Dry cleaning a sofa: what is it and how to do it?

A sofa is that element of upholstered furniture that is present in absolutely every apartment, any house or office space. It would seem that what problems can arise with it - it's just an object on which it is so convenient to sit or lie down. But precisely because this furniture is so in demand, it gets dirty very quickly.

The constant accumulation of dust and dirt can lead to the fact that the sofa will simply become unusable. It must be carefully and constantly looked after. There are many ways to clean upholstered fabric furniture. In this article, we will talk about the dry method.

Dry cleaning a sofa is one of the possible ways to remove dirt from upholstered furniture. Recently, this type of cleaning is preferred by almost all cleaning companies.

The thing is that:

• it is more efficient;
• takes less time;
• can be applied to all types of fabrics, especially those that it is strongly not recommended to wet with water, for example, silk, velvet, tapestry;
• cleaning agents used in the dry cleaning process are completely safe for both human health and sofa upholstery.

Dry cleaning is of two types:

• powder - the main active cleaning agent is a powder, which contains "micro-sponges" that absorb all impurities;
• foamy - in this case, a special foam acts as a cleaning agent, which is applied to the surface, and then removed with a sponge or soft cloth.

If you are confident in yourself and in your capabilities, then you can try the dry cleaning method by cleaning the sofa yourself at home. But before you start working, you need to purchase everything you need in the process.

You will need:

• brush, preferably with soft bristles;
• a bucket or other container for preparing the cleaner;
• vacuum cleaner;
• dry wipes or sponges.

As you can see, all of the above is available and, most likely, is in every home.

Earlier in the article, we already wrote that dry cleaning is of two types. It follows that you will need or dry foam, or powder. These cleaning products can be purchased at any store that specializes in the sale of furniture, or ordered online.

Let's consider an algorithm for removing dirt for each type of dry cleaning.

Foam cleaning consists of several stages.

• At the first stage, it is advisable to remove some of the dust from the upholstery of the sofa or cover with a vacuum cleaner or a regular beater.
• Next, you need to prepare the foam. The preparation method must be seen on the original packaging. Read and follow the instructions given by the manufacturer carefully.
• The finished mixture is applied to the surface of the sofa.
• For a certain period of time, the foam should be on the upholstery and absorb the dirt.
• After that, the foam is removed with a dry cloth or vacuum cleaner.

Powder cleaning:

• in the same way as in the previous instructions, it is necessary to remove dust;
• the powder detergent is applied evenly to the surface of the sofa, and it is advisable to rub it lightly into the upholstery;
• when the color of the powder changes, it can be removed with a vacuum cleaner.

On the packaging of such a cleaning agent the manufacturer must also indicate the time during which it must be on the surface of the sofa.

Folk wisdom finds application absolutely everywhere. In any situation, even if you need to clean the carpet, you can resort to these recipes. If we are talking about dry cleaning of sofas, let's remember folk recipes using dry improvised means.

1. Soda. It removes small fresh stains and odors. The cleaning process is quite simple - you just need to pour baking soda on the problem area and leave it for an hour. Then remove the product with a vacuum cleaner. The procedure can be repeated several times until the desired result is achieved.
2. Salt. It is an effective cleaning agent that can even remove wine stains when fresh. Salt should be poured onto the contaminated area and wait until the liquid is absorbed, then wipe off with a napkin or sponge.
3. Chalk. Using it, even fresh greasy stains can be removed from the upholstery of the sofa. The chalk is crushed and applied to the contaminated area for 15 minutes. After this time, the tool is removed. The procedure can be carried out several times. If you do not have chalk on hand, use any other substance that absorbs grease - this can be the same salt or talc.

Next, watch a video review of dry cleaning methods for sofas.