Linen is a natural fiber, known for its chic and beautiful look. Upholstery made up of linen is certainly a comfortable and aesthetic addition to homes. And like any other one, linen upholstery also requires regular cleaning and maintenance.
But it has to be the right way to avoid harming this delicate natural fiber. So, if you are looking for a way to clean your linen upholstery at home, here is how to do it like a pro.
Easy Steps to Clean Linen Upholstery
1. Vacuum Your Upholstery Properly
When you begin to clean linen upholstery, always start with vacuuming. It helps remove the surface dirt and grit, making further cleaning easier. Use a medium suction and an upholstery attachment when vacuuming. Go slowly, and do not forget the hidden crevices.
If your linen sofa or couch has too much loose debris, using a brush attachment while vacuuming can help loosen and pick it up effectively.
2. Read the Care Label
When it comes to cleaning linen upholstery, you have to ensure you clean it the right way. You can’t risk any damage to this natural material. That’s why reading and following the care label instructions is a priority before you hop onto the cleaning.
Check the label and you will most likely find one of these codes for cleaning:
Code S says to clean it with only dry-solvent-based cleaners. No moisture allowed!
Code W permits cleaning with any water-based cleaning method.
Code S/W allows any of the dry or wet cleaning methods.
Code X strictly advises restricting the cleaning to only vacuuming and professionals.
Go as per the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the right cleaning method.
The further steps will help you spot-clean and deep-clean linen furniture considering different codes in mind.
3. Spot-Treat the Stains
Before you deep clean your sofa piece, it is important to treat and clean any stains if it has any. But that depends on whether your upholstery allows moisture or needs dry cleanup.
For Code S, one DIY upholstery cleaning hack is to use baking soda to treat minor spills and stains.
Lift up any solid crumbs or pieces if any.
Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the stain.
Work it into the fabric with a gentle brush.
Let it sit for a few minutes or until it dries up and absorbs the stain.
Vacuum it away.
Blot the remaining stain away with a damp cloth and air dry.
For those linen materials that allow wet cleaning (Code W or W/S), a solution of soapy water will work to lift up stains. But remember to test the solution on a hidden area before use.
If the stain is fresh, soak it as much as possible with a clean, dry, white paper towel or cloth.
Then, in a bowl of clean water, add a teaspoon of mild liquid soap and mix well.
Dip a microfiber cloth into it until damp.
Keep blotting the stain with this cloth until the stain lifts up.
Give it a “rinse” using a clean water-dampened cloth again.
Always use a white cloth to avoid color transfer.
Absorb the moisture and let it air dry.
4. Deep Cleaning Linen Upholstery For Code S
Once you’ve vacuumed and treated all the stains, your linen upholstery is now ready for a deep cleanup.
If your care label only permits cleaning with a dry solvent, you can use a store-bought linen-safe, dry powder for cleaning.
Test the product on a hidden area before you use it for actual cleaning.
If you find it safe, sprinkle the dry solvent powder over your upholstery and work it in. Let it sit and work there for the suggested amount of time on the product usage instructions.
Once it lifts up the grime, you can vacuum it up thoroughly.
5. Deep Cleaning Linen Upholstery For Code W Or W/S
Machine wash
If you have removable upholstery covers and if the care label of your linen upholstery permits you to machine wash it, you can toss it into a washing machine. You can machine wash your linen sofa fabric provided it’s done carefully.
Keep in mind to use a gentle cycle, slow spinning, and cold water when machine-washing it. Using harsh spinning or hot water can cause linen to form wrinkles and shrinkage respectively.
Manual cleaning
in case your upholstery’s label says against machine washing, you have to opt for a manual method to deep clean your linen furniture.
Mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and cool water in a bowl. Add a teaspoon of mild soap to it. Dip a cloth into this mixture and test the solution on a hidden area.
Start blotting your entire upholstery section by section with cloths dampened in this mixture. The vinegar and soap will loosen and lift up all the dirt and soil. Once done, take another clean cloth dipped in plain water to wipe off the entire upholstery again. This will remove any soapy residue left behind.
6. Dry Thoroughly
Never tumble dry the machine-washed linen upholstery covers. Tumble drying can be harsh for its material that is already prone to wrinkling and creasing.
Instead, hang them to dry on a stand and let them air dry.
For the upholstery cleaned manually, be sure to soak all the moisture thoroughly after cleaning. Remember to avoid using any type of heat to dry the upholstery as it can shrink.
Let the upholstery air dry on its own. Moreover, to speed it up, you can use floor fans and ensure proper ventilation.
Last Words
Cleaning a linen upholstery is not that tricky if you follow the right steps. Remember to handle linen gently as it is prone to shrinkage and wrinkling. Make sure to use water at its minimum to avoid excess wetting. The steps in this blog will help you clean it thoroughly and bring its spotless look back.