Image by artursafronovvvv

Sofa beds have always been a popular choice for guest rooms. However, recently, we’ve been noticing an increasing trend of people using this style of sofa in place of a bed in their homes. There’s a good reason for this shift! These pieces of furniture are practical, comfortable, and space-saving, and, not least, they come in a wide range of beautiful and high-quality models. As upholstery care specialists, we see a good deal of sleeper sofas in our work. But as we encounter sofa beds more frequently, it becomes evident that people often overlook the fact that this type of furniture requires different maintenance compared to a conventional sofa. Here are some expert tips for cleaning and caring for your sofa bed, ensuring it looks great and stays comfortable for years to come.

Read also: How to Properly Care For a Fabric Sofa

Sofa beds have two very different uses that lead to different issues with their maintenance. Image by Freepik

Understanding the Unique Maintenance Needs of a Sofa Bed

People opt for this type of sofa for various reasons – some live in compact spaces, others prefer having a functional guest room, and a few even consider Airbnb-ing their spare room. Regardless of the reason, a sofa in these scenarios serves a dual purpose: seating for relaxation and a bed. This dual role poses several challenges, including wear and staining. Besides the susceptibility to spills and stains, sofa beds are exposed to the same dirt and grime that mattresses endure. Prolonged use can lead to fabric wear, cushion deformation, and more. So, how can we tackle these issues? Read on to find out.

Check also: 5 Upholstery Cleaning Hacks to Keep Your Sofa As New

Vacuuming your sofa bed prolongs the life of the upholstery. Image by senivpetro

Keeping Your Sofa Bed Clean and Fresh

Regular vacuuming of your sofa bed is crucial for maintaining a clean and healthy living environment. Soft furnishings tend to accumulate dust, dirt, pet hair, and debris, which can lead to various problems if left unchecked. These particles not only spoil the sofa’s appearance but can also harbour allergens like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander, potentially causing allergies or respiratory issues. Frequent vacuuming helps prevent premature wear and tear, preserving the fabric and cushions and ultimately extending the lifespan of your sofa bed. By making regular vacuuming a part of your sofa bed cleaning routine, you ensure a cleaner, more inviting, and longer-lasting piece of furniture in your home.

Read also: How to Keep Your Upholstery Stain and Odour-Free

A waterproof mattress protector is a game changer in preventing stains on your sleeper sofa.

Preventing Stains During Sleep

When it comes to mattress cleaning, the most common stains we encounter are from sweat, blood, greasy sebum stains, and, in some cases, urine. This is perfectly normal, as each of us produces these bodily fluids. While hiding such unsightly stains on a mattress with sheets or a duvet cover is easy, the same cannot be said for a sofa bed. Using a mattress protector is a smart move to avoid embarrassing moments with your guests and stubborn stains on the upholstery. While some furniture brands offer special protectors for sofa beds, a regular waterproof mattress protector works wonders. Ensure it fits your sofa bed size and place it beneath the sheet. This way, your furniture is shielded from blemishes, and if an accident occurs, simply toss the protector in the washing machine for easy cleanup.

Check also: How to Keep Your Mattress Odour-Free

Snacking on your sofa can lead to food and beverage spills, so it’s wise to avoid it as much as you can. Image by Freepik

Preventing Daily Stains on Your Sofa Bed

Sitting or sleeping on a sofa bed that smells like beer or pizza sauce is not enjoyable. To prevent stains:

• Avoid eating on the sofa bed, or consider using covers. In case of spills, promptly address the stain to prevent it from becoming stubborn and difficult to clean.
• Schedule professional deep sofa cleaning at least twice a year.
• Request that the professionals treat the fabric with Scotchgard; this way, you won’t need to worry about accidental spills.

