While you relax on your couch, sofa, and recliner, many bacteria, germs, and other allergy-causing particles accumulate deep inside them. They can cause you harm in the long term. However, with steam cleaning, you can keep these allergens at bay.
You may want to steam clean your upholstery at home. But do you know how upholstery steam cleaning at home works? If not, let us take you on a tour of a step-by-step process of cleaning upholstery using a steam cleaner at home.
Step-By-Step Process To Steam Clean Your Upholstery At Home
1. Check The Label
Before you start cleaning your upholstery, look closely at the label. Some upholstery is not suitable for water-based cleaning. And if you steam clean it, it can get damaged permanently. So, before you start cleaning upholstery with a steam cleaner or any other method, try to avoid some common mistakes to clean your upholstery effectively without damaging it.
2. Vacuum The Upholstery
Vacuuming is the most crucial step before steam cleaning, as it removes all the clogged and accumulated dust, dirt, pet dander, and grime. This step is essential, as it makes further cleaning smooth and easy. Use a suitable attachment on your vacuum so the upholstery won’t be damaged. Then vacuum each corner of your upholstery. If your upholstery has removable cushions, remove them and vacuum both sides. Also, don’t forget to clean your furniture from the back side.
3. Remove The Stains First
If you spot stains on your upholstery, clean it with a stain cleaner solution. Apply it wherever you find spots and leave it for a few minutes. Let it sit for some time so that the stain breaks and loosens. After a few minutes, blot the stains with a brush and a clean cloth.
Note: If you are using the commercial solution, ensure adhering to the instructions mentioned.
As an alternative to commercial cleaners, you can opt for some DIY solutions as well. For that, you can take a bowl of water and dip a sponge in it. Add some dish detergent and squeeze out extra water. Now blot the stain with it. Finally, soak another dampened sponge in fresh water to blot stains and clean the solution.
4. Prepare The Steam Cleaner
To begin, take off your steam cleaner’s boiler cap. After adding water to the boiler, replace the cap. Then, connect the hose to the steam gun, making sure to engage the safety lock. Proceed to plug the steam cleaner into the outlet and allow it to warm up.
For best results, closely adhere to the instructions. Be careful not to overfill the boiler with water as it could leak fumes into your fabrics, causing the stains to get overly saturated. Additionally, ensure that you have the appropriate attachment for cleaning upholstery. It might be a stationary or rotating brush.
5. Steam Clean The Cushions and Other Upholstery Furniture
Detach the cushions if they are removable, and spray the steam on the surface with the steam cleaner. As you steam clean, the high-temperature vapors will start loosening the ingrained stains and grime in its fibers. It will also help remove any lingering odors and hidden bacteria.
Once the cushions are cleaned, You can clean the rest of your furniture. Don’t apply steam all over the upholstery at once, as the water will be absorbed in one part while you are busy cleaning the others. It can damage the fibers, and take longer than usual to dry out.
Take your time cleaning small sections to steam clean them effectively. Clean them thoroughly the same way you cleaned the cushions. If you accidentally left some spots dirty, you can steam clean them again.
6. Let It Dry
Once you finish the steam cleaning process, leave them to dry. You can turn on the fan or open windows or doors to increase the drying speed. Let your upholstered furniture and cushions dry out completely.
When To Opt For A Professional Upholstery Cleaning Services?
There are times when steam cleaning on your own doesn’t work. It can be because your sofa is too dirty and stained and needs a special upholstery cleaning service. Here, calling professional upholstery cleaning services works best for you.
Rivera’s Cleaning Solutions is the best option to choose in Concord. Our professional upholstery cleaning services bring the upholstery’s charm and color back using proven and the best steam cleaning technology. So, don’t hesitate to call us for your upholstery cleaning needs.
