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bookcase, bookshelf, care, caring, clean, cleaner, cleaning, codes, couch, dry, furnishings, furniture, leather, maintenance, microfiber, sofa, upholstery, upkeep, velvet, wet
Like we’ve said before about wooden furniture, a little regular maintenance can save you large amounts of time, money, and resources. Don’t be fooled by the flashy ads: with some know-how, you can clean most of your own upholstered furnishings.
Dry or Wet Cleaning?
Perhaps the most important of decisions for upholstery is what type of cleaning it must undergo. The difference is in the types of cleaners used for the process. Dry cleaning requires solvent-based mixes; wet cleaning requires water-based solutions. Remember those labels you’re not supposed to tear off furniture and mattresses? Usually stitched into the cushions, they have a list of care instructions.
For some wet cleaning projects, steam cleaners (hot water extraction) are ideal. If you don’t wish to buy one, many grocery and department stores rent out the machines for overnight use. For other projects, shampoo furnishings the old fashioned way: by hand and with elbow grease. Terrycloth towels work well here. Ensure that the cleaner’s label indicates no need for machinery. Products made for cleaning furniture by hand are what you want.
Know Your Codes
Code W: clean with water and water-based solutions only. These fabrics are man-made (e.g. nylon, polyester, acetate).
Code S: vacuum often to remove dust and spot clean when necessary with solvent-based solutions only. These fabrics include organic fibers (e.g. cotton, wool, denim).
CAUTION: Solvent-based cleaners are harmful to humans. Code S furniture is best left to cleaning professionals.
Code WS: clean with either water/water-based or solvent-based solutions depending on the stain requirements.
Code XS or X: clean by vacuuming and dusting regularly. Code XS or X furniture cannot be cleaned with water- or solvent-based solutions without causing extreme shrinking, staining or distortion.
Code D: dry clean only. Like Code S, Code D furniture is best left to cleaning professionals.
The upholstery code is important because certain fabrics will be forever ruined if cleaned by the wrong solution. Look for the code on the upholstery tag. Always exercise caution when cleaning fabric, especially if the upholstery code is unknown. Remember to test a small, inconspicuous patch of upholstery when using a new type of cleaner.
Look for this sectional bookcase in the upcoming movie, The Internship, starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson:
Filming a movie? Rent from MBW Furniture today!