If you’re like most homeowners, your furniture is one of your biggest investments. Keeping your upholstered pieces clean and in good condition can be a challenge, especially if you have kids or pets. Sure, it’s tempting to just grab some fabric cleaner and go at it, but there are certain things that you should avoid when cleaning upholstery. Let’s dive into why some common cleaning methods don’t work and what you should do instead to avoid making these upholstery cleaning mistakes.

Don’t Make These Upholstery Cleaning Mistakes

Using Too Much Water or Soap

The biggest mistake people make when it comes to cleaning upholstery is using too much water or soap. Fabric that is over-saturated with water can result in shrinkage or discoloration, so it’s important to be judicious when applying moisture. Likewise, soap residue left behind after cleaning can easily attract more dirt and dust particles, leaving your furniture looking dull and dingy. To avoid these issues altogether, always use an approved upholstery cleaner that won’t leave behind any residue or damage the fabric.

Spot Cleaning

Another common mistake is spot cleaning without testing first. Spot cleaners are great for getting out those pesky stains on chairs, couches and other pieces of furniture but they can also leave behind nasty discolorations if used improperly. Before you start spot treating any stain, test the product on an inconspicuous area of the fabric first to ensure that it won’t cause any lasting damage.

Vacuuming Incorrectly

You would think vacuuming your furniture would be as easy as running a vacuum over all the surfaces, right? Wrong! Vacuuming incorrectly can actually cause more harm than good by snagging loose threads or pushing dirt deeper into the fibers of the fabric which will be harder to remove later on down the road. To properly vacuum upholstered furniture, always use the lowest suction setting possible and make sure never to pull on loose strings while vacuuming; they could easily get sucked into the vacuum cleaner, damaging both your furniture and appliance in one fell swoop!

Leave the Upholstery Cleaning to JDog

Cleaning upholstered furniture doesn’t have to be hard but there are definitely some things you should avoid in order to keep your investment looking its best for years to come. Always opt for an approved upholstery cleaner over spot treatments, use minimal amounts of water and soap when cleaning fabrics, and never vacuum without checking settings beforehand—doing these simple things will help ensure that your furniture looks great for years to come! The easiest thing for you to do? Call the Veterans and Military family members at JDog to clean your upholstery for you.