FURNISHINGS : For the Best-Dressed Upholstery, Vacuum and Clean Regularly

If we routinely clean our floors, bathroom tiles, windows and sinks, isn’t it reasonable to also clean our upholstered furniture on a regular basis?

“You wouldn’t walk around in a dirty jacket; why should you allow your furniture to get dirty?” asks Louis Mastrangelo of Master Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, which services Orange County.

“Regular upholstery cleaning is just a smart thing to do for your furniture,” he says. “If you take just a little precaution in cleaning your furniture, you can expect it to last a lot longer.”

Regular vacuuming of upholstered furniture is the first step in maximizing its life expectancy. Small hand vacuums work well, and although vacuum cleaner accessories provide access to tough angled corners and awkward curves, beware of brush attachments with stiff fibers, because they can wear out certain weaves and fibers.

Accidental spills and spots need special attention; prompt action is the best defense against what might seem like a permanent stain.

Experts recommend first removing as much of the offending spill as possible by vacuuming, then blotting or gently scraping the stain away. If there is any residue, sponge it with a damp towel treated with a liquid cleaning solution.

Make sure you do not soak the spill with water or solvents, because over-wetting can cause the spot to spread and leave water stains or solvent residue in the fabric. For more stubborn stains and spots, try using small, sparingly applied multiple treatments rather than one or two heavy treatments.

Because upholstery is made of various fibers, determine the fabric contents and the stain type before cleaning. It is often helpful to test solvents on a hidden part of the fabric before cleaning a spot--especially when cleaning unknown stains and fabric fibers.

Periodic and thorough cleanings will add years to your piece’s wearability. Such cleaning can be done by you or a professional.

Cleaning is divided into two general categories: wet or dry.

Wet cleaning usually involves either a shampoo or water extraction process. Akin to this are damp methods that use foam or bonnet (rotary mop) cleaners. Both methods require wetting the upholstery, so ample drying time must be granted before reuse.

Dry systems include use of solvent-treated powder or granule mixtures that are developed to attract dirt particles. Other dry-cleaning methods use dry chemical solvents similar to those used for dry-cleaning clothes.

Professional estimates on cleaning--wet or dry--will vary, but it averages about $12 per foot. For silks and other delicate fabrics, it can run as high as $16 per foot.

Soil repellent coatings for fabrics help prevent dirt from settling in the fibers. The coatings can be applied in various ways; however, those applied to individual fibers and yarns seem to work most effectively. Repellents that are sprayed or top-coated onto fabrics or upholstered furniture are usually less effective because they tend to wear off quickly.

Two commonly used professionally applied topical soil repellents are Scotchgard and Teflon. Both are water- and soil-resistant to help prevent oil- and water-based staining. Each reduces static (which is known to attract dry soil) and also helps eliminate wear caused by overly dirty fibers.

Mastrangelo says he likes to use Ultra Dry for soil repellent because it has no water in it, unlike Scotchgard and Teflon. He says the latter two can sometimes leave water spots on light-colored fabrics. He says professional soil-repellent work will cost about $6 to $8 per foot.