The need to clean upholstered furniture occurs quite often, because even if there are bedspreads on sofas and armchairs, they still get dirty from time to time. Many housewives prefer to figure out how to clean upholstered furniture at home, so as not to call specialists and not subject it to chemical treatment. Doing it yourself is not as difficult as it might seem, although the process is lengthy and has its own characteristics.
Cleaning upholstered furniture at home involves the use of special cleaning agents, which are selected depending on the type of material and the characteristics of pollution. Different stains can be removed with a variety of products and products. Moreover, it can be both purchased chemical compounds and improvised products that are in almost every home.
When starting to remove stains or dirt, you need to take into account the peculiarities of this process in order to get the desired result faster and easier. Furniture should be cleaned regularly, so the sofa and armchairs will always look like new. Experts give several basic recommendations, thanks to which cleaning of upholstered furniture will be easier:
- It is best to remove any stains fresh as soon as they appear. Then it will be easier to wash them off than old dirt.
- Before cleaning furniture, you must thoroughly vacuum it in all accessible places. If the device has such a function, it is better to do wet cleaning with a vacuum cleaner.
- Some dirt is easily and quickly removed with a steam cleaner. Then the use of additional cleaning agents is not required.
- When starting cleaning or removing stains, it is important to consider the properties and characteristics of the material with which the furniture is upholstered. First, the selected agent must be tested on an inconspicuous area of tissue and check the reaction. If the material does not deteriorate and the color does not wash off, you can use it over the entire surface.
Most people rarely change upholstered furniture, this applies to both the wealthy and the middle strata of the population. Furniture often gets dirty, whether it is made of leather or velor. The issue of cleaning sofas, poufs, armchairs remains relevant at all times. It is for this reason that housewives resort to some tricks that help clean interior items without damaging the structure of the fibers. We've put together a collection of actionable methods for you for any wallet.
How to properly wet clean furniture
If dust has settled on the furniture or minor stains appear, we recommend using a unified wet cleaning technology. It is suitable for all types of fabrics, does not take long and gives an effective result.
Necessary materials:
- kitchen sponge (foam);
- vacuum cleaner;
- carpet cleaner;
- brush for carpets with bristles of the same length;
- container with warm water.
Technology
- Soak a sponge in warm water, squeeze it out a little so that water does not drain from it. Treat contaminated areas.
- Prepare a cleaning solution: Pour 1 capful of carpet cleaner into 3.5 liters of water, stir until the lather rises.
- Soak a sponge in the prepared solution, squeeze out and wipe the upholstered furniture.
- Take a carpet brush and scrub the dirt. If you have faux leather furniture, do not press too hard on the brush.
- Dip a sponge in clean water and remove any remaining foam. To avoid stains after local treatment, evenly distribute the soap solution over the entire surface of the furniture. Rub with a brush without using too much force.
- Immerse the sponge in a bowl of clean water again, remove the foam. Repeat the steps several times until you are sure that the cleaning compound is completely removed.
- In cases where the surface of upholstered furniture is made of textiles, it must be vacuumed to prevent the formation of mold. Turn on the device at medium power, change the attachment to a soft brush, go over the entire surface. If the room is dry, you can skip this step.
- Using a vacuum cleaner as the only cleaning tool is ineffective. Use a compress to get a good result. Dilute 35 g. chopped table salt in 1.2 liters of water, wait until the crystals dissolve. Fold the cheesecloth in several layers, soak it in this solution and wrap the vacuum cleaner nozzle. This technology not only fights stains and stubborn dust, but also refreshes furniture while maintaining color.
- It is allowed, but strongly not recommended to vacuum up velvet or velor upholstered furniture. A hard brush can spoil the pile, due to which the piece of furniture will seem old, worn out.
