How Does Upholstery Steam Cleaning At Home Work?

February 7, 2023
by Riveras Cleaning Solutions
How Does Upholstery Steam Cleaning At Home Work

Since you are here, you must’ve heard about the ‘new age’ upholstery cleaning method called steam cleaning. It is a simple yet effective cleaning method that uses steam to eliminate the accumulated dirt and grime from your upholstery.

Many professional upholstery cleaning services use this method. But the good part is you can also do it yourself. Check out how to perform upholstery steam cleaning at home.

Step-by-Step Process for Upholstery Steam Cleaning At Home

Check The Label 

Check the instruction label on your upholstery. It is the most crucial thing to do before starting the process of steam cleaning. If the label on your upholstery says “X,” then you cannot use water, as the water can permanently damage your upholstery.

Try to avoid mistakes while cleaning up your upholstery, as it can damage your furniture. Hence, be careful about what you can use for upholstered furniture.

Vacuuming 

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 the further cleaning process smooth and easy.

Make sure you are using a suitable attachment on your vacuum so that your upholstery won’t be damaged. You don’t want any leftover dust and dirt to hinder your cleaning process, right?

Then vacuum each corner of your upholstery. If your upholstery has removable cushions, then remove them and vacuum both sides.

Also, don’t forget to clean your furniture from the back side. And if you want to do some cardio, you can lift your upholstery from one side and clean the bottom part.

Stain Removal 

If you spot stains on your upholstery, you can clean it with a cleaner. Apply some cleaner wherever you find spots and leave it for a few minutes.

Let it sit for some time so that the stain breaks and loosens. The time you let your cleaner sit will vary depending on the type of cleaner.

After a few minutes, blot the stains. Treat the stains according to their type, i.e., if your stain is oil-based, you might have to use a commercial cleaner to blot them; otherwise, they won’t come out with a normal one.

You can also apply soil emulsifiers to get rid of all the dust, dirt, and grime.

Spray it all over your upholstery, including cushions, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then spray a little amount of upholstery shampoo and brush your upholstery thoroughly with a soft-bristled brush.

The steam cleaning process will remove the emulsifiers and shampoo, so no need to worry.

Steam Clean Cushions 

Remove the cushions if they are removable and turn on the steam cleaner. As the steam releases, the fibers of the cushions will get wet. Move the steam cleaner to the damp areas.

It will absorb all the water and the cleaner that was applied to loosen and remove stains. You may apply it to only one side because the other side will be laying on the upholstery and will therefore remain moist.

Steam Clean The Furniture 

Clean the rest of your furniture. Don’t apply steam all over the upholstery, as the water will be absorbed in the first area while you are busy cleaning the others. It can damage the fibers, and it will take longer than usual to dry out.

Take your time and take small sections of your furniture 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 once more.

Let Them 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 speed of drying. Let your upholstered furniture and cushions dry out completely.

⇒ Re-Clean

If you still see some stained spots and dullness then once again you have to do steam cleaning. It may have happened because your upholstery was too dirty when you started the steam cleaning process.

Pro Tip: If you still see some stains on your upholstery, you can use these DIY tricks and tips. Take a bowl of water and dip a sponge in it.

Add some dish detergent, squeeze out the excess water from the sponge, and blot the stain. Now take another sponge or clean out the used sponge completely with the fresh water and remove the soap and the stain.

Summing Up

Steam cleaning your upholstery is crucial for maintaining its appearance and extending its lifespan. You can do steam cleaning by yourself if you have delicate upholstery in your home, and it can be very beneficial.

Sometimes your upholstery is extremely soiled and deteriorated and cannot be cleaned deeply all by yourself. In that case, you must hire professionals for upholstery cleaning services.

In the above-mentioned blog, we have discussed 6 amazing tips for upholstery steam cleaning at home.

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