Handy Hints on Maintaining and Cleaning Antique Upholstery

If you have antique, or at least older, soft, upholstered pieces around your home, it’s important to know how to give the fabric the care and attention it deserves when it comes to maintenance and cleaning. Vintage furniture items have often been covered with delicate fabrics that need sympathetic treatment. One small cleaning mistake can drastically damage the material, leaving your piece unsightly and in some cases, worth less than when you bought it.

Routine Cleaning Extends the Lifespan of Your Precious Furniture

• Much loved antiques are a valued addition to any home, and provided they are properly looked after, they can last for decades, even centuries. Regular careful cleaning can help keep your furniture looking good and also prolong the life of the pieces. Here are a few handy hints on how to tackle stains and general dirt.

• First of all, it’s not worth risking using many modern cleaning materials on old fabric. Loaded with chemicals, these can irreparably damage older materials. Gentle treatment is always best.

• Instead, using your own vacuum cleaner, carefully dry vacuum surfaces. This can remove up to 70% of the dust and dirt that’s accumulated on your furniture, instantly brightening up fabric.

• If the item still looks grimy, invest in a good quality dry extraction foam. But as noted above, there is still a chance this can cause unwanted damage to old material, so carry out a spot test in an area that’s not on show. If that goes well, apply the foam in accordance with the instructions on the bottle, then gently press a towel against surfaces to remove as much of the residue as possible. Do not rub or apply too much force, or you risk tearing or stretching the material.

• While the area is still damp, use your vacuum cleaner again to extract what’s left of the dry foam and the dirt it will lift off. Leave your piece in a well-aired but dry room or place fans around it till dry. This will take up to ten hours, during which time you shouldn’t use the furniture.

In Case of Emergency… 

Accidents do happen, so if a liquid is spilled on the material, carefully blot up the excess with kitchen roll as quickly as possible. Don’t attempt to use a hairdryer or place the item close to any heat source as this may shrink the material and cause the stains to become indelibly ingrained. If the stain remains once the furniture is dry, consult a professional upholsterer for advice on removing it.

If you’re nervous about attempting cleaning yourself or have come to realise that the fabric is beyond redemption, it’s time to call in a professional. JDB Upholstery is an experienced and expert upholsterer in Ludlow. As a traditional upholsterer, we know how to best treat those delicate fabrics, or can offer full antique restoration – even including sofa spring repairs if your couch has lost its bounce. Call today for advice and a free quote.