is contraindicated for mixed fabrics with viscose content. Its fibers lose their ability to completely recover after drying over time.

Removing local spots. The result of this event depends primarily on how soon after the substance hits the surface, you start removing it. All stains can be roughly divided into three categories: greasy, liquid and mixed. Liquid can be easily removed with a wet sponge and soapy water. Fatty and mixed - using special chemical cleaners and stain removers.

Fundamental rules

  • Regardless of the type of fabric, we do not recommend using aggressive substances for cleaning. In "people's councils" you can often find the use of alcohols, acids, solvents, and gasoline. Our practice shows that it is better to leave these liquids for other household purposes.
  • When a stain appears, it is necessary to blot it as soon as possible with dry napkins or any cloth that absorbs liquid well.
  • The area with the stain does not need to be rubbed - this way you "drive" the pollution even deeper.
  • The stain should be removed in light circular movements from the edge of the dirt to the center.
  • Do not use several chemicals (even professional ones) at the same time. Wait until the first is completely dry and, if it does not bring the desired result, start applying the second.
  • Woven upholstery must dry naturally after cleaning. Do not use the hot air of a hair dryer or put a heater closer.
  • There are special protective sprays designed to make it easier to maintain upholstery and remove dirt. The essence of their work is as follows - a special substance "permeates" the fibers of the fabric, due to which they begin to repel dust and moisture. When spilling coffee or juice, be aware that the protective coating will not save you.

Individual features of fabrics

Velours ... The velor pile is well cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Use water-based products to remove stains. We do not recommend washing removable velor covers - preferably dry cleaning.

Chenille ... Most stains can be easily removed from the shell with a regular water solution. Wet cleaning is recommended (with a soft brush or just a sponge).

Flock ... Specific material with very good operational characteristics... Alcohol and solvent-based products are contraindicated for Flock. Exclusively water-based and gentle composition. We recommend vacuuming the surface weekly - this way the fabric will shine and literally shine.

Upholstered furniture with flock upholstery must not be placed near heating appliances, as well as in direct sunlight!

Jacquard ... It does not tolerate water well, therefore we recommend dry cleaning. If you cannot do without water - make sure it is not too hot - use around room temperature.

Scotchguard. Unpretentious material from which removable covers for sofas and armchairs are usually made. Scotchguard can be washed by hand or in a typewriter at temperatures up to 40 degrees, and can also be ironed. But at the same time, you cannot wring out and dry in an automatic dryer.

Microfiber ... To maintain a beautiful appearance, it is required to clean the lint weekly with a soft brush or vacuum cleaner. We recommend that you periodically clean the fabric with water or a mild soapy solution.

Matting ... Cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or brush, stains removed with water. Do not wash the mat, or use solvents or bleach on it.

Before you “test” any agent on the sofa, do a small test on an “invisible” surface such as under the seat. All new and beautiful sofas!

In order for the furniture to retain its attractive appearance for a long time, it needs constant care, and it does not only involve removing dust. There are different cleaning methods for different furniture, as it is very sensitive to any impact. Bright sun, humidity, temperature extremes, pranks of children and pets can cause irreparable damage to your home environment.

There are many proven folk recipes to make furniture look decent, but still you can't do without professional chemistry. For example, on the site http://atma.ua/professionalnaya-himiya/zhidkoe-mylo/ not only liquid soap for hand and body skin care is offered, but also effective and safe products for everyday furniture care and removal of the most stubborn dirt.

Furniture items made of wood can be processed:

  • special dry polishing cloths to remove dust and remove static electricity;
  • polishes: they contain oils, clean and polish surfaces, give antistatic properties, fill microcracks, restoring the surface structure; available in the form of a cream or aerosol;
  • wax-based products: in addition to the functions listed above, they create a protective wax film.

Of folk remedies a mixture of 2 tsp is suitable for all types of wood. vegetable oil and 1 tsp. lemon juice. It is poured into a container with a spray bottle, sprinkled on a napkin, applied to the surface of the furniture, and the treated area is wiped dry with another napkin. Oil generally has the property of imparting a beautiful shade to wood, improving its moisture resistance and providing protection from external influences.

You can get a shiny surface with sleeping tea by wrapping the bag in a piece of cloth and wiping the polished furniture with this swab. You can eliminate whitish stains from hot dishes by combining vegetable oil with salt in equal proportions. Apply the composition to the stain, leave in this state for several hours, then remove it and wipe the surface with a dry cloth.

For all types of furniture, the ban on the use of cleaning powders and compositions that contain abrasive particles is relevant: they will scratch wood, glass, and leather.

Features of processing upholstered furniture

Dust is not visible on upholstered furniture, but in reality it accumulates there in large quantities. Therefore, the most effective way of cleaning is to vacuum your sofas and armchairs more often. The exception is plush upholstery, as the plush fibers are pulled out with a vacuum cleaner.

You can also eliminate dust in a "wet" way: you need to moisten gauze in a salty solution, wrap a clothes brush in it and clean the surface. It is better to deal with stains with the help of special stain removers: when spraying them on the upholstery or applying a foam agent, they do not cause the upholstery to get too wet, preventing deformation of the foam rubber. These preparations do not contain solvents with chlorine and water, therefore they are harmless to furniture and humans.

You can try cleaning fresh stains with liquid soap. Old stains are easier to deal with by first treating them with hot steam. A steam cleaner can also do a great job of cleaning: steam helps remove dust, greasy stains, harmful microorganisms, elimination of unpleasant odors.

With improvised means, you can remove wine stains: soda slaked with vinegar will help, as well as cotton swabs soaked in cold water... You can sprinkle salt on such a stain, then moisten a rag with vodka and treat the stain. Tea and coffee are "afraid" of laundry soap, and traces of fruits and vegetables are removed citric acidby dissolving 2 g in a glass of water.

Chocolate can be washed off with a concentrated salt solution, dry salt is poured onto a greasy spot on the upholstery and blotted with a napkin. Liquid soap will wash the fabric upholstery from dirt, it is better if it is without dyes. If the vacuum cleaner does not handle pet hair, the upholstery can be cleaned with a roller wrapped in masking tape.

It is more difficult to clean leather furniture from greasy stains, so you need to avoid contact with your own skin. You can refresh such upholstery with egg white: beat it, apply with a woolen cloth and grind. Dark-colored leather upholstery can be restored with damp coffee grounds.

Maintenance of furniture made of plastic and glass

Unlike all other furniture, plastic tolerates wet cleaning with any soap solution. Effective way special aerosols are also used for cleaning: the only thing left to do is to wipe the surface dry.

All dirt is immediately visible on the glass: dust, stains, fingerprints. Such furniture is easily cleaned, but without the use of sponges and cleaning powders. The stains are moistened with detergent solution, allowed to soak, then washed off, rinsed and wiped with a soft dry cloth.

Glass furniture gives our home originality and grace

Darkened metal furniture fittings clean using a mixture of 30 g of ammonia, 15 g of chalk and 50 g of water. Moisten the flannel in this composition, wipe the handles and then polish to a shine.

Taking good care of your furniture is not that difficult if you do it regularly. And we must remember that most of the stains are formed through the fault of the owners themselves, and if you are even a little more careful, there will be much less problems with cleaning furniture.