Most homeowners choose polyester as their first choice for furniture upholstery. The reason for this is its immense durability, high wear and tear resistance, and low cost. The fabric is versatile and can be used for almost all furniture upholstery purposes. But like most fabrics, polyester upholstery needs daily maintenance and upkeep to maintain its fresh and vibrant look. So, how can one go about cleaning polyester upholstery?
Well, if you, too, have a question about how to clean polyester upholstery, we have this cleaning guide for you.
Polyester Upholstery – Why Is It Popular For Furniture Upholstery
We will certainly get on with cleaning polyester upholstery, but first, let’s know a bit about this synthetic fabric. Polyester is a fabric with a petroleum base. It’s known for its high durability and color retention ability, which makes it a great furniture upholstery choice. Also, the fabric doesn’t get wrinkles and doesn’t shrink that easily, making it a low-maintenance upholstery choice.
While polyester upholstery can resist many stains and spills, it is still not immune to some spills, dirt, or grime. Regular cleaning is necessary to maintain its lifespan.
Our Best Tips For Cleaning Polyester Upholstery
Here are some tips for the cleaning of the polyester upholstery. So, let’s explore them thoroughly.
Check The Cleaning Instruction From The Manufacturer
You should never start cleaning your polyester upholstery—you must always check the care instructions for it. The care label on most upholstery offers information related to cleaning products and methods that are safe for the specific upholstery. These care labels have the following codes.
- W: This is for water-based cleaning agents.
- S: This is for solvent-based cleaning solutions.
- WS: This is for both water & solvent-based cleaning solutions.
- X: This means the upholstery needs to be vacuumed only.
Look for these codes to use the right cleaning method for your polyester upholstery.
Daily Vacuuming Goes A Long Way
The very best thing for cleaning polyester upholstery is to do regular cleaning with a vacuum cleaner. Use an upholstery attachment for the vacuum cleaner to suck away all the dirt, dust, and grime from your upholstery. Make sure to clean all the cushions, crevices, and armrests. With no dust on the upholstery, even if there is a liquid spill, your upholstery won’t get stained.
Always Do Spot Test For Your Cleaning Solution
You must always do a spot test before applying the cleaning solution to your upholstery. Perform this test on an inconspicuous area by placing a small drop of the solution and waiting to see the result. If discoloration occurs or the fabric gets damaged, refrain from using that solvent.
Do Prompt Treatment Of Tough Stains
Stains are something you can prevent from setting in your upholstery. For the stains that are set in the polyester upholstery, those are the trickiest ones. In the case of stains or spills on polyester, you need to act fast.
Use the blotting techniques, but take a clean cloth or tissue paper and absorb as much of the liquid as you can. Refrain from rubbing the upholstery, as this causes the stain to set deeper within the fabric or spread further.
Water stains: These are the ones from beverages and foods; a mild dish soap and water solution works best. Dip a clean cloth in this solution and blot the stained area. Do the blotting as many times as necessary until the stain is cleaned. Use another clean, damp cloth to remove leftover soapy residue. Dry the wet surface with a clean, dry cloth.
Oil-Based Stains: These are stains caused by makeup or grease. To remove them, you need to use a solvent-based cleaner. Dampen a clean cloth’s corner with it and gently blot the stain. Be sure to do a spot test for the solvent cleaner you are using.
Perform Deep Cleaning Of Polyester Upholstery
Polyester upholstery tends to accumulate dirt and dust to form grime over a long period of time. At that time, even vacuuming and simple spot cleaning won’t be enough. In such cases, you need to deep-clean polyester upholstery by making a simple water and dish soap mixture. The following are the steps on how to deep clean polyester upholstery.
Mix approximately half a tablespoon of dish soap in warm water until it forms a soapy mixture.
Soak a sponge or a cloth in this soapy solution. Wring out the excess liquid and start gently scrubbing the upholstery in a circular motion. Work one spot at a time and refrain from over-saturating the fabric.
Clean off the leftover soapy residue with a clean damp cloth because if it stays, it attracts more dirt.
Dry your upholstery with a clean paper towel or a cloth. Extract as much moisture as possible. Turn the fan on and let the rest of the moisture air dry. Do not put it in sunlight or else the color will fade.
Removing the Smell From Your Polyester Upholstery
Polyester upholstery is also known to develop a strange odor following prolonged use. This is true especially if the upholstery is exposed to smoke, food spills, and pets. For those of you who wish to maintain the fresh smell of your upholstery, we have a recipe for a natural deodorizer.
- Simply sprinkle a handful of baking soda on your polyester upholstery.
- Let it sit for about 20 minutes.
- Vacuum the powder off, and there will be no more odors emanating from your upholstery.
Fabric freshener sprays are also available just for polyester upholstery. These fabric refreshers come in a variety of scents.
Our Final Say
That was the answer to the question of how to clean polyester upholstery. Keeping your polyester upholstery clean is not that hard. You only need to know the right cleaning methods, have the right information about the fabric itself, and have a little bit of time. Follow our above tips for day-to-day cleaning, spot cleaning, and deep cleaning of your polyester upholstery.
