How to Clean Residential Upholstery

Use soap-free products to avoid smells, residue and harm to pets. Soap-free products will not leave a sticky residue or allow dust and dirt to collect after you complete cleaning the upholstery. Commercial-grade products are available at companies that sell to members of the professional upholstery cleaning trade. Residents can find similar quality products at home improvement stores and retail stores that rent carpet and upholstery cleaning equipment. Look for a cleaning product that does not contain enzymes or bleaches to insure that it is safe to use on upholstery fabric and leather.

Test an area, such as underneath a sofa or chair. Once you are comfortable with going further, apply the soap according to the directions, agitate it very softly on the upholstery with a plastic or natural bristle brush or terry cloth and allow the soap to work in. Apply a bit more agitation to remove stains, or as the product directions recommend. Follow by blotting with a towel to remove excess moisture.

Avoid getting moisture on anything made of wood or metal zippers on sofa cushions or any metal portion, such as chair legs or armrests. You could try to cover wood or metal arms and legs with wax paper or plastic wrap to avoid this problem. Otherwise, the metal can rust and create an unplanned and additional cleaning task.

Use an upholstery vacuum that can remove moisture to reduce the drying time. An additional benefit of using a soap-free cleaning agent is that it will not create foam or suds on the furniture and you will not have to do any rinsing.

Do not let the upholstery attachments gather dust and go unused. Develop a monthly regime to vacuum the upholstery to keep it looking clean and smelling fresh. You can also apply a Scotchguard-type product after you complete the initial cleaning.

Get to accidental spills and stains as quick as possible. Keep a small bottle of soap-free cleaner on hand for any quick cleanup needs. Baby wipes are also a good backup product to use for cleaning stains. Another "alternative use" product is glass cleaner for stains and spills like coffee, because glass cleaner is a soap-free product. Start by blotting the stain with a lint-free towel and then apply the cleaner to the stained area. Tough stains may require a few attempts for satisfactory removal.