One of the main selling points for microfiber upholstery is that it is quite easy to clean. If you have kids or pets in your home, then it is very easy to accumulate stains and dirt on your furniture. By following these tips on how to clean microfiber recliner upholstery, you should be able to clean all of these stains off of your furniture and make them look as good as new.
What is Microfiber –
Microfiber is synthetic fiber that has a diameter of less than ten micrometres. That is pretty small and a fraction of the diameter of a human hair. It is a very popular fabric for upholstery due to its softness, toughness, durability and water repellent capabilities.
Before Cleaning –
Before cleaning the upholstery, check the care instructions tag that will give details on what type of microfiber the recliner has. This tag can normally be found under the seat cushions and should have one of 4 codes. These codes are:
- W – Water-based cleaning solvent
- S – Water-free cleaning solvent
- S/W – Is for either
- X – Is for neither (vacuum only)
Preparation For Cleaning –
So now we know which method of cleaning we are allowed to do, however before we begin, we need to do two things.
- First of all, vacuum any hair or debris off the upholstery. Using a vacuum cleaner with the special fabric attachment should remove any dust or pet hair from the microfiber.
- Secondly, there may be hard ground in dirt on the microfiber, therefore scrubbing the stained area with a clean dry brush should help dislodge and remove the hard dirt. Brush off or vacuum any debris.
Tip : When testing a cleaning solution on upholstery for the first time, test it on a small area of the upholstery that is not very visible. Come back a little later when it has dried and check to see if there were any adverse reactions to the cleaning solution. If everything looks fine then you can proceed to try larger areas on the upholstery.
Water-Based Cleaning –
Some examples of water-based cleaning solutions are mild soap and water, mild dish detergent, upholstery shampoo or carpet cleaner.
- Apply the water-based cleaning solution to the stained and dirty area and then gently blot the stain with a sponge or cloth, making sure you don’t spread the stain even more.
- If needed apply some more solution to the stained area and continue to clean with the sponge. After you have removed the stain, use clean warm water and the sponge to remove any of the soap and suds.
- Allow to dry.
- If you would like to speed up the drying process, use a hairdryer.
- When the area is dry, use a soft dry scrub brush to gently fluff up the fibers again and make it soft and look as good as new.
Water-Free Cleaning –
Some examples of water-free cleaning solutions are rubbing alcohol or clear alcohol, like vodka.
- Put some rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle. Spray the stained and dirty area and then gently blot the stain with a sponge or cloth, making sure not to spread the stain even more.
- If needed spray some more rubbing alcohol onto the stained area and continue to clean with the sponge.
- Once the top layer of the stain is gone, put more effort into getting the last bit of the stain out.
- Allow to dry.
- When the area is dry, use a soft dry scrub brush to gently fluff up the fibers again.
Tip : If your recliner has S, S/W or no tag at all, then it is best to treat the recliner as an S and use rubbing alcohol to clean the microfiber. Also, have baby wipes handy when the spillage or dirt is as fresh as possible. The earlier you get to the stain, the better and a baby wipe is a great first call of action.
Protecting Your Recliner After Care –
Post cleaning, applying some fabric protector is a good move because it will help protect it from future stains and spillages. If the fabric has become a little dry and crusty after the cleaning, a clean dry brush will help loosen the fibers and freshen up the look of the material.
Keeping your recliner looking as good as new for as long as possible is easy when it comes to microfiber upholstery. With a little maintenance and care, even older recliners can be rejuvenated to look as fresh and soft as when it was first bought. I hope you found these tips on how to clean microfiber recliner upholstery helpful but don’t forget you can also use a trusty slipcover over your recliner, to protect and cover up any stubborn stains.
