Cleaning Surfaces Part 2

What’s on the Surface Does Matter Part 2 – Cleaning Soft Surfaces

In this second part of professional cleaning tips… we are going to cover the best care for several common areas found in your home. Specifically draperies, curtains, upholstery carpet and natural floor coverings.

Draperies, Curtains, and Upholstery

You should treat your draperies, curtains, and upholstery as any other delicate item. All the window treatments I design and install are never to be washed. They are to be cleaned by a dry cleaning service. There are companies that will come to your home and clean right on the spot. From time to time dust draperies, window treatments with a feather duster, just shake out the drapery panels. Upholstery on the other hand is another story (you just can’t cart those off to the dry cleaners)! Of course, you can have your custom furniture professionally cleaned. Again be careful who you use because I’ve seen a lot of cleaning that ended up not looking the best. You can use upholstery cleaner and there are some good ones out on the market (again test area).

Carpets

The first line of defense is just a regular vacuuming and spot cleaning. There are so many lines of carpet on the market today. The best practice is follow the manufacturer’s cleaning directions. I’ve seen carpets ruined or pile broken down by the repeated use of carpet cleaning machines. So be very careful in who you use or if you’re a DIY person. Of course, there are a lot of commercial cleaners out on the market. For the most part they work but again test an area. If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals you can use distilled white vinegar. Another option is powered laundry detergent and water (be careful on the mixture, again test area).

Natural Floor Coverings

First never use water on your natural flooring (as in sisal). So don’t wash. First line of defense is a regular vacuuming. Again, only do spot cleaning as needed.

Rugs and Mats

To get rid of loose dirt and debris area rugs (if not room size) can be taken outside and shaken or beaten. For a more thorough cleaning they should be taken to a good dry cleaner. On the other hand, some mats or rugs are be cotton and could possibly be machine or hand washed (check cleaning directions).

Leather

Over a period of time leather can become dry and dull. Leather needs regular maintenance to keep its gloss and suppleness. You’ll need to use a special oil or wax. From time to time leather and suede need a gentle brushing with a soft bristle brush to remove surface grime.

If you need your flooring or custom upholstery cleaned and just don’t know who to use please contact me.