Furniture & Fabric Cleaning : Suede Sofas and Shoes

Spotless Suede Made Simple

Suede is used in a variety of ways – for furniture, for shoes, bags, and clothing.  In fact, it was originally used for women’s gloves because of its soft, comfortably texture.  There are a number of methods one might take to eliminate stains from their favorite suede items. While the material is certainly temperamental in a number of senses, there are ways you can address unwanted spots and blotches with simple household items.

First, gather a plastic spoon, some mild detergent (without soap) and some soft white cloths. Separate forms of suede react differently to various commercial cleaners, so test a hidden area of fabric before cleaning any visible portions of cloth.

Also, some cleaning tips may not work for all kinds of materials.  Always try a method on a hidden piece of fabric in order to test if there will be an adverse reaction, like further staining or damaging your piece of furniture.  If you’re really unsure, you should call a professional cleaner.

1. First, try to scrape away bits of the stain with your plastic spoon.

2. Mix up a small amount of mild detergent in a bucket with some water.

3. Mix the water around to produce some suds.

4. Here’s the important part. Use one of the white cloths to apply some of the suds to the affected area. Suds ONLY. Applying too much water to suede may damage the surface.

5. Continue to blot the area and lift the stain away. You should begin to see the stain transferring over to your towel.

6. When the suds have worked their magic, and the stain has been eliminated, blot the suede with a dry cloth.

7. At this point, you may choose to pick up a suede brush and groom your surface back to its original state.

Hopefully, this trick works for you.  If not, or you are curious about how to clean or care for a different piece of furniture, let us know in the comments.  We’ll try to answer any questions you have about the care and maintenance of your furniture pieces.  Why?  Not only do we sell furniture, but Spector Furniture wants it to stand the test of time as well!

Furniture Store DIY Cleaning : Leather Couches

How to Clean a Leather Couch

Waterbury CT Furniture Store Tips

Have you recently purchased a new leather couch from your local furniture store? Sure, it may provide an exceptional addition to your living room or home office, but when it comes to up-scale items like leather furniture, it’s important to remember one thing – proper maintenance. Nobody is disputing the fact that leather is a stunning and luxurious material. It’s simply imperative that you take the proper steps to preserve the material. So, why is it important that leather is regularly taken care of? Well, if you didn’t already know, leather is a durable and versatile material made primarily from cattle hide and other animal skins. Through a process called tanning, the rawhide is converted into what you see when you look at a leather item. Before being made into leather, however, the rawhide was taken care of by nature; it was naturally fed, cleaned and repaired daily. After the tanning and conversion process, these responsibilities are turned over to you, the owner of that new leather couch. Now that your couch has left the furniture store, the maintenance of the leather is your duty. It’s important that you know how to fulfill this requirement in order to preserve the life of your product.

Type of Leather

There are various types of leather, from top grained to aniline, which are coated in different ways; before you begin cleaning your leather, it’s essential that you know what type you are working with. Separate coatings will often require different levels of cleaning. Usually, tags or other written information should tell you which type of leather you’re working with. You can also return to the furniture store you bought your piece from and inquire there.

Cleaning Supplies

It is important to have the correct cleaning supplies for your leather couch. After determining the type of leather upholstery, you will know whether or not you need special cleaning products like saddle soap to do the job. Homemade cleaning solutions like vinegar and water are sometimes required as well. In general, it’s suggested you always keep soft cloths, water, a bucket, a rag and a vacuum on hand throughout the process.

Vacuum

First, prepare a smooth and clean slate before really taking care of the dirty work. Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to rid the couch’s surface of any dust, grime or air-borne particles. If these particles come in contact with moisture or cleaning products, damage could be done to the surface of your leather couch.

Cleansing

Inspect your couch for stains. If there are any affected areas, apply a store-bought stain remover. Then, mix the appropriate cleaning solution or product with warm water. With a soft and damp cloth, start the application at the top of the couch and work your way down while rinsing the cloth when necessary. While drying, do not use forced air, as this may dehydrate the furniture; use a soft, clean cloth and wipe in circular motions. After the leather is dry, let it sit unused overnight.

Condition and Buffer

Conditioning your leather is necessary after cleaning the upholstery. Skip this crucial step, and your leather may crack and dry. There are some home-based remedies that are commonly used, but it is best to inquire with the manufacturer or furniture store as to which product to use. Apply the conditioner in circular motions and let it sit for an extended period of time or overnight. Now you can buff your couch with a clean rag and restore its shine. Cleaning a leather couch is simple when you have the right materials and perform the right steps in order – vacuum, clean, condition and buff. Clean it about once a month or after an event or gathering where it was extensively used. By properly maintaining your leather furniture, you can keep it looking as good as new for years to come.