- It is possible to remove dust from furniture not only by standard wet cleaning, which involves the use of a vacuum cleaner. Use the "grandmother's" method: mix 45 gr. edible salt with 25 ml. vinegar solution (9%), pour the mixture into 1.2 liters of warm water, wait until the granules dissolve and the solution cools. Take an old sheet, dip it in the prepared product, squeeze it well and cover the upholstered furniture. Knock out the chair / sofa until the fabric is dirty. After that, rinse it with running water, put it back into the solution and repeat the manipulations. After the time has elapsed, the sheet will stop getting dirty, this will be a signal that the furniture has been cleaned.
- In furniture stores, you can find special products designed for a particular type of fabric. One bottle is enough for six months, while the products have a favorable price policy. The composition is available in the form of tablets, which must be diluted with water. There are also powder, gel, spray, aerosol. Choose what you like best, distribute it evenly over the surface, wait until it is completely dry and remove the excess with a vacuum cleaner. Important! Before using commercially available products, perform a preliminary test on an inconspicuous area of upholstered furniture. After 30-50 minutes, evaluate the result. If you prefer two or three products of different brands, apply them to furniture at intervals of 3-4 hours, do not mix.
- If the furniture is already old, and there are greasy spots on it, prepare a neutral solution. Pour in 20 ml. dishwashing liquid in 1 liter of water, dampen a cotton cloth and wipe the piece in one direction. At the end of cleaning, collect the foam and sponge the furniture with a sponge and clean water.
- 10% rubbing alcohol will help to clean the dirt on the upholstery made of leather or leatherette. Moisten the gauze in a small amount of the preparation, apply to the places of contamination and leave for 10 minutes. Rub the surface well, rinse off the residue with a clean damp cloth.
- Upholstery made from nubuck, flock, velor, chenille or suede is cleaned in the same way as for leatherette. However, it is necessary to immediately rub the surface with a special rubber brush (shoe is suitable), and then rinse off the alcohol with clean water.
It is important to understand that soapy water or carpet cleaner is not always effective in removing tough stains. It is for this reason that professional upholsterers have developed folk remedies for removing stains. They are absolutely safe, therefore they are approved by the majority of users.
- Berry and fruit stains. Mix equal proportions of ammonia and table vinegar (take 50 ml of each product). Soak a foam sponge in clean water and apply to stains (if the stain is fresh, you can skip this step). Then soak gauze or bandage in a solution of ammonia and vinegar, treat the places of contamination, wait 10 minutes. Now re-wet the cloth in clean water, remove the excess solution. Walk on the surface with a vacuum cleaner, putting on gauze soaked in water on its attachment.
- Coffee stains. Combine 50 ml into one composition. filtered water, 40 ml. table vinegar (9%) and 45 ml. dishwashing gel. Stir, cover the container with the mixture with a foil or bag, wait about half an hour. At the end of the period, stir again, scoop up a little of the product on a foam rubber kitchen sponge, distribute it evenly over the places of contamination. Rub gently with a toothbrush or the hard side of a sponge and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove the foam, rinse with filtered water and dry the upholstery in a convenient way. If desired, you can use a vacuum cleaner. Spilled wine stains are removed in the same way.
- Stains from beer and kvass. Pour 1.3 liters of clean water into a container, bring the composition to a boil. Rub a small square of fragrance-free baby soap (size about 2 * 2 cm) on a fine grater, dip the shavings in water and let it dissolve. Stir until a thick foam forms, fold the bandage or gauze in 4 layers, dip the cloth into the solution. Squeeze out a little, rub well the dirty places. Wait at least 15 minutes, then rinse off the foam and remove the rest of the product with clean water. Grab and non-stained area to avoid detergent stains. After that, prepare a solution to eliminate the odor: pour in 75 ml. 9% vinegar solution in 1 liter of filtered water, mix and gently wipe the treated area. Remove the composition with a soft cloth dampened in clean water.