Read also: When to Hire a Professional Upholstery Cleaner

Sebum stains can be quite difficult to remove as they cling to the upholstery’s fibres. Image by katemangostar

Preventing Sebum Stains on Your Sofa Bed’s Back and Armrests

A ‘sebum stain’ is the result of the oily secretion from our skin’s sebaceous glands, including those on our scalp. When we repeatedly rest our heads in the same spot, this greasy substance can leave stubborn stains on the upholstery. Sebum stains can pose a challenge when cleaning your sofa bed, as the oiliness can cause it to cling to the fabric fibres. Luckily, there’s a straightforward solution – place a piece of linen on the area where your head touches the upholstery while sleeping. This clever trick will safeguard your upholstered furniture during relaxation and movie nights and prevent the buildup of unsightly sebum stains. By covering the back and armrests of your sofa bed, you can significantly extend the life of the upholstery.

Check also: 5 Tips on Cleaning Your Suede Sofa

Treating spills right away is the best way to prolong your sofa bed’s beautiful appearance. Image by pressfoto

Dealing with Stains on Your Sofa Bed

In the event of a spill on your sofa bed, acting swiftly to prevent a permanent stain is essential. Here’s what you should do:

• If the stain has solid particles, gently remove them with a spatula or spoon without applying excessive pressure.
• Use a clean, white* cloth to blot the spot gently, absorbing as much liquid as possible.
• Before treating the stain with a stain-removing product, spray the affected area with cold water.
• Apply an upholstery stain remover according to the product’s instructions. After treating the stain, allow the sofa to air dry completely before sitting or sleeping on it to prevent filling deformation and re-soiling of the fabric. Avoid using multiple products on the same stain, as different ingredients may react unpredictably and seal the stain.

*When using a clean, colourless cloth, you avoid transferring dyes onto the sofa fabric during the stain removal process.

Suppose you’re uncertain about cleaning the sofa yourself or dealing with stubborn stains. In that case, it’s best to book a professional sofa cleaner.

A top mattress will do wonders in supporting your back during sleep and will help prevent cushion sagging.

Preventing Cushion Sagging

Most sofa beds aren’t designed for daily use as a bed, and they often lack proper back support. However, if you find yourself needing to sleep on the sofa bed daily, prioritize your comfort. With frequent use, you’ll likely notice the cushions sagging and lumps forming in the filling. To address this issue, consider investing in a high-quality sofa bed mattress specifically designed for this purpose. This will distribute your weight more evenly, preventing cushion sagging. Additionally, using a top mattress offers the added benefit of protecting the upholstery from stains during sleep. Top mattresses not only make your sofa bed more comfortable but also extend the lifespan of your furniture.

Check also: 5 Things to Consider When Buying a New Sofa

By following these tips and guidelines, you can ensure that your sofa bed remains in top condition, providing comfort and functionality for years to come.

The post How to Clean and Maintain Your Sofa Bed and Extend Its Lifespan appeared first on KTMA Ltd..

Upholstery Types

Before we get to the method, it is important to take a look at the type of upholstery you will be treating. The reason for this is that each type of fabric requires different approaches and you do not want to be damaging your beautiful furniture.

• Nylon – easy to clean, durable, high abrasion resistance;
• Polyester – easy to clean, durable, low to moderate abrasion resistance;
• Olefin – easy to clean, very durable, colourfast;
• Acrylic – easy to clean, very durable, colourfast;
• Rayon – low-moisture cleaning, not very durable;
• Cotton – tricky to clean, not fade-resistant;
• Wool – difficult to clean, not very stain-resistant;
• Leather – easy to clean; the good thing with leather is that in most cases, you can just wipe off the stain if it has not yet dried.

Always check the label on your furniture and pay attention to the instructions. This is vital to maintaining your home interior in tip-top condition. If you have a dried bloodstain, we recommend you contact professional stain-removal technicians to give you a hand. This could help you save doing irreversible damage to your upholstery.

