Upholstery Shampoos
Upholstered fabric furniture can be shampooed
professionally by a dry-cleaning plant, or you may do it
yourself with a commercial product or homemade detergent
suds. Be careful to use only foam or suds and to avoid
wetting the furniture padding. Occasionally shrinkage is
a problem, especially with cotton and some rayon fabrics.
Always test for shrinkage, fading or color bleeding on
the back or in an area that doesn't show. See "Testing
Cleanability". Also test cleaner you have not used
before, before using, to be sure it does not leave a
sticky residue which can hasten re-soiling. See "Testing
Residue". Work quickly, doing a small area at a time.
Blot the surface dry with a clean cloth or towel. The
furniture may feel damp for several hours, depending on
atmospheric conditions. To speed up the drying, set
furniture outdoors in the shade, indoors with windows
open or in front of an electric fan or heater.
Commercial shampoos in aerosol cans are easiest to
use because they produce only suds and eliminate any
danger of soaking the fabric. Residue and soil are
usually vacuumed off after the upholstery has dried.
Directions vary, so be sure to follow those on the label
of the shampoo you are using. Shampoos which become
powdery when dry are easily vacuumed off. If the dried
shampoo is not powdery and still has a soapy feel, it may
cling to the fabric and contribute to rapid resoiling.
If you use this kind, do not depend on vacuuming to
remove it. Instead, use a damp sponge as described under
the detergent and water method.
You can make your own shampoo but it is more work.
Use 1/2 teaspoon liquid handwashing detergent per quart
of warm water. Make suds by squeezing a sponge in the
solution.
Apply suds with the sponge or a soft brush, rubbing
gently with the grain of the material. Work on a small
area at a time, "rinsing" each area as you go with a
clean damp sponge. Keep rinsing out the sponge to remove
all shampoo. Avoid soaking the fabric. Move on to the
next area, overlapping the last one to avoid spotting.
Change rinse water frequently to keep it clean. Be sure
all the suds are removed or it will re-soil faster.