Furniture coverings protect your furniture from dirt, depreciation, and damage. You, nevertheless, still need to clean them regularly for your comfort and for them to work effectively. The advantage here is that they are far easier and cheaper to clean compared to cleaning furniture.
That said, furniture coverings are made using different types of fabrics. It is thus essential to use the right cleaning and maintenance method to get the best results and prevent any damage.
Come along and let’s dive into a detailed guide on how to clean and maintain your furniture coverings.
Identify the Material
The type of material that your furniture covers are made of will determine the appropriate ways to clean them. Some are machine washable while others are not. Effective machine washing also requires you to choose the right settings based on the fabric. So, understanding what material you are working with should always be the first step.
The common material options are:
- Polyester
- Cotton
- Linen
- Microfiber
- Faux leather
- Leather
You can confirm the exact material type by checking the packaging of the furniture covers. Alternatively, check for the fabric details on the care tag that some manufacturers include somewhere along the in-seam of the covers.
Refer to Manufacturer Instructions
Some manufacturers may include cleaning and maintenance instructions on the packaging or the care tag attached to furniture cover in-seams. The instructions may include details such as:
- The right water temperature to use when cleaning the furniture covers
- Whether the covers are machine washable or not
- Whether you should or should not iron the furniture covers
- Dry cleaning requirements
Manufacturers test their furniture covers during the design and production processes. Their instructions are thus based on factual findings. It is best to adhere to them to avoid damaging or reducing the durability of your furniture covers.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming entails using a vacuum machine or hoover to suction dust, debris, pet dander, or fur from your furniture coverings. It is a simple solution that you can use every day or on alternating days. It, additionally:
- Helps you ensure that such dirt does not accumulate or embed itself in the material of your covers.
- Helps eradicate allergens like dust and fur from your space.
Moreover, vacuuming does not impact fabrics in any way. You can, therefore, use it safely on furniture covers regardless of the material that they are made of.
Spot Cleaning
Spot cleaning is managing spills or stains immediately after they happen. For example, if you spill a few drops of coffee, so cleaning may entail the following:
- Lift the furniture covering off the furniture to prevent the coffee stain from sipping into the furniture’s upholstery.
- Get a warm damp cloth and blot the coffee stains. You can also use warm water and a few drops of mild soap if you reckon that will manage your stain better.
- Allow the spot-cleaned area to dry fully then replace the cover as it should be.
The type of furniture cover material you are working with will determine the right spot-cleaning approach.
Leather, for instance, is not absorbent. You can thus wipe off stains with a damp cloth or use a suitable leather-cleaning agent. In contrast, other fabrics may require warm water with mild soap or simply a damp cloth to get the stain off.
Spot-cleaning stains quickly before they latch onto fabric is often more effective. It also helps to use innovative stain-control solutions like baking soda.
That said, spot cleaning only works if the stain is fairly small. It is also recommendable if you are managing a stain first before you can clean the cover later. If the staining is significant or if a liquid spill soaked through the cover, it is advisable to simply clean the entire cover.
Laundering Furniture Covers
Laundering furniture covers entails removing them for a full cleaning process. Let’s take a look at how to handle different furniture covering materials.
Leather
Leather furniture coverings are usually not machine washable. Instead:
- Pour warm water into a bowl and add a few drops of mild soap to it.
- Dampen a microfiber cloth in that water and use it to wipe down the leather furniture covers on your furniture.
- Allow any moisture left on the covers to air out
- Use a professional leather cleaning agent to get any remaining dirt or stains off. Follow the instructions indicated on the cleaning agent for this.
- Remove the leather coverings from your furniture, clean the interior fabric, and allow them to air dry away from direct sunlight.
- Replace the leather furniture covers when they are dry.
- Use a leather conditioning agent to keep the leather supple and to prevent cracks and peeling.
Cotton and Linen Furniture Covers
Most Cotton and linen furniture coverings are machine-washable. You only need to check their care tags to find out the recommended machine settings among dos and don’ts. Most of them are also safe to iron at the right temperature indicated for the fabric.
Synthetic Fabric Furniture Covers
Synthetic fabric furniture covers may be machine-washable but they require extra care. You will need to use a gentle cycle and possibly wash them in batches. They can easily get damaged if your machine is heavily loaded. Use a gentle spin too and hang them to air dry.
In the rare event that your furniture covers are not machine-washable, you may have to settle for hand washing or professional cleaning services.
Professional Cleaning
Professional cleaning may be ideal if you:
- Prefer the convenience of an expert handling your furniture covers.
- Do not have a machine at home or are uncertain about how to navigate the laundry process.
- Do not have the required cleaning supplies or are not able to use them for health reasons.
- Find professional cleaning more effective or affordable.
Aim for a reputable professional cleaning service that understands how to handle furniture coverings.
Conclusion
Cleaning and maintaining furniture coverings is fairly easy once you understand the recommended care instructions for the type of covers that you have. A better approach, however, is to consider the care instructions for furniture covers before buying them. You can then choose covers with a maintenance routine that is convenient for you. Choosing quality furniture covers like those in our collection also ensures that you enjoy easy maintenance and maximum durability.