How to Clean Bloodstains from Upholstery

Now that you know the main qualities of the fabrics, it is time to get to the main part – how to clean bloodstains from upholstery. Here is our extensive guide, provided by vetted technicians:

1. If the bloodstain has dried before you noticed it, it may be a good idea to get an old toothbrush. Gently brush away the dried residue without applying much pressure. You don’t want to rub it into the fabric.
2. Now, if possible, remove the cover of your upholstered furniture. If not, you will have to be very careful with the next step not to cause damage.
3. Rinse the area with cold water to get as much of the stain out as possible. Blood is a protein stain, so be sure to use cold water only.
4. In the event that the previous step was not possible due to moisture-sensitive fabric, get an absorbent sponge or cloth. Plunge them in cold water and start blotting the area to lift as much of the stain as you can.
5. Now get a bit of soda water and a cup of cold water and mix the two together. Get a clean sponge or cloth and continue blotting at the area.
6. Repeat step 5 until it stops lifting the stain. By this point, there should only be a light residue of the blood.
7. Mix 8 parts water with 1 part glycerine and 1 part laundry detergent with just a drop of fairy washing up liquid into a spray bottle and shake it well.
8. Spray lightly, about 2 or 3 times onto the afflicted area.
9. Rinse out your cloth or sponge and continue dabbing at the area using circular motions. If needed, repeat the step a few times.
10. Once there are no traces of the stain left, get a bowl of clean, cold water and rinse out the area using a clean towel or cloth.

Check out more of our professional upholstery stain-removal tips: How to Keep Upholstery Stain and Odour-Free.

The post How to Clean Bloodstains from Upholstery appeared first on KTMA Ltd..

Read also: Precautions and Prevention of Contracting and Spreading COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The Best Shelf Products for Keeping Upholstery Stain and Odour-Free:

Scotchgard Fabric Upholstery Cleaner – £10

Northern Labs Formula 1 Dry Upholstery Cleaner – £12.50

Sonax (289300-755) Leather Foam – £13

Hoover 2X PetPlus Concentrated – £16

Rust-Oleum 278146 – £13

These are the top cleaning products for upholstery and their average prices. If they’re not available on the shelf in your local stores, they’re available for order on Amazon.

How to Use Shelf Products for Cleaning Upholstery:

When it comes to the shelf-bought products, you need to stick to thеse rules. Always approach with caution when using chemical-based cleaners. You don’t want to damage your upholstered furniture.

1. Always check your furniture labels for cleaning instructions before use;
2. Never stray from the instructions on the product label.
As long as you stick to these rules, you can’t go wrong. It’s as simple as that.

Tried and Proven DIY Solutions for Stain and Odour-Free Upholstery:

We did a bit of digging through the best DIY for upholstered furniture. Here are our top 3 methods for stain and odour-free fabric furniture:

1. he best upholstery brightening cleaner – 1 cup hydrogen peroxide (3%) and 1tbsp of dish soap. Mix them in a spray bottle and you’re ready to go!

1. Spray on upholstered furniture until lightly soaked;
2. Leave to rest a few minutes;
3. Using a furniture brush lightly scrub upholstery;
4. Spray with clean water and hoover until dry.

2. The best general upholstery cleaner – 1 cup of water or soda water with ½ cup white vinegar, ½ cup dish soap. Mix them in a spray bottle and you have your DIY product.

1. Spray onto upholstery until lightly soaked;
2. Scrub lightly with a furniture brush or clean cloth;
3. Spray with clean water;
4. Vacuum until dry;

3. The best dry upholstery cleaner – ½ cup of baking soda with ½ cup of cornstarch with just enough water to make a paste-like mixture. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oils for pleasant odours.

1. Spread the mixture over the surface of your furniture;
2. Leave for at least 30 minutes. Leave overnight for more serious cases;
3. Vacuum until no traces of the mixture are left;
4. If your upholstery is super sensitive, leave the water out of the mixture and just sprinkle the dry ingredients over your upholstery. After vacuuming then drop about 10 drops of your favourite essential oils over your upholstered furniture.

