How to Sanitize Upholstered Furniture

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Have an old sofa that’s been sitting in your basement for a decade? Or maybe you recently purchased a set of antique upholstered chairs from a yard sale? Maybe you’re worried that the fabric might be harboring hidden mold and bacteria. Not to worry! It is possible to sanitize upholstered furniture, and it’s not as difficult as you might think!

Disinfecting fabric is actually quite simple. There are many disinfectant sprays on the market that are safe to use on fabrics, and you can even whip up your own antibacterial, antifungal spray at home using eco-friendly ingredients. However, these products may only work to sanitize the surface of your upholstered furniture. For deep cleaning that tackles hidden health hazards inside stuffing and cushions, you are probably better off hiring a professional upholstery cleaning service. It just depends on how deep the contamination goes.

If you’re going the DIY route, the first thing you’ll want to do is to choose a disinfecting spray. Check the instructions and cautions on the label of any store-bought product you choose to make sure it’s safe for use on fabrics. And just to be certain, test a small area on the back of a seat cushion or somewhere that will remain hidden from sight. Allow the product to dry and make sure it doesn’t result in discoloration or any other undesired affects.

If everything looks good, you can go ahead and spray your upholstered furniture all over with the disinfectant. Leave seat cushions out so that the air will circulate around them, helping the product to dry adequately.

For an all-natural, eco-friendly spray, use equal parts vodka and water. Seriously! The vodka both sanitizes and deodorizes, and will not damage fabrics. (Again, if you want to be extra sure, just spray a test area before you proceed with cleaning the rest of the upholstery.) You can even add natural fragrances—a drop or two of lemon, lavender, or peppermint oil works well–to make your spray smell great.

If you’re concerned that there might be bacteria, viruses, mold, or mildew hiding deep inside the stuffing or seat cushions of your upholstered furniture, you’ll want to hire a professional for a thorough deep cleaning.

In the Asheville, NC area, Five Step Carpet Care is your number one source for upholstery cleaning and disinfecting. Give us a call at 828.237.3237 or use our contact form to get in touch today!

 

 

How to Clean Woven Grass Rugs

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Are you scratching your head trying to figure out how to clean your woven grass rug? Obviously you can’t throw it in the washing machine or use a regular carpet cleaner on it. And most spot cleaning products on the market are intended for cotton, wool, or synthetic fiber rugs. So how do you clean one that’s made of grass?

Rugs made of woven grass are more commonly referred to as “sisal” or “seagrass” rugs. They are among the simplest types of rugs to maintain because they are made with dried vegetation that does not attract dust and is impervious to bacterial growth. For the most part, just regular vacuuming is enough to keep sisal and seagrass rugs looking great for years.

But what about spills and stains? Most types of stains on sisal and seagrass rugs can be spot cleaned fairly easily at home, using these DIY instructions:

  1. Immediately blot the spill with paper towels or a clean white cloth. Try to remove as much moisture as you can before moving on to step 2.
  2. Dilute a PH-neutral detergent with room temperature water. Gently brush the rug fibers without allowing them to become fully saturated.
  3. Blot away the moisture with paper towels or a clean white cloth.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed.
  5. Hang the rug in the sun to dry, or use a blow dryer to quickly evaporate any remaining moisture.

If this DIY method doesn’t work for you, or if you are unsure about the type of stain you’re dealing with, you might want to seek help from a professional.

Five Step Carpet Care offers a sisal rug cleaning service in the Asheville area of western North Carolina. If you’re in the area, give us a call at 828.237.3237 or get in touch via our contact form today!

How to Clean a Futon Mattress

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Wondering how to clean a futon mattress? Or how about maintaining your futon mattress to keep it looking clean, smelling fresh, and to extend its usefulness?

Futons are a great, versatile furniture choice, especially for tight spaces and multi-purpose rooms. Because many people use their futons both as sofas and beds, they can get dirty and worn more quickly than other pieces of furniture. Use these six simple steps to get your futon mattress clean and keep it that way! 

Photo by Filios Sazeides

  1. Rotate regularly- Rotating your futon mattress helps keep from collecting dust and cobwebs on the bottom. It also prevents the mattress from becoming misshapen from overuse on one side. You should turn your futon mattress over about once a month to extend its life.
  2. Freshen- Once every two or three months, take the cover or bedding off of the futon mattress and allow it to air out, using fans for extra air circulation. You can also deodorize your mattress at this time by sprinkling baking soda on the surface, letting it sit for an hour, and then vacuuming.
  3. Vacuum- To give your mattress a thorough cleaning, start by rotating and/or airing it out, then vacuum it to remove lint, dead skin, and pet hair.
  4. Spot Clean- If you have an accidental spill and get a stain on your futon mattress, try to tackle it quickly—before the stain dries, if possible. You can use a small bowl of water with just a drop or two of liquid dishwashing soap to remove most types of stains. After the stain is removed, be sure to sponge the area with clear water to get rid of any soap residue. Then blot dry with a clean cloth or towel.
  5. Clean and Maintain the Frame- Your futon frame may be made of wood or metal. Either way, to keep your futon looking its best, you should dust the frame every month or so, paying special attention to the parts beneath the futon mattress, where cobwebs and dust bunnies tend to gather. Take the time to tighten any loose screws while you’re at it. If you have a wooden frame, you might want to oil the wood.
  6. Protect Your Futon Mattress- The best investment you can make to extend the life of your futon mattress is to purchase a quality futon cover. Keeping the mattress covered will prevent dirt, crumbs, and spills from reaching the mattress itself. Futon covers are thick and durable, and they zipper up one side to make taking them off and putting them back on easy. They are usually machine washable. You should launder your futon cover about once a month if you use the futon frequently.
  7. Professional Cleaning- If your futon mattress has stains that won’t come out with regular spot cleaning, or if it has been sitting for awhile in a dank or musty environment, you might want to consider having it professionally cleaned. A professional upholstery cleaner will come to your home and clean the futon for you. With their specialized equipment, they are sure to get it much cleaner than you could do yourself.

If you live in the Asheville, NC area and are in need of friendly, professional upholstery cleaners for your futon or any other furniture, call Five Step Carpet Care at 828.237.3237 today or get in touch using our contact form.