Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Learn How To Clean Stains From Upholstery

House Cleaning Advice


In order to clean the upholstery in your house you can make use of certain products that are readily available in the market and do a good job. To remove the tough stains from your upholstery you need to make use of a professional cleaner to remove stains from vinyl, cloth or even leather upholstery.

There are a lot of professional house cleaners nowadays who can do the job of cleaning your upholstery for you. But you can even do it yourself if you have the necessary cleaners with you. There are different cleaners for different types of fabric that are available in the market today.

First remove any excess food or soil, then you can use a soft bristle brush with mild detergent to start removing the stain.  Always test the detergent first before using the diluted solution on your upholstery, to ensure that it will not bleach the fabric,.  Warm water with detergent works best.  Gently brush the area until you see the stain disappear. Air dry or blow dry the area to remove excess liquid to complete the cleaning process.

Vinyl surfaces are susceptible to damage from some cleaning agents.  So it is advisable to always check first, or if unsure, use a more mild cleaning solution.  Likewise leather can become brittle and crack due to some cleaning agents.  It is advisable to use a quality leather cleaning oil to keep your leather furniture looking clean and new.

If your upholstery has vinyl covering then you might want to try spirit-based cleaners. For leather upholstery, leather oil is the only thing recommended as hard cleaners could cause the leather to develop cracks in it.

In the case that you find gum or sticky residue the best method of removal is to first harden the material with ice, then gently scrape all excess material with a butter knife of similar scraping tool until the dirt is gone.  Although you can get good results using these methods, the surefire way to make certain that the job is done right is to hire a licensed, bonded cleaning service that can return the new look to your upholstery.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Spruce Up Your Yard Furniture

Patio furniture cleaning requires you to use quality materials compared to cleaning indoor furniture. Even then, you will need to pay more attention to outdoor furniture and take care of it to enhance the life and looks of it. As the conditions of the environment vary from one place to another, maintenance required also differs.

You want to use soapy water to thoroughly clean the exposed surfaces, scrubbing gently with cloth that will not leave lint rinse remove the soapy residue, dry off and allow to air dry.

If the location of your patio furniture is nearby to a water source, such as a pool or fountain, it is advised that you wash with fresh water to prevent deterioration from the chlorinated water that can cause bleaching or deterioration.

Food spills on patio furniture can leave stains that are sometimes difficult to remove. Wash the stain completely, being careful not to let it absorb into the furniture.

If you have wooden furniture which is not sealed with varnish, it is recommended that you apply common salt on the affected area on the wood. Let the salt sit there for a while or until all the stain or grease is absorbed. You may also try rubbing the salt slowly and then wash off the stained area. If the stain is still visible try sanding off the area.

There are always certain marks on patio furniture which are difficult to remove and annoying as well. A good solution is to attend to them immediately rather than let them stay on your furniture and risk getting a permanent mark.

In order to clean the furniture cushions, first remove the covers then wash the cushions in a washing machine. If the stain are severe, pre-treat with warm water and a laundry detergent scrubbing gently to remove as much of the stain as possible before running through the washing machine. When not using your patio furniture, bring the cushions indoors This prevents them from getting dirty and keeps them from being exposed too long to the elements that over time will cause fading and deterioration.