We all do our best to take care of our homes. We work to eliminate clutter, we sanitize surfaces on a regular basis, and we keep our carpets clean. At times, life can get pretty crazy, and we sometimes forget that chairs, couches, ottomans, and other upholstered furniture need some attention as well.
A lot of effort goes into picking out the right pieces for your space, so you want to make sure your furniture will last and you avoid feeling like you’ve wasted your time and money. By following these tips on how to take good care of your upholstered furniture, you can extend the life of your furniture and keep your home looking fresh.
Avoid Sunlight
Having natural sunlight in your home provides benefits like boosting serotonin and stimulating productivity, but it will eventually be harmful to your furniture. UV rays can weaken some fibers and cause bleaching, but keep in mind that not all fabrics are affected by sunlight the same way. For example, fabrics made from acrylic, polyester, and vinyl are more resistant to sunlight damage, but other fabrics made from silk or linen fade much quicker.
It’s always good to have an idea of how much sun each room gets and where you plan on placing each piece before making any purchases. By limiting direct sunlight exposure, you can prevent damage and keep upholstery looking vibrant.
Clean Regularly
Dust mites, hair, food particles, and germs all build up on and sometimes within your upholstery, so it is important to vacuum your furniture regularly. A good rule of thumb is to vacuum your furniture as often as you vacuum your carpets. Depending on how often your furniture gets used, you may need to adjust that frequency to more or less often.
In addition to vacuuming, wiping down your furniture with a mild cleaner will help remove any built-up dirt or grime and cleaning any spills right away can prevent staining.
Adding these tasks to your cleaning schedule will help you stay on top of messes and keep allergies at bay.
Prevent Color Transfer
Another great way to keep your furniture looking new is to prevent dyes from other fabrics from transferring onto your upholstery. A common culprit is new or unwashed denim, but throw pillows, blankets and sheets can also cause discoloration. The same goes for newspapers, as the ink can be very difficult to remove.
Overall, dye transfer could ruin your upholstery so keeping any dye-rich materials away from the upholstery is key.
Rotate cushions
We all have our favorite spot on the couch, but over time that spot will slowly wear out and become quite uncomfortable. Don’t worry, we are not saying you have to pick a new favorite spot every few weeks. What we do mean is that you should be rotating and flipping your cushions to help evenly distribute wear so you don’t have to replace anything prematurely.
With some furniture items, you may have cushions that are not reversible or able to be rearranged. In that case, vacuuming, fluffing, and beating the cushion can keep them comfortable and even.
Hire a Professional
There are some occasions when you are unable to thoroughly clean and that’s where hiring a professional comes in. By hiring a professional once a year, they can handle any stubborn stains and get anything you may have missed.
At Springer in Des Moines, we will determine the best way to clean your furniture based on the current condition and its history, while avoiding altering the color, finish and texture.
If you are in need of a professional to bring your upholstered furniture back to life, contact the experts at Springer Floor Care. Our team can handle all of your upholstery care needs! Schedule your service to get started.