- Gum stains. Pour 400 ml into an enamel pot. filtered water, bring to a boil and add 40 gr. chamomile flowers. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes, then turn off the stove and let the mixture cool. Strain through a sieve or 6 layers of gauze so that no small plant particles remain in the solution. Pour the prepared mixture into ice cube trays, freeze. Place a few cubes on the gum until it hardens. Remove the ice, try to scrape the gum off the upholstery without damaging the structure. Do not use sharp objects. When the gum is removed, wipe the surface with an acidified solution: dilute 25 ml. vinegar in 450 ml. clean water.
How to clean upholstered furniture covers
The first step is to remove all small particles from the surface of the covers, be it bread crumbs or beads. To do this, use a vacuum cleaner with different shaped attachments to penetrate into the grooves of seams and bends. You can handle the covers by removing them from the upholstered furniture if this is more convenient.
After vacuuming, the covers must be turned inside out and placed in the washing machine. Choose a temperature setting based on the type of fabric. If the upholstery is made of natural fibers, set it to 40-45 degrees. If the surface is made of leather, synthetics, leatherette, velor, velvet, cambric, give preference to a low temperature regime (30-40 degrees). In this case, pay attention to the degree of spin, it should not exceed the 500 rpm mark.
At the end of the wash, remove the covers, smooth them out and dry them in a convenient way. You can hang them on a clothes dryer or on a wooden chair back. After final drying, slide the covers over the furniture and smooth with your hands.
The heel from lipstick, grease, felt-tip pen and other stubborn products is removed with 10% medical alcohol or ordinary vodka. The tool is suitable for surfaces made of any material, it is important to know the measure in everything. If the dirt is not heavy, clean the upholstered furniture with soapy water and a carpet cleaner.
Video: how to clean a sofa at home
- perhaps the most comfortable place that can be at home. There is nothing surprising in this, because after a hard day at work, we try to lie down as soon as possible, wrap ourselves in a warm blanket and, turning on our favorite TV series, plunge into the world of calmness and relaxation.
All the "interesting" things are happening on the sofa: children play here, this place was chosen by our smaller friends - pets, and no matter how many comments you make to both, they will still do as they please.
After some time, each person thinks about how to clean the sofa at home, because over time it loses its color, becomes frayed and becomes covered with various stains, which result in grease or dirt.
How to make the sofa get its original look?
Of course, it is better to choose a sofa for your home from such a fabric that would correspond to your pace of life. If you have small children and pets that can unknowingly harm furniture, you do not need to choose soiled options that after a few days will become dull and dirty, as if you have been using it for many years.
The nuances worth paying attention to are as follows.
- If you are considering the sofa as the only place in the home for socializing and receiving guests, make sure that its upholstery lends itself to easy cleaning when buying. It will be useful, if necessary, to clean it from animal hair at home.
- To prevent upholstered furniture from getting dirty so quickly, cover the sofa with a blanket or, even better, buy a cover for it.
- Do not allow yourself and all household members to eat on the couch, because an inadvertently dropped crumb can cause a large stain, which will simply be impossible to remove at home.
- Preventive cleaning of furniture fabrics at home will not take much time and effort, and the general condition of the sofa will be much better.
If you have not yet brought the furniture to the point where your sofa is no longer possible to clean at home, try to regularly carry out cleaning prophylaxis.
All you need is a wet sheet: spread it on the surface of your furniture and pat it lightly.
In this simple way, you can easily collect all the dust that has accumulated.
If necessary, the procedure can be repeated by rinsing and thoroughly wringing out the sheet in clean water.
This method has one "but" - until the sofa is completely dry, it is highly discouraged to sit on it.
But you will have something to do at this time: while you wait for the fabric to dry, you can polish the armrests, if they are made of wood, or simply brush them.
Wooden armrests - how to clean them properly?
Modern furniture models usually include wooden elements. In order for your sofa to be completely clean, you need to wash not only the upholstery itself, but also carefully clean the armrests.
It often happens that sloppy guests or inattentive children, out of a stupid habit, attach used gum to the armrests.
