The Dangers of DIY Upholstery and Leather Cleaning

Whilst we fully recommend our customers maintaining their furnishings, there is a particular area of DIY cleaning that has a habit of going terribly wrong for many homeowners: DIY Upholstery and Leather Cleaning.

We’ve long advised exercising caution when carrying out DIY carpet cleaning, and with leather or upholstery cleaning, it is even more vital you get it right.

If you choose the wrong product to clean upholstery or leather there is often no way to remedy the damage caused.

Even more astonishing is that some of the manufacturers or superstores that sell such furniture will hand out a basic care kit that supposedly covers the cleaning needs of a huge variety of fabrics and leathers.

I advise you DON’T use them!

Homemade Upholstery Cleaning Solutions

Despite there being numerous websites that you can find instructions to make homemade upholstery cleaning solutions, be very careful if you choose to make and use them.

TEST the solution first on a small hidden area of the fabric at the back of the sofa.

That way, if it causes any unexpected reaction, you have not ruined your expensive item of furniture.

And if you need advice on stubborn individual stain treatment, please get in touch with a reputable professional upholstery cleaner.

DON’T attempt to remove a stubborn stain with additional harsh chemicals.

Professional Upholstery and Leather Cleaning

Thinking of hiring a rental machine along with some upholstery shampoo to rejuvenate your sofa? I’d suggest giving it a miss.

We are often called by unhappy homeowners who have used these machines only to find they are not powerful enough to remove the necessary moisture from the fabric. This causes many problems such as over wetting and even unsightly water marks.

We also recently visited a home where an unfortunate lady had used a steam machine which had permanently altered the colour of her sofa’s fabric due to excess heat.

Not in a position to pay for professional cleaning?

Not everyone can afford to pay for professional cleaning right away.

If it comes down to budget, the best course is to save another month or two rather than buy a harsh cleaning product from your local store.

But a good professional upholstery cleaner should be more than willing to offer advice over the phone.

They may also have safe and effective solutions that you can purchase to maintain your furnishings and remove common stains quickly before they set.

If you need any stain removal advice or info on caring for your upholstery and leather, please don’t hesitate to call me today on 07530 532208 (Melissa).