Dry Cleaning Products for Upholstery

Spray-on Spot Lifters

• Always begin by wiping down and vacuuming the furniture. Get every bit of loose dirt up before you apply any chemicals. Test whatever product you plan to use on an unobtrusive spot on the furniture. If any color lifts or blurs or any other undesirable result occurs, don't use the product on your upholstered furniture. Some home dry cleaning applications may work for your sofa. Use a spray-on, let-dry and brush-off product designed to lift grease and oil stains from upholstery fabric. Some can be used on natural fibers and synthetics. Fabric and upholstery foam cleaners are available, but they may not work on some dry-clean-only fabrics, so spot check before use.

Dry Cleaning Cloths

• Dry cleaning cloths were invented to dry-clean clothes in a dryer. They work just as well on dry-clean-only upholstery. Simply rub the cloth gently over the upholstery, changing to a new cloth as soon as one becomes dirty. Keep going until the entire piece has been thoroughly wiped. You should see a brighter, fresher sofa or chair emerge as you work. Vacuum the furniture when you are finished to get up any dirt that was loosened by the cleaning cloth. Cloths are sold that are designed for dryers and that can be used on furniture for hand-cleaning. Don't forget to spot test for colorfastness before tackling the whole sofa. If your cushion covers are removable and nonshrinkable, you can put them in the dryer with a dry cleaning cloth. Only try this is if you are certain the heat or agitation won't damage the material. Or use baby wipes as cleaning cloths, but these should definitely be spot tested first. The unscented ones have fewer chemicals.

Professional Products

• For valuable antiques, sentimental heritage furniture or a piece that does not respond well to other methods, protect your investment and call in a professional. Professional dry cleaners use products that can be tricky to manage or difficult for consumers to obtain. They have high-grade vacuuming equipment and carbonated cleansers that can lift the dirt out of that favorite wing chair. Compare the expense of the cleaning session to the replacement cost of the furniture to see if using a professional makes sense.

In-a-Pinch Options

• Home remedies work well for some living room or car upholstery. Inspect your furniture carefully before trying any of them. Blot a liquid spill immediately with clean cloths and paper towels to pick it all right up. Use cleaning foam, and scrub gently with an old toothbrush, and lift the remaining soil with a clean, dry cloth. You can blot an ink stain, and then spray it with hairspray. Let it sit for a minute or so before wiping with clean dry towels. White, non-gel toothpaste can remove lipstick stains. A paste of baking soda and water can remove acid stains. Club soda helps to lift red wine. But these are not dry cleaning solutions and can harm delicate fabric. Use caution when determining how to tackle any upholstery cleaning, and wipe down and vacuum often to keep upholstery in good condition.