Many people face the problem of removing them, but this is not a problem: take Vaseline and rub it into the gum - after a while it will completely crumble.
In order to get rid of white stains that may remain after mugs in hot tea, petroleum jelly will also come to the rescue. After you wipe the surface with it, after a few hours the stains will be gone.
Thinking about how to clean a leather sofa? Do you think that this task at home is simply impossible? You are deeply mistaken.
Vaseline, which has already been written about above, is an excellent and versatile tool in this case - it will not only clean the armrests, but will also be able to remove dirt from the skin.
If you don't have one at home, you can replace it with baby oil. In both cases, the leather sofa will need to be wiped with a damp cloth, otherwise your "handsome" will look like an oily cheburek.
Cleaning depends on the degree of surface contamination - it happens that it is enough just to moisten a rag in cold water with the addition of vinegar and wipe the skin with it.
Cloth upholstery - cleaning secrets
Are you wondering how to clean the upholstery of a sofa and are afraid to make a mistake? Follow all the guidelines below and you will have a perfectly clean sofa in your home again.
First, determine what type of fabric the fabric belongs to - whether it will fade, discolor, or even lose its brightness if you wet it with soapy water (such options can be safely attributed to velvet, velor and plush).
To get it right at home, try applying a small amount of the product you trust to clean your couch over an unobtrusive interval.
Don't make mistakes! The sofa cannot be wetted too much - you cannot hang it out on the balcony to dry out. If excess moisture gets inside the furniture, you cannot avoid a musty smell or even mold.
Not always, in order to give your sofa the perfect look, you need to contact specialized companies and buy expensive products.
Sometimes what is at our fingertips can be very useful.
- Soda, vinegar and detergent... This method is perhaps the most popular today. You will need a liter of water (approximately), a spoonful of baking soda and a spoonful of detergent and vinegar. We mix all this and gently, with a brush, clean - try to keep your movements in the same direction, so you can avoid streaks.
Please note: you cannot overdo it with foam, so that later you do not have to wet the furniture too much. And in the case of “problematic fabrics”, on which too much foam will form, it is better to avoid detergent altogether.
- ... It can be used in place of regular powder. Keep track of the proportion - it should be 1: 9. Everything else is the same as in the previous version. It won't be difficult to clean your sofa at home.
Delicacy has not been canceled
There are situations when the upholstery of the sofa does not allow the brush to fidget over it, no matter how soft it is. But even in this situation, you can find the right way out.
Take the regular laundry detergent you use for your clothes and some lukewarm water.
We make foam by mixing a glass of water with half a glass of powder, apply it on the sofa and wait until it disappears. The procedure should be repeated 2-3 times. Then use and remove the dirty foam.
An unwanted stain has appeared on your favorite sofa and you can't get it out? It would seem that the sofa is regularly cleaned, and the stain does not disappear anywhere - it will not evaporate on its own; a special approach will be required to the stains.
A fresh stain is much easier to remove than one that has already been absorbed into the fabric. Therefore, try to monitor the appearance of new stains and get rid of them as quickly as possible.
So, popular options for removing various kinds of stains.
- Bold... Such stains can be removed with chalk, sprinkling it over the "damage", talcum or salt. All these loose materials are applied to a dirty surface and left for two hours. After they absorb the grease, they are vacuumed or swept away with a napkin.
- Beer stains... A regular solution of water and soap will work here. The only thing to remove an unpleasant odor is to treat the area with vinegar.
- Blood... Only cold water and soap! If the stain is still fresh, you can cover it with talcum powder and water.
- Beverages... In these situations, ammonia or ammonia is used. After application, the area must dry, then rinse it again with water.
As mentioned above, plush or velvet upholstery should not be cleaned with soap. Stains on such surfaces are removed with gasoline or alcohol.
It becomes clear that removing any stain and generally cleaning your favorite sofa at home is not such a problem. The main thing is to approach the issue responsibly and think over your every step. And remember, any stain is easier to prevent than messing around with removing it later!
Mother of two children. I have been running a household for over 7 years - this is my main job. I love to experiment, I constantly try various means, methods, techniques that can make our life easier, more modern, richer. I love my family.
Upholstered furniture is a versatile piece of furniture and is present in an absolute number of interiors. It is comfortable, has an attractive appearance and provides a comfortable stay.
But the upholstery of upholstered furniture with its regular use is often subject to all sorts of contamination. Timely cleaning of products at home will help return the items to their original appearance and significantly extend their service life.
The ways
To clean upholstered furniture from dirt, dry and wet methods of processing, dry cleaning, as well as work with a steam cleaner are used. The choice of method depends on the intensity and area of contamination, as well as on the material from which the product is made. When using the dry method it is necessary to first clean the fabric from small mechanical debris: hair, lint, thread and dust. This can be done with a medium-hard brush or vacuum cleaner. Glossy and frayed areas should be rubbed with salt or fine sandpaper.
In cases of severe abrasion of the material, a lump of refined sugar or semolina is suitable.
Cleaning with salt and semolina should be done with a cotton pad, replacing it as needed. A greasy or oily spot is sprinkled with crushed chalk or starch and, after half an hour, is cleaned with a brush. You need to use the brush carefully - so as not to damage the pile and not to tighten the fabric.
If the upholstery material is sufficiently vulnerable to mechanical stress. it is better to use a vacuum cleaner. Knocking out furniture is also a dry method.
The wet method allows for a deeper and better cleansing and helps to cope with extensive and persistent dirt. When using this method, remember that excessive wetting of the surface is unacceptable... Moisture that has got deep inside soft elements can cause the appearance of mold, fungus, pathogens and provoke material decay. The essence of the wet method is that a foam composition is applied to the surface of the upholstery and, after a certain time, is removed with a sponge, brush or vacuum cleaner.
The most effective way to clean furniture at home is to use a steam cleaner. It is recommended to make it at least once every three months. This method allows you to clean the upholstery from surface contamination, completely disinfect the filler, rid furniture of insects and refresh the brightness of the colors of the upholstery fabric.
Funds
Cleaning upholstered furniture at home can be done using folk methods and household chemicals. When choosing special chemical compositions, it is necessary to pay attention to the type of fabric upholstery and to what type of pollution - chemical or biological. Also follows carefully read the instructions for use. There are both general-action solutions, with the help of which furniture is regularly processed, and specialized products designed to remove stubborn stains and old stains.
The products are available in the form of sprays, tablets, powders, aerosols and gels. The most common ones are Sama, Denkmit and Gallus, they are quite effective and have a lot of positive reviews.
The use of home remedies is required when there are people in the home who are allergic to chemicals. The most common upholstery cleaning products are soda, salt, citric acid, ammonia and vinegar. To remove stubborn dirt, you need to mix a tablespoon of salt and two tablespoons of diluted vinegar and ammonia. Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly until the salt is completely dissolved, and wetting a sponge or soft brush in the resulting solution, quickly clean the upholstery fabric. It is very important to avoid excessive moisture and try to wipe the cleaned surface as soon as possible with a damp, clean cloth, and then with a dry cloth.
A solution consisting of a liter of water, 50 grams of salt and 5 tablespoons of vinegar is very effective. For general cleaning, a soft cloth should be moistened with this solution and the surface should be quickly wiped down.
A good remedy is soapy water made from laundry or liquid soap. Such a solution copes well with fresh dirt and visibly refreshes the material. The cotton fabric that is being processed should be periodically rinsed under running water. You can also use a mixture made from shampoo and bubble bath. The components are taken in equal quantities and whipped well. Such a composition does not penetrate deep into the filler and perfectly cleans the upholstery.
Before using any product, you must test it on the inside of the furniture and wait until it dries completely. Mixing home compounds with household chemicals is unacceptable. This can cause chemical reactions between components, leading to streaks and white spots.
How to remove stains?
There are many proven ways to get rid of stubborn stains and stubborn dirt. Simple and affordable home remedies are often used along with industrial stain removers, which can slightly discolor the stain or leave a whitish outline. Their use will not cause difficulties and will not require significant costs. Old stains can be removed well nylon brushes, and with the help of a sponge, freshly planted wet dirt can be removed. Cleaning should be done from the edges of the stain to its center, this will avoid the appearance of contours of distant pollution.
For example, you can gently scrape off wax drops, then place a paper towel over the remaining stain and iron with an iron. The wine stain should be covered with plenty of salt and left for a while. After the salt has absorbed the remaining liquid, soak a clean, lint-free cloth in an alcohol-based liquid and wipe the contaminated area. Liquids containing fragrances and fragrances should not be used. The fabric will absorb the smell, and the furniture will smell of perfume for a long time. Better to use alcohol or vodka.
To remove the gum, as well as the stain remaining from it, you need to put ice cubes in a plastic bag and cover the gum. After it freezes, the remains are easily scraped off without leaving a trace.
Tea, coffee or cocoa that have just been spilled on light-colored upholstery should be washed off immediately with warm water and any detergent, being careful not to overmoisten the fabric. It is better to do this by repeated blotting, and then quickly remove moisture with a dry membrane cloth.
You can also use a mixture of water, vinegar and dishwashing liquid taken in equal amounts. Beer stains can be removed well with soapy water. Fruit juice will help to remove a solution of water, vinegar essence and ammonia, taken in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. The composition is applied to the dirt and left to dry completely. Then the stain is treated with a wet cloth soaked in warm clean water and wiped dry.
Traces of blood from the sofa and armchairs can be cleaned with a solution prepared from a glass of water and a tablet acetylsalicylic acid.
It is also permissible to use a mixture consisting of a liter of water and thirty grams of table salt. Dried cream, bar-corrector, remnants of plasticine or fat must be cleaned off with a damp hard brush, after dipping it in baking soda. Then the stain should be slightly moistened and covered with plenty of salt, chalk or starch. If the stain is fresh and still damp, then you do not need to moisten it additionally.
Old greasy stains are removed with a mixture that consists of 2 tablespoons of vinegar essence, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 2 tbsp. tablespoons of washing powder without bleaching effect and a liter of warm water. The components are mixed until a homogeneous composition is obtained, the solution is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the contamination. Then, using a dry sponge, the stain is cleaned, the composition is removed with warm water and the surface is wiped dry. You can use a hairdryer to dry your furniture.
You can clean the upholstery from traces of jam and chocolate with warm water and liquid dishwashing liquid. Processing should be carried out with a medium-hard brush, after which the material should be rinsed with clean water and wiped off with a dry cloth. Ballpoint pen and lipstick stains are removed with a 10% alcohol solution, followed by rinsing with clean water and drying. Stains from berries and fruits are well cleaned with a mixture of vinegar and ammonia, taken in equal parts.
Green stains are the most difficult and difficult to remove stains. There are several ways to get rid of such stains, but none of them is 100% guaranteed.
The most rational is to use a household stain remover.
If cleaning does not work, you can try to scrub the stain. 10% ammonia solution which is applied to dirt and blotted with a clean cloth.
Can also be applied to stain starch and water gruel leaving it to dry completely. After that, the product must be removed with a hard brush. Instead of starch, you can use washing powder, but in this case, the surface will need to be rinsed with clean water after removing the composition.
It is not recommended to use chlorine bleach. This will lead to the formation of whitish spots, which will no longer be possible to enter.
With leather upholstery
Leather upholstery can be easily cleaned with 10% rubbing alcohol, which is applied to the stain and left on for 10 minutes. After the time has elapsed, the surface should be wiped with a cloth dampened in clean water and wiped dry. In this way, you can wash off fingerprints, oil, grease stains, pencil marks, felt-tip pen and marker marks. After processing, the leather surface can be wiped with lemon, and then a special cream can be applied, if not, you can use a regular hand cream. When removing stains from leather furniture, remember that the material does not like excessive moisture and must be sure to wipe dry after each cleaning.
With velor fabric
Upholstery in materials such as nubuck, velor, suede and flock is cleaned against lint. For dry cleaning, you can use a rubber brush or a hard cloth. Using a vacuum cleaner is not recommended due to the risk of damaging the pile. General regular processing is carried out with soapy water, followed by rinsing with warm water and drying the upholstery material. Pile materials are water permeable, therefore cleaning should be done as quickly as possible, which will prevent excessive moisture and will not let water into the filler.
Grease is removed from the velor with a microfiber cloth, pre-moistened and lightly soaped.
Make-up and ink stains are removed with an alcohol solution, and fresh coffee and wine stains are sprinkled with powder and carefully cleaned.
To remove stubborn dirt, it is better to use a steam generator or steamer. This will effectively wipe off the surface and will not spoil the pile.
We clean from dust
Dust removal from upholstered furniture should be carried out regularly - at least once every two months. This will help prevent dust mites and reduce the risk of dust allergies. Cleaning is carried out using a vacuum cleaner or mechanical knocking out and blowing out. To carry out the knockout procedure, you need to prepare a solution from a liter of water, 50 grams of table vinegar and the same amount of salt. The components are thoroughly mixed until the salt crystals are completely dissolved. Then, in the resulting solution, you need to moisten and squeeze out a cotton sheet, cover a chair or sofa with it and begin to vomit. This method will deeply clean the filler and prevent dust from scattering around the room.
When using a vacuum cleaner, the attachment can be wrapped with damp gauze, having previously moistened it in a solution of a liter of water and 35 grams of salt. This will freshen up the color and remove tricky stains. Vacuuming is not suitable for velor, velvet and other pile fabrics.
Polished furniture may or may not be liked, everyone has their own taste. Now completely different materials and textures are in fashion, but, nevertheless, polished dressers, wardrobes, tables and trellises stubbornly do not leave the interiors of modern houses and apartments. For some, they are dear as a memory of their beloved grandmother, for some it is a pity to throw out good-quality furniture, some like it very much and they do not want another.
In any case, if there is already an object with such a coating in the apartment, you need to know how to use furniture at home and not spoil it even more. The polished coating is very sensitive and capricious, fingerprints and dust are instantly visible on it, scratches appear easily. Therefore, he needs special care too.
Now we are not talking about professional products from the store, designed specifically for the care of polished cabinets and tables. What tools at hand can be used for the same purposes?
- From the kitchen cabinet: vegetable oil, wine vinegar, sleeping tea leaves, salt, flour, milk, potatoes, beer, sauerkraut (pickle).
- From a home first aid kit: burdock oil, talcum powder or baby powder, ethyl alcohol.
- From the bathroom: shampoo, liquid soap, antistatic spray.
- From the pantry: turpentine, gasoline, shoe cream.
Of course, you cannot do without special equipment. First of all, you will need cuts of soft flannel and cotton fabric, a small piece of leather or suede, cotton sponges. As well as a bowl and saucepan, a measuring container and a knife. Since some of the products used are quite aggressive, and you just have to work with your hands, protective rubber gloves will also come in handy.
How to care for polished furniture
Before polishing cabinets, they should be cleaned of dirt, dust, fingerprints and smudges. For this, the following solution is suitable:
- heat water - 8 parts;
- hair shampoo - 1 part;
- liquid antistatic agent - 1 part.
In this mixture, soak a soft cloth and wipe all polished surfaces. They will be clean, but cloudy, not glossy and shiny. You can restore shine in the following ways:
- Burr oil. This product is often purchased for cosmetic masks. If you find remnants of it that are no longer suitable for skin and hair care, you can use it to polish furniture. Two or three cotton pads are soaked in oil and placed in a clean, unnecessary sock made of cotton fabric - this is more convenient to apply it to furniture. Oil should seep through the fabric. Now the surfaces are rubbed with this "bag", and then rubbed to a shine with a flannel cloth.
- Wine vinegar and vegetable oil. If there is nothing else on hand, then from these two products you can prepare an excellent emulsion for polishing cabinets by mixing them in equal quantities. The mixture is first applied to all polished surfaces and then rubbed with a soft, dry cloth.
- Beer with wax. Do not pour in unfinished beer - it is also suitable for polishing furniture. And if you mix it with wax, then such a tool will also smooth out small scratches on the surface. About one glass of beer is poured into a saucepan, a piece of wax or paraffin is added there and brought to a boil. After cooling down, the furniture is lubricated with a solution, and then polished to a mirror-like shine with a piece of woolen cloth.
- Tea brewing. The tea leaves left in the teapot after a visit from friends can also be used with benefit. Squeeze it well and transfer it to a cotton napkin. Roll up in a bag and wipe the furniture, then polish with dry flannel. Tea not only cleanses and gives shine to the polished wood, but also refreshes its color, makes it deep and noble.
- Turpentine, vinegar and flax oil. This composition is suitable for processing light polish, if it has darkened and tarnished. In a bottle with a spray, combine four tablespoons of turpentine and linseed oil, add two tablespoons of white vinegar, close and shake well to form an emulsion. It is applied to a clean, dry furniture surface and quickly polished. Movements should be intense and energetic. Then the flax oil will react with other components and give the surface a beautiful shine.
You should always polish furniture only with a dry and clean soft cloth in circular motions, otherwise streaks and stripes will remain - all your efforts will be in vain.
How to deal with polish stains
When polishing, a thin protective film forms on the surface of cabinets and tables, but if the furniture is actively used, it is quickly erased. You can cope with traces of fingers, cups, water with simple improvised means.
- traces of drops are removed with a sponge dipped in soapy water. After that, the furniture must be wiped dry immediately;
- fingerprints and handprints can be removed with half a raw potato;
- also oily prints can be easily removed if you sprinkle a little talcum powder on a cotton pad and wipe the stains;
- complex contaminants of undetermined origin are removed with a mixture of vegetable oil and medical alcohol. Rub carefully so as not to damage the polishing layer. After removing the stain, the furniture is immediately wiped off, first with a clean damp cloth, and then with a dry one;
- traces of cups of hot tea or coffee can be removed with regular salt. Salt is wrapped in a piece of cotton cloth, dipped in vegetable oil and traces are treated in a circular motion. After that, you do not need to wipe the surface with a damp cloth, it is simply polished to a shine;
- stains from paint, ink, brilliant green, any substance with a coloring pigment can be removed with heated beer. It is applied to dirt and left to dry, then wiped with a piece of wax and polished;
- if drops of wax or paraffin or candles get on the polished table, then they are first carefully removed with a sharp hot knife, and the trace is removed with a cotton swab dipped in gasoline;
- Any stains on polished furniture can be removed with sauerkraut brine. A piece of skin is soaked in it and the dirt is gently wiped off. After that, the polish should be rubbed with a dry cloth.
Despite the abundance of various folk remedies for cleaning polished furniture, it is still not always possible to completely get rid of stains. Therefore, it is better not to allow them to appear at all.
It is better to cover the polished table with a napkin or tablecloth, and if this option does not suit you, use trays or bamboo stands for tea drinking. Preventing contamination and damage is always easier than repairing it later.
Remember that the polished finish does not tolerate any kind of solvents. Do not try to scrub stains with acetone or nail polish remover. The dirt may come off, but the surface itself will become dull, pale and may even crack.
There is one more rule, observing which, you will extend the life of your favorite polished furniture. Never put tables, dressers, etc. near central heating radiators or fireplace. Low temperatures and constant drafts are also contraindicated for polishing.