Need Professional Upholstery Cleaners?

Sometimes we’ve loved our upholstery so much that it needs professional care. Don’t hesitate to contact Happy House Cleaning services. Guarantee your settees and armchairs that new, spick and span look. Our professional upholstery cleaners will carefully tend your furniture with top-notch professional cleaning products. Combine our services – antiviral sanitisation, end of tenancy cleaning, carpet cleaning, and more!- and get a juicy discount. Go to our main site and get your free quote now!

The post How to Keep Upholstery Stain and Odour-Free appeared first on KTMA Ltd..

Leather upholstery is beautiful and can add a touch of luxury to any home interior. Leather is also a very practical choice, because when cleaned and maintained properly these durable furnishings age beautifully and nobly. Learn how to deal with stains on your leather sofa and how to maintain it in order to prolong its life.

Before You Start Cleaning Leather Furniture

We said leather is a durable material, but it is true, that if you use the wrong product or the wrong cleaning technique you CAN easily damage your furniture. Some types of leather don’t tolerate water, and have to be cleaned only by professionals. The cleaning methods suggested below work well for most leather furniture and upholstery.

But is important to check your sofa’s label and see if there are any specific tips for upholstery cleaning and maintenance. This little step will help you avoid damaging your furniture, no matter what kind of upholstery you are cleaning. If you want to clean a suede upholstery, you can check the post from our blog.

Clean and Refresh Leather Furniture

This procedure will help you remove dust and restore the gloss of your leather sofa. You will need:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Mild liquid soap
• Distilled water (tap water contains chlorine, which can damage leather)
• Large bowl
• 4-5 soft cloths (microfibre)
• Leather conditioner

Vacuum thoroughly your leather sofa. Use soft brush, because the other attachment can leave marks, scratching the leather and even damaging it permanently. Pour distilled water into a large bowl and add a few drops of mild liquid soap. Mix well until suds form. Dip a microfibre cloth into the bowl and squeeze it – it should be damp not soaking wet. Wipe the surface of the leather furniture.

Dip another, clean cloth in distilled water and wipe the sofa to rinse the soap. Use another rag to dry the leather. Take a dry clean microfibre cloth or a soft towel and buff the leather to restore the gloss of the sofa. In the end apply leather conditioner to protect the couch surface.

Removing Stains from Leather Sofa

Before attempting to clean any stain of your leather furniture always check your solution (no matter if it is homemade or commercial one) on a small hidden area of the sofa.

Ink stain: Dip a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol and wipe the ink. Don’t dry the sofa the alcohol will evaporate quickly. If you have to deal with newsprint ink stain, spray it with hair spray and then wipe using rubbing alcohol.

Grease: If you act on time you will need only dry cloth to soak the stain. No need to use soap or water.

Dark spots: Coffee, blood, soy sauce leave dark stains and can be treated with the following recipe. Prepare paste from 1 part lemon juice and 1 part cream of tartar and apply onto the stain. Leave for 10 minutes and wipe the sofa with damp cloth. Dry the spot using soft cloth and buff to restore leather’s gloss. Apply leather conditioner.

The sooner you treat the stain, the better. Old, untreated stains are very difficult to remove, because leather has a porous structure and the stain sets deep into the material. If you have to clean an old stain better turn to professional cleaners.

The post How to Clean Leather Sofa to Extend its Life? appeared first on KTMA Ltd..

The post 5 Tips on Cleaning a Suede Sofa appeared first on KTMA Ltd..

If there is something most people hate to do it may be cleaning a stain, especially if it is on sofa, armchair, or other item, that is impossible to cram in the laundry machine. It is just awful when you have to deal with a food or beverage spill on the freshly cleaned sofa, right? But if you are familiar with Murphy’s law you already know that a stain occurs MOSTLY when the upholstery has just been cleaned.

