Have a Soft Corner: Teja Lele Desai on how to take care of your sofa, cushions and curtains is no big deal
What would a room be like without soft furnishings? No sofa, no couch, no crazy…
Tough walls and corners may define our rooms, but it’s soft furnishings that make them into livable, homely spaces. Each home uses a wide range and different types of upholstery – on sofas and couches, for cushions and curtains, and more. Taking care of upholstery isn’t easy, especially if it’s a home with small children and pets, but regular attention will keep your spaces looking good for a long time.
regular vacuuming
Clean the furniture on a weekly basis, vacuum up and down the cushions. When vacuuming, check for loose buttons and threads, weak spots in the fabric, or debris that could clog the vacuum. Use the soft brush attachment and keep it clean and free of oily residue. Clean up the corners with crevice tools.
recommended cleaner
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning upholstery. Only use the recommended cleaner or you could damage the fabric. It’s not a good idea to experiment with cleaners and homemade solutions, especially when the stain or damage is huge.
inflate and rotate cushion
The inner parts of the cushions lose up to 25% of their volume in the first six months. Maintain shape by stirring daily. Inflate and rotate the cushions regularly to prevent the upholstery from becoming wrinkled or flattened and to ensure uniform wear.
don’t sit on arms
As far as possible, avoid sitting on the arms of sofas and chairs as the upholstery will distort. Keep children out of arms too. Jumping on the sofa needs to be discouraged – especially in homes with pets and children – to ensure that the cushioning and fabric do not lose shape.
away from the sun
Whenever possible, keep upholstered items out of direct sunlight to avoid fading. If the upholstery is near a window, control the light with shades, blinds, or draperies. Direct sunlight can damage the color and you can’t do much except change clothes.
go for deep clean
Give your upholstered furniture a deep clean every six months. DIY works well, but commercial cleaners can get the mess out really fast. If you’re doing it yourself, remove all soap residue to avoid attracting dirt to the clean upholstery.
with a soil retardant
Use a cleaning product with a soil retardant to prevent staining in the future. If in doubt, check the label directions or consult a professional cleaner about clay diluents. A professional treatment works well, especially in family homes.
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sleepovers are super
In high-traffic rooms, remove slipcovers to spot-clean them so that downholstery isn’t affected. Alternatively, place a clean folded towel under the slipcover to protect the upholstery when spot-cleaning the slipcover.
Get Pet Hair and Lint Off
Keep furniture free of pet hair by using a cloth brush with a bristle head or a napped fabric head. If you’re in a hurry, wrap masking tape around your hand, sticky side out, to pick up loose hair and fuzz.
when it’s party time
When guests are over or a party is underway, hide paper towels or a small terry towel (maybe under the seat cushion) nearby to tackle spills quickly. Using an L-shaped table on the sofa arms gives them a convenient place to rest glasses and cups – helping to avoid spills.
spread out
Never rub a spill. It stains. Blot as gently as possible with a white paper towel or tissue. Colored towels or printed paper towels can transfer dye or ink to the upholstery, so go with white tissues.
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