Cleaning Upholstery
General Cleaning Methods
Dust settles on upholstered furniture just as on hard
surfaces, and should be removed regularly, about once a
month, depending on environment and use, with vacuum
cleaner attachments--the upholstery nozzle and crevice
tool. A brush will remove some dust if you do not have a
vacuum, but will also scatter dust around. However,
down-filled cushions that are not lined with down-proof
ticking should be brushed as vacuum may draw out down.
Reduce greasy soil in air by use of range hood when
cooking; clean furnace filters reduce soil in air.
Arm and headrest covers of matching or harmonizing
fabric protect those areas against early build-up of soil
from skin and hair. In summer, if people will be sitting
on furniture in shorts, cover with washable throws,
sheets, or large pieces of terrycloth to protect from
body soil.
Most upholstered furniture sold today has a label or
tag telling how it should be cleaned as explained under
"Fabric Cleaning Code Labels".