Best Ways To Deep Clean Your Carpets and Upholstery While on Quarantine

As the country faces the spread of the novel coronavirus, most of us are forced to stay at home. While thinking of how we can survive this pandemic, we also confront the trouble of not knowing what we should do while we're stuck in our homes.

One productive thing we could do is deep-cleaning our upholstery and carpets. Disinfecting them is the perfect way to stop the virus from further spreading.

Learning how to clean and conserve your furniture will also help maintain its beautiful fabric. We've gathered some useful tips on how to clean the most common kinds of upholstery in your home.

The Basics

Remember these standard rules when cleaning your upholstered furniture and carpets. 

• Regularly vacuum your couch and carpets to avoid dust from accumulating deep into the fabric and stuffing. Make sure you are getting into the crevices where plenty of dirt can accumulate. You can use a carpet cleaner to help you maintain your carpets. However, before you buy a carpet cleaner, make sure it can remove tough stains and is easy to maneuver.

• Always wipe any metal, wood, or non-fabric parts of your furniture with a clean cloth and a mixture of warm water and liquid dish soap.

• You should spot-treat any stains with an upholstery cleaning solution to prevent it from seeping into the fabric. 

Doing some regular cleaning will lessen the dirt and dust from getting deep into your furniture and will help maintain your couch’s lounge-worthy status.

Check the Tags

Always check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before attempting to deep-clean your sofa and carpets. You may want to ensure that you are not voiding any warranties or completely ruining your furniture.

You can also find information about the type of fabric you are dealing with, so make sure that you follow the card provided for you.

The most commonly found codes for furniture are:

• WS - Use a soft detergent, steam vacuum, water, a dry-cleaning soap, or solvent-based cleaners.

• S- Use a dry cleaner detergent or solvent-based cleaners. Avoid using water to prevent any water rings or shrinking material. 

• X- Use a vacuum or brush. Do not use any cleaning material because it may cause shrinking, staining, or distortion.

• W- Use steam or hot water when cleaning. You can also use water-based cleaning agents and a white towel to blot out some spots. 

If your carpet or furniture doesn't have any tag, it's best to contact the manufacturer for instructions. Some furniture may have unique cleaning methods depending on the type and material.

Get  to Know the Type of Fabric

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Various upholstery fabrics need different care. Understanding how to deal with the specific type can help you avoid damage and get amazing results when cleaning your furniture.

• Synthetic Fabric. This fabric is made from synthetic fibers, like acrylic, polyester, nylon,  or olefin. It is generally the easiest to clean. You can use water or any water-based cleaning product for it.

For spot cleaning, mix 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of warm water, and 1/2 tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Spray the affected area with the mixture and scrub with a soft cloth until you remove the stains.

• Natural Fibers. Furniture and carpets made of 100% natural fibers include cotton, wool, silk, velvet, or linen. This type of fiber retains a lot of water, so don't soak them too much. 

You can steam-clean these fabrics or use a  water-based product. Just avoid over-saturating the material because it can cause shrinking or ‘water rings.’

• Microfiber. Microfiber is easy to maintain. You can scrub it with a brush or use a vacuum to remove stains. You can also use rubbing alcohol on stains and watermarks. Just spray the area and blot it with a white cloth. Do not rub the stains to prevent it from spreading. 

• Leather. You can clean this type of fabric by just wiping the dust and dirt off it. You can also condition the material with a mix of 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup vinegar. Spray the solution on the surface of the couch and buff it with a soft cloth.

If your leather furniture is stained, it's best to hire a professional company to treat the damage. 

Generally, you can use solutions with at least 70% isopropyl alcohol, diluted household bleach, or undiluted household hydrogen peroxide to disinfect and kill bacteria on surface areas.

You can test the solution in a small area of the fabric to see how it would react with it. Doing this allows you to know what disinfectant or cleaning substance you can use with your carpet or furniture.

Once you've disinfected and cleaned your couches and carpets, make sure you thoroughly wash it with water to avoid discoloration and damage to the fabric. Then, use a clean white towel to soak up any excess water on the surface. 

Let the furniture and carpet dry thoroughly to avoid mildew. You can also use a box fan if the weather is extra humid. 

Takeaway

Making sure that our household is clean and disinfected should be one of our priorities, especially if we have a lot of time to spend at home. You'll have a better time lounging on your couches when you know that they are free from any dirt, dust, and possibly, viruses.