However, our cleaning experts shared a little secret: there is a way to spot-clean a stain without having to treat the whole item. All you need is iron and a few common household cleaning items and ingredients.

Check if the Upholstery Fabric

Before reaching to your iron it is good to know that not all fabrics can be cleaned using this procedure. Some kinds of upholstery are water sensitive and can be treated only by professional upholstery cleaner. If you think there could be any risk of damaging the fabric, better leave the stain removal to a cleaning company. If you have already cleaned your furniture by yourself and you are sure it can be water treated continue reading.

Recipe #1: Vinegar and Water

You will need:

• Dull knife/Spatula/Hard brush
• White distilled vinegar
• Water
• Clean cotton rags or towels
• Spray bottle
• Iron

Instructions:

Make a solution from 1 part distilled vinegar and 3 parts lukewarm water. Pour it in a clean spray bottle. Turn on the iron and set it on medium temperature. Use the knife in case the stain is fresh and there is excessive dirt remaining on the fabric.

Spray onto the spot on the upholstery. Don’t use too much of the solution, just enough to cover evenly the stain. Let it stay like this for 2-3 minutes. Lay the towel on the stain and iron it. Iron gently and the stain will imprint onto the cloth. If you push the iron very hard – the stain will go deeper into the upholstery. Never set the temperature on maximum because instead of cleaning it you will seal the stain.

Recipe #2: Vinegar, and Water

You will need:

• Dull knife/Spatula/Hard brush
• Spot removing product
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Clean cloth
• Iron

Instructions:

Prepare a solution using 1 part stain remover and 3 parts water, pour in the spray bottle. Set the iron on high temperature, because you will be using the steam. Take a clean cloth, spray the mixture onto it, and lay it on the stain. Put the iron over the cloth and hold it pushing the steam button. Hold it like this for 5 minutes. The dirt should evaporate on the towel along with the stain-removing product.

Cleaning with iron is appropriate for fresh stains only. Don’t clean blood, red vine, blueberry and any other dark stains using iron. If you are dealing with grease spill sprinkle salt generously over the stain and let the salt absorb the oil, before using the iron.

The post How to Remove Stains from Upholstery with Iron appeared first on KTMA Ltd..

Lint rollers are the best tool to use when removing hair, fluffs and lint from clothes. However most rollers have very short life and quickly become useless, especially when you have to deal with pet hair. Some dog and cat breeds like Siamese cats and Doberman dogs have really short thick fur, which is really difficult to remove once it gets deep into fabric’ fibres.

Extracting ALL the pet hair from your sofa is always the first step when cleaning the upholstery, and this is where most lint rollers fail. Fortunately our skilled upholstery cleaners share their little tricks – here are six effective ways to get pet hair out from your furniture upholstery and clothes.

DIY Tape Glove

Tape is the best option for emergency situations. Wrap a long wide strip loosely around the palm of your hand with the adhesive side out. Use as lint roller to remove excessive pet hair from furniture and clothes. Generally all types of tape will do the trick, but the best option is to use masking tape – it is strong enough to stick the pet hair, but the glue won’t stick and leave any residue to the fabric.

Wet Cloth + Vacuum

This method is suitable to clean furniture or car upholstery, but it isn’t the best option for clothes and delicate fabrics. Take clean slightly damp cloth and wipe gently the surface. Collect the pet hair into a pile using stiff bristle brush and then vacuum.

Remove Pet Hair with Rubber

You can either put on rubber gloves or take a window-cleaning squeegee and “wipe” the upholstery and run a vacuum to suck whatever the rubber pulled out. Using rubber is great and easy way to get out short hairs of any fabric – be it garment, upholstery or even carpet. Cleaning pet hair with rubber is effective even on tight woven fabric that usually is really difficult to clean.

