How to easily clean upholstered furniture: using a washing vacuum cleaner to clean a sofa

Is it possible to clean a sofa with a vacuum cleaner?

Answering the question: “Is it possible to clean a sofa with a washing vacuum cleaner?”, the question is unequivocal - it is possible, but in this case the upholstery will come into contact with water, and in some cases it will get very wet. Therefore, before using this cleaning method on your furniture, determine what material the upholstery is made of. As a rule, it is not recommended to use the device for the following fabrics:

If you decide to take a risk and still wash such upholstery with a vacuum cleaner, then be sure to carry out a preliminary check. Try cleaning the back of the furniture with the wet method, wait until the upholstery dries, and evaluate the effectiveness. If you notice that the fabric has deteriorated even a little, then it is better to refuse cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning a sofa with a washing vacuum cleaner - basic rules

Any wet care for upholstered furniture involves basic rules, ignoring which can lead to the most unpredictable consequences. This may be the appearance of dirty streaks or stains, stretching or discoloration of the upholstery. To prevent this from happening, it is advisable to adhere to the basic rules of not only the cleaning itself, but also the preliminary preparation:

• Before washing, the sofa should be vacuumed with a dry cleaning device or lightly brushed to remove the top layer of dust and small debris;
• movements must occur strictly in one direction so as not to disturb the structure of the fabric or pile;
• if there are stains on the upholstery, the dirt itself is initially removed, and only then the washing begins;
• after treating the furniture with a washing vacuum cleaner, it is advisable to blot the entire surface with a towel or paper napkins to remove excess moisture;
• It is advisable to use a soft nozzle, since the main brushes contain sharp parts that can tear the upholstery;
• If the washing vacuum cleaner is equipped with a power regulator, then it is better to clean the sofa at the minimum level of this parameter.

Wet method

Before you start cleaning the upholstery surface, you need to think about what products are needed to get an effective result. There is a wide variety of household chemicals, the action of which is aimed both at removing various stains and at getting rid of dust and dirt (for example, Vanish for upholstered furniture).

First, you should treat the contaminated areas with Vanish and wait for some time specified in the instructions for use of the detergent. Only then use a vacuum cleaner.

It would be a good idea to first apply the solution to the back of the sofa material to ensure that there is no discoloration or deterioration of the fabric.

All washing units have special attachments designed for wet cleaning of soft chairs and sofas. Thanks to the special design of these nozzles, gentle, high-quality cleaning is carried out, during which moisture penetrates only into the upper layers of the upholstery material.

After such cleaning, the fabric must be thoroughly dried.

A leather or suede sofa can be easily cleaned using a special brush attachment for a vacuum cleaner, which will collect all the accumulated dirt. Or you can simply take a damp cloth to wipe the leather upholstery with it - this will be enough, since leather does not absorb dust.

How to clean a sofa with a washing vacuum cleaner

The principle of cleaning a sofa with a washing vacuum cleaner is quite simple:

• dilute the selected product and pour it into the device’s container;
• treat the entire surface of the upholstery with gentle movements in one direction;
• Fill the container with clean water and rinse the material.

Why is this method of cleaning a sofa considered the most effective? It's very simple: under water pressure, the cleaning agent hits the upholstery, breaking down all the dirt. After this, the device sucks the dirty stains back, leaving no traces or streaks behind. In addition, the method allows you to remove even old greasy stains and gives the upholstery a more attractive look.

How to remove stains from fabric upholstery?

Since the sofa is used daily, stains of various origins often appear on it. If contamination is detected, action must be taken immediately.

How to remove different stains:

• 
  blood - rub hydrogen peroxide or saline solution;

• fat - generously treated with crushed chalk, and after 15 minutes swept away with a brush;
• ballpoint pen, brilliant green - carefully wipe off the dirt with a napkin soaked in alcohol;
• coffee, tea - wipe the stain with a cloth soaked in soapy water;
• urine - apply soda to the stain with confident movements, leave for 30 minutes and clean the fabric with a regular vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning products

When choosing a product for cleaning a sofa with a washing vacuum cleaner, it is better to give preference to special products. As a rule, it is designed for specific materials and will not harm the furniture.

Modern products are concentrated, so large amounts added to the container may leave streaks on the sofa. To prevent this from happening, it is better to reduce the amount of detergent, even if the manufacturer declares a different amount. No matter how much product you use (even a teaspoon), it will still work.

If you doubt whether you should trust your sofa to a vacuum cleaner, you can always contact a dry cleaner. There they will offer you their services for cleaning upholstered furniture using professional equipment and safe products.

Sofas, chairs, armchairs in an apartment, office and home get dirty no less often than carpets or floors.

The nature of the contamination can be different:

• spilled liquids, sauces, coffee, wine;
• greasy backrests and armrests;
• dust on the surface of the upholstery and inside;
• pet hair.

If you do not clean it for a long time, the upholstery will lose its attractive appearance. Dust mites, one of the main allergens, will begin to multiply in upholstered furniture. Cleaning upholstered furniture with a washing vacuum cleaner will eliminate all of the listed contaminants.

Methods of cleansing

Having a washing vacuum cleaner and choosing the right cleaning composition, you can easily deal with furniture contamination yourself. Let's look at the two most popular options.

Dry

Dry cleaning is the easiest way to quickly tidy up the surface of furniture, however, this is only a preparatory stage for deeper wet cleaning.

You should be aware that this method is not effective for velvet and velor surfaces.

