How Does Furniture Get Dirty And Why Doesn't It Seem To Show?
Allergists, upholsterers and cleaners all agree that DUST is the #1 enemy of upholstered furniture. Gritty matter blows in through open doors and windows and impregnates itself on your furniture cushions and back. Think of how much dust would accumulate on a table if it were never dusted. That same amount is on your sofa, too. You just can't see it. Then when you sit on the cushion the oils from your skin compress the dirt into the fabric where it's almost impossible to remove with vacuum cleaning.
The abrasive action of the grit pressing into the fiber CUTS the fibers like a knife – that's why your furniture wears out. Then combine this with pollens, food crumbs, dust mites and their nasty fecal pellets…your furniture is literally awash with soil within the short span of just a year (with an average family). If you have pets and kids your furniture needs to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a year.
Bacteria and Germs are the result of soils that are not removed from furniture on a regular basis. The byproduct of decaying living materials decomposing is a foul smell that characterizes furniture that has not been cleaned regularly.
Why doesn't dirt show? Because today's fabrics are designed to HIDE dirt with patterns and colors…But just because it doesn't show doesn't mean it's not there.
How often should I have my furniture cleaned? If you're a retired couple and live in your home 6 months a year…probably every 2 or 3 years. If you have an active family with 3-5 kids and pets – I suggest at LEAST twice a year. Conatct Referral at 483-4383 to set up your cleaning.
Is Fabric Protection Necessary? You benefit by having us apply our carpet & fabric protection any time we clean your carpets, rugs, and furniture. Our protector makes it more difficult for spills, spots, and stains to PENETRATE to the interior of the fibers (where they cause permanent color change). The protector keeps messes on the surface where they can be more easily cleaned. Some fabrics have protector applied during the manufacturing process. However, the protection degrades over time with use and cleaning. It must be refreshed from time to time.
We don't just clean carpets. Referral's carpet cleaning technicians are also experts in cleaning upholstery. We know the right cleaning methods for a particular fiber or fabric. We can clean different types of fabric construction such as Jacquard weave, Pile weave, Dobby Weave, Haitian Cotton, Denim Twill Weave, Velvet weave, chenille, microfiber and more. Our steam-powered equipment will clean almost any sofa, love seat, chair or other piece of upholstered furniture.
Often upholstery fabrics are blends of different fibers. These give the upholstery various textures and effects. It also creates challenges for cleaning since not every fiber can be identified. These challenges include bleeding, fading, loss of finish, browning, and shrinking. Some fabric is sometimes worn to the point that when cleaned it may separate or break. We will use our professional expertise and tools to give you the best possible cleaning but can not make any guarantee regarding the above cautions.
Your home contains many pieces of furniture created from many different fibers, each with different characteristics. Cleaning these fibers properly takes experience and the correct cleaning methods. No one method cleans all upholstery fibers. So that expensive living room set, dining room chair cushion, or office ensemble you bought years ago doesn't need to be replaced. Referral will make it look like new again. So when you call us to have your carpets cleaned, don't ignore your furniture. We can do both at the same time. You can also drop off a piece of furniture or just a cushion if needed to our shop.
Cleaning a chair with a white cotton fabric. |
You can see the HUGE cleaning contrast on this soiled chair. |
How To Tell If Your Upholstery Needs Cleaned
TEST # 1: THE “SLAP” TEST – surface dust
Place a bright light over the top of one of your sofa cushions and using a stick (like a paint mixing stick or wooden spoon) whack the cushion 2-3 times. Observe the amount of dust that is released into the air. If you see a cloud of dust your furniture needs to be cleaned.
TEST #2: THE BLACK CLOTH TEST – embedded particulate
Use your vacuum cleaner attachment nozzle and take a piece of thin black cloth and rubber band it to the end of the vacuum hose – let it drape into the hose a little way. Put the upholstery tool on the end of the hose. Now turn the vacuum on and run it across the top of the cushion. Take off the upholstery tool and observe all the dead skin, dander, and other particles. If you see accumulations of fine particles, it needs cleaning.
TEST #3: THE WHITE TOWEL TEST – protein soils
Moisten a small amount of water on a white terry cloth towel. Now go and briskly rub it across one of your seat cushions or arm covers. Look at the towel. What do you see?
TEST #4: THE SNIFF TEST - malodors
Completely exhale. Place your nose 3” above the seat cushions and waft the surface air to your nose using one hand in a fanning motion. Do you notice any odors? Soil accumulations foster bacterial growth that feed on the contaminants and creatures living in the fibers of your furniture fabrics. If your furniture smells funky it's an indication that it should be professionally cleaned as soon as possible. |
  
You can see the contrast from cleaning on these sofa cushions!
7 Tips To Keep Your Upholstery Fresh, Clean & Healthy
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Vacuum dust & dirt from all fabric, cracks & crevasses so it does not cause abrasion to the fabric. Think of how much dust would accumulate on a table if it were never dusted. That same amount is on your sofa, too. You just can’t see it.
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Reapply fabric protection after professional cleaning.
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Rotate all loose cushions frequently to assure even wear. Most couch cushions are reversible but people seldom take advantage of this. Every two weeks when you vacuum your furniture flip the cushions over. This will spread out the wear and make your furniture last much longer.
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Protect your upholstery from the sun. Ultraviolet light can cause deterioration or fading.
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Keep pets off of furniture. Pet's body oils rub off and are very difficult to remove.
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Use caution with clothing such as Blue Jeans. Fabric dyes can transfer onto upholstered furniture.
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If you have animals get a rubber dish glove. The dish glove will make it easy to remove hair from the furniture. Simply put it on and rub your hand over the fabric. You will see that the hair bunches up into clumps making it easy to pick up and vacuum up. Other options include wrapping tape around your hand, sticky side out; using a clothing lint remover; or using a clothing brush to collect the hair.
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Click here to download the Woven & Knit Residential Upholstery Fabric Standards & Guidelines
Referral Can Also Clean Your Bed And Mattress Fabric.
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Referral can keep your families home clean and healthy.
Cleaning A Soiled Sofa.
Soiled sofa from pets rubbing against the fabric.
Cleaning the sofa.
The sofa looks like new again!
A dog chewed up an ink pen on a wool fabric sofa
Referral goes to work
The wool fabric sofa looks like new again!
Cleaning a white sofa with cotton fabric.
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