How to Clean Your Upholstery

Liquid Soda Crystals

If you’re looking to give an old sofa a boost or prolong the life of an investment piece, here are some top tips to keep your upholstered furniture looking fabulous all year round.

While most modern upholstery fabrics are stain-resistant, it is still necessary to mop or blot a spill immediately to prevent staining. Dab the upholstery with a mild solution of Soda Crystals, or use Liquid Soda Crystals to get rid of stains - or simply to freshen up the fabric.

Bear in mind when wet-cleaning fitted upholstery fabrics; do not over-wet the fabric because this causes some foam fillings to break down. Dry-cleaning solvents can have the same effect if over-used.

Avoid scrubbing wool or other upholstery fabrics as this could damage them. A solution of Liquid Soap Flakes is best used on leather or woollen sofas. Always test fabrics for colour fastness before hand.

Use a hand-held drier to speed the drying of the fabric – but do not scorch it by holding the drier too close.

If there’s been a large-volume spill however, do consult a professional. Underneath that surface discolouration, the stain penetrating the padding may be three to four times as large.

Regularly clean upholstery surfaces and corners with the vacuum cleaner upholster brush. For delicate fabrics, like silk and linen, set the suction to low.

Spring Clean your Washing Machine!

Do you ever open the door to your washing machine expecting the smell of freshly washed clothes but are instead met by the smell of mould and damp? 

Smelly washing machines are not only unpleasant but they can also transfer bad smells to clothes, meaning they would have to be rewashed wasting valuable time and money. But don't worry! There's an easy, inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to eliminate bad smells from your machine; traditional Soda Crystals, Citric Acid and White Vinegar! 

Washing machines omitting bad odours are often the result of a build up of bacteria, normally resulting from using cooler wash temperatures and gentler washing powders. And hot summer weather will only make it worse, causing bacteria to grow more easily. 

To eliminate smells, scum, detergent and grime from your machine simply add half a bag of Soda Crystals, split between the detergent drawer and the drum and run the machine empty on a 60 degree cycle, or higher if there is a significant smell. If you are in a hard water area, it is recommended to repeat this process using either 500ml of White Vinegar or a packet of Citric Acid to remove limescale build up and complete the cleaning process. 

Not only will Soda Crystals, White Vinegar and Citric Acid eradicate bad smells in your washing machine, they will not damage the environment and lower the power consumption of the machine by descaling the element.

Start your Spring Clean!

If the thought of the dreaded spring clean leaves you in a panic, don’t worry - we’re here to help! Over the next couple of months we'll help guide you through the ups and downs of becoming a domestic goddess with a little help from our friends!

We’ve asked two lovely cleaning experts to offer their professional advice to help get you motivated for the big Spring Clean! Today Racheal Hughes from cleaning company Green Mop is going to share her expert Spring Cleaning tips with us - we do spoil you!!

Spring Cleaning with the Experts!

Racheal Hughes set up the award-winning green cleaning company, Green Mop, in the Brighton, Cheltenham and Worcester areas in 2007, and knows that starting such a big project is not an easy task.

“Facing the big Spring Clean can be daunting. My mantra for cleaning my own home is to do little and often, but some chores are regularly missed out in my normal routine and saved for The Big Blitz!”

Where do I start?

“A tidy house is much easier to clean so the first chore is to de-clutter! Sort through all the things you’ve previously piled up to sort out ‘later’… because ‘later’ is NOW!” advises Racheal.

‘The Big Blitz’

Once the clutter has been cleared away, it’s time to get down to some good old fashioned cleaning!

Racheal suggests splitting the work down into tasks: “Rather than doing the work room by room, I prefer to break it down into tasks. For example, do the dusting in every room first, then the vacuuming, followed by any wet cleaning. That way, you’re not lugging everything from room to room.”

Cleaning Products

“At Green Mop we use products that are simple but effective. Grabbing a bottle labelled ‘kitchen cleaner’ is all too easy, but it’s only when you look on the back that you find a long list of unpronounceable chemical names that are just not necessary to clean your home with” says Racheal.

Tackling those forgotten about areas

Windows, as well as dusty shutters and blinds are some of the main areas that often get overlooked. Racheal explains, “All you need is a damp microfibre cloth, some Liquid Soda Crystals, a bottle of White Vinegar, and a bucket of warm water for rinsing. Squirt a little of the Soda Crystals onto your damp cloth and wipe across the blind - the grime lifts off the slats in one wipe. White Vinegar is great at tackling mildew and mould, simply squirt and wipe the window frames to shift it. Whilst I’m there, I’ll give the inside of the windows a clean and buff up with White Vinegar too.”

A big thank you to Racheal for sharing her tips with us! Next time Colleen Skinner from Splash Clean will be offering her Spring Cleaning advice. You lucky people!

Got a few great tips of your own? Why not share your natural and traditional cleaning tips on our Facebook page or here on the Dri-Pak Blog!