Dry Cleaning Sponge

Take a dry dense sponge and wipe down your coat, chair or sofa. The denser the sponge you take the easier it will be to pull pet hair out of the fabric. The downside of this trick is that you will need to press really hard. It’s not convenient if you have to clean large surface like carpet or upholstery, but it works well for clothes.

Remove Pet Hair with Portable Vacuum

Getting a small, powerful vacuum cleaner is always a smart investment. Especially, if it is a wet-dry vacuum cleaner – handy and quite convenient to deal not only with pet hair, but beverage and food spills from upholstery, carpets and clothes.

Hair Sprays and Anti-static Products

These products make the pet hair thicker and easier to remove. Spray evenly hair spray or anti-static product onto pet hair, wait until it dries completely, then brush out and vacuum all the fur and lint.

The post 6 Tricks for Removing Pet Hair from Furniture and Clothes appeared first on KTMA Ltd..

No matter how much effort you put in cleaning and maintaining your armchairs or sofa, accidents happen. When spill occurs the time of reaction is of essence. In fact, upholstered furniture is bound to get dirty from general use over time – that’s inevitable! Stains, dirt and accumulated dust can make the fabric look worn out and scruffy.

Learning how to clean and maintain your furniture is important if you want to keep it looking beautiful, clean and well cared of. This is why we’ve gathered some useful tips on cleaning the most common types of upholstery fast and effective.

How to Clean Different Fabrics

There are some pretty common rules when it comes to clean upholstered furniture. Regular vacuuming is a must to avoid dust setting deeply into fabric and stuffing. Spot treatment is the best way to remove spills, before they become stubborn stains. But the similarities end here.

Different upholstery fabrics require different care. Knowing how to deal with the specific kind can help you avoid shrinking or colour bleeding and get impeccable results when cleaning your furniture.

Synthetic Upholstery

Fabrics made of synthetic fibres, such as acrylic, polyester, nylon or olefin, are generally easy to clean. They stand water well and you can use any type of water-based cleaning product. If the upholstery is removable you can even put it in your laundry machine. However it is always smart to check the label on your furniture to see if there are any instructions for specific treatment or product. If not sure what to do just test the cleaning product on a small, inconspicuous area to see if there is shrinkage or discoloration. If these occur, stop and try another furniture cleaning agent.

Natural Upholstery

Some types of upholstery are made of 100% natural fibres, most often cotton and wool, but sometimes silk, velvet or linen. Typically natural fabrics retain a lot of water so wet cleaning is not a good idea, however steam cleaning can be appropriate. Generally, you can clean these types of fabrics by yourself unless the label says otherwise. When you clean natural upholstery you will do fine with water-based product, but be moderate when applying it. Too much moist can cause shrinking or ‘water rings’.

Combined Upholstery

Very often upholstery fabric is combination of natural and man-made fibres. Usually cotton or wool are blended 50/50 with some synthetic threads. The safest option when dealing with blended fabrics is to hire professional upholstery cleaners in London. Combined fabrics usually require special treatment to avoid shrinking or other damage, unless the label specifies their DIY cleaning method.

Microfibre Upholstery

Microfibre is beautiful, durable and easy to maintain fabric. In this type of upholstery a tiny area consist of large amount of fibres. This stops the dirt from penetrating deep into the fabric. Usually scrubbing off the dirt with brush and vacuuming should be enough to remove the stain. For spot cleaning check the manufacturer label to select the best product for your microbibre upholstery.

Leather

Usually leather needs only wiping from the dust and dirt and occasional conditioning to keep it elastic and smooth. If however you have to deal with stain on you leather upholstery you should consider hiring professional company to treat the spot.

NB! When cleaning your upholstery, you should try to avoid getting liquids and cleaning agents to frames, legs or armrests of the furniture. These metal or wooden parts can corrode, rust, change color and even stain the upholstery and this definitely is a problem you don’t want to deal with.

The post How to Clean and Maintain Different Types of Upholstery appeared first on KTMA Ltd..