Upholstery cleaner
The category where the manufacturer decided before you bought it. The cleaning code on the label outranks anything the bottle claims.
Precautions
- Test on an inconspicuous area first
- Check the manufacturer's instructions
- Rinse thoroughly afterwards
In detail
Products sold for upholstery divide into water-based and solvent-based, and which of the two is permitted was decided at the factory rather than in the aisle. The cleaning code assigned by the fabric manufacturer distinguishes fabrics that may be cleaned with water, those requiring a solvent, those accepting either, and those that may only be vacuumed — and it accounts for the backing, the adhesive and the filling as well as the face cloth, none of which the reader can see. One contract manufacturer's guidance goes further for its own panel fabrics and prohibits water or any liquid solution outright, along with steam. Beyond the code, residue is the dominant failure: the carpet institute treats it as a section of its own, instructing several rinses with a mist sprayer and forbidding concentrations stronger than stated. Laundry detergent is excluded outright because it may contain fluorescