Upholstery Steam Cleaner
Upholstery cleaning is quite a task. You cannot expect your couch to look the same, the way it did when you bought it, unless you are one of those who keeps them wrapped in plastic always. Steam cleaning is quite often a job done by professionals. However, it is rather easy on your pockets when you clean the upholstery yourself. All you need to do is rent a cleaner and this article will help you take it forward from there. Before you begin there are few prior preparations required.
The Right Choice
It is important to buy or rent the right cleaner for effective cleaning. Here are the top 3 reviews to help you choose the best upholstery cleaner for your home.
Bissel-1425-1 Little Pro-heat canister (wet)
The cost of this machine ranges from $300-350. It has a well powered steam sprayer and cleaning hose. The advantage of this cleaner is that it is lightweight and easy to move around. The only disadvantage of it is that the hose is a bit too long.
Hoover SteamVac Upright Vacuum
The Hoover SteamVac Carpet Cleaner is a multipurpose machine which can be used for carpets, upholstery and hardwood floors as well. This machine costs you around $350. It is a very sturdy equipment and has a very long life.
McCulloch MC1275 Steam Vacuum cleaner
It has 1500 Watts of steam power. It can also be used to clean engines, wheels along with upholstery. The cleaner has 10 attachments for different types of cleaning. This cleaner costs around $150. Some users have reported that the cleaner function is a little below the mentioned capacity in sucking up water.
These are just a few names available in the market. You can look for more brands according to your requirements.
Requirements
Before you get on to the cleaning, vacuum the area you want to clean, also clean up the furniture you plan to steam clean. This is a requirement because vacuuming the place will remove the loose dirt which may clog your steam cleaner. Since upholstery steam cleaning is more often than not an annual ritual, it is better to rent a cleaner than to buy one. Rentals are a very common thing as not many people opt for buying these. While renting a cleaner, choose the one that can access corners easily. Once this is done, ensure that you are well versed with the equipment you are going to use. All cleaners are not the same and therefore be sure that you have the users manual handy. Different steam cleaners have different specifications for the cleaning liquid that is used. The liquid cleaner may also differ according to the kind of furniture that is being cleaned. Fill the tank of the cleaner with this liquid as per the instructions given. Steam cleaning sometimes fades out the color of the fabric, try cleaning a small patch or corner of the furniture just to be sure that the fabric is not being bleached.
Steam Cleaning the Upholstery
Remove the cushions and side arms of the upholstery furniture. According to the instructions use the steam water and cleaning solution in sections. Doing so will avoid staining due to water. Using more water than required will retain the moisture and will ruin the upholstery. Use only the recommended amount of water. The extension for cleaning, must suck as much water as possible. This will remove the dirt along with the water. If your furniture has any metal attachments, do not wet them, as they will rust. If you do happen to wet these, dry them up with a cloth immediately. If your cushions are removable you can clean them up before or after. If the cushions are attached always clean them last. Allow the upholstery to dry well before you start using it again. Place the cushions back only after the upholstery has dried.
This was about cleaning of the couch and pillows at home, but if you own a car you must also know how to clean car upholstery, which is not very different but just a few alterations. There are special car upholstery cleaners available in the market. Another tip would be to use lesser amounts of water in steam cleaning car upholstery as the process of drying is rather difficult.
Professional Help
Many a time it is difficult to clean the upholstery yourself. The fabric may be too delicate to handle steam cleaning or the structure and design of your furniture may make it difficult for someone who is not trained for the job. In such cases it is advisable to get professional help.
My suggestion would be to gather all your happy helpers at home instead of undertaking this task of cleaning everything by yourself. A little help would do no harm.