Dry vacuuming will help collect dust and lint from the surface; for this, use a thin attachment; brushes are not needed . Some vacuum cleaners come with special pet hair collection kits.

Wet

Before wet cleaning, you need to decide on a detergent. Take, for example, Vanish - it is perfect for cleaning upholstered furniture and removing stains and dirt from it. The technology for using this tool is simple:

• apply some Vanish to the surface;
• maintain the time according to the instructions;
• turn on the vacuum cleaner and clean the top;
• dry the upholstery.

It is recommended to first try the effect of the detergent on a piece of fabric at the back of the furniture to see how the fabric “accepts” the detergent.

Special brushes and cleaning products are available to clean suede, leather and velor upholstery. Any furniture covering will last longer if it is cleaned regularly with a vacuum cleaner.

You can find out how to properly clean a sofa using a washing vacuum cleaner in the video below.

What type of vacuum cleaner should be used for cleaning upholstered furniture?

Not just any device is suitable for cleaning upholstery. A vacuum cleaner for upholstered furniture and carpets must have the following characteristics:

1. Have special attachments:

• With thread remover. It will allow you to clean the surfaces of wool and hair and at the same time lift the pile, causing the fabric to take on its original appearance.
• For orthopedic mattresses. It creates a powerful air flow that can eliminate dust, mites, and particles of dead skin even from deep within.
• For delicate surfaces. The nozzle is equipped with a brush that will protect chairs and leather sofas from scratches.
• Slotted. Indispensable for cleaning hard-to-reach places: folds and joints.

1. Have enough power needed for effective deep cleaning at home.
2. Work in wet cleaning mode. The function will allow you to get rid of stubborn stains, unpleasant odors, and remove mites that are dangerous for people with diseases of the respiratory system.

The Thomas company offers a range of vacuum cleaners for cleaning upholstered furniture. Among them are models for both dry and wet cleaning. The first ones will help to carry out superficial cleaning of the upholstery. The second is deep cleaning of upholstered furniture with a vacuum cleaner.

What are the advantages of a steam cleaner

Versatile for use on all surfaces . A steam cleaner can be used to wash almost all hard materials: tiles, mirrors, metal, various types of floor coverings, plumbing equipment, etc.

Effective against most pollutants . Compared to traditional cleaning methods, steam cleaning allows you to get rid of greasy stains, ingrained odors, dust, scale, soap and limescale deposits in the bathroom, etc.

Environmental Safety . The steam cleaner only works with water. The device does not require the use of special detergents and disinfectants. Steam treatment is one of the best solutions for cleaning a children's room, kitchen, or classroom.

Thomas vacuum cleaner for upholstered furniture - a solution that will replace dry cleaning

The most effective way to clean the upholstery of sofas, armchairs, and chairs is to use the capabilities of Thomas washing vacuum cleaners (they are suitable for upholstered furniture in the same way as for low- and high-pile carpets).

A device with a wet cleaning function provides for the presence of two reservoirs in its design: the first is for clean water, the second is for dirty water. For effective cleaning, the German manufacturer recommends diluting ProTex detergent in the first tank.

Many of those who are planning to buy a vacuum cleaner for cleaning upholstered furniture are wondering whether wet cleaning will lead to dampness or rotting of the inner padding of sofas and armchairs. Thomas, with German meticulousness, has thought of everything: the design of the nozzle is such that only the surface of the upholstery is cleaned. Water does not have time to get inside, since there is a simultaneous supply of clean water and immediately it is sucked in with dust, dirt, and allergens dissolved in it. You will be surprised how after the first such cleaning the appearance of upholstered furniture and the air in the room changes.

Important! ProTex detergent concentrate is a product developed by. With it you will clean the upholstery in 10-20 minutes. The special formula makes it economical, effective and harmless to others.

If you need to remove a “stubborn” stain, use the following instructions: dilute the concentrate in clean water at the rate of 20 ml per 1 liter of water, treat the upholstery fabric with this solution, rub the stain with a nozzle and after 10 minutes, vacuum the upholstery in a normal wet mode.

Now you will always have a ready answer to the question of how to clean upholstered furniture with a washing vacuum cleaner.

Characteristics in the rating

Thanks to modern home appliances, you can forget about the need to go to the dry cleaner. Functional vacuum cleaners for dry and wet cleaning with special attachments will help clean upholstered furniture or carpet from any dirt. The best models are equipped with additional options for supplying steam and spraying detergent. Cleaning involves not only collecting pet hair, small debris and dust, but also removing various stains. There are even vacuum cleaners with special dry cleaning attachments that provide especially deep cleaning of upholstered furniture and carpets. And in order not to get confused in the variety of models offered, check out the rating of the best vacuum cleaners for cleaning furniture and carpets.

DryBox Amphibian

• Before performing dry cleaning, first install the Aqua-filter system according to the instructions.
• They do not absorb hazardous chemicals: varnish, gasoline, oil. Gasoline can form an explosive mixture with air, and acetone corrodes parts. You can vacuum up water, spilled tea or coffee, and other water-based liquids. After cleaning, pour out the liquid, wash and dry the containers.
• For cleaning, it is recommended to use Thomas branded products.
• Do not use for sucking up toner, flour, soot. They will clog the filters.

They use household appliances with a steam generator + nozzles for upholstered furniture + temperature control within the range of +40–150 ºC. The rating included steam cleaners Polaris PSC 1102C, Kitfort KT-903, steam vacuum cleaners MIE Bello, SV 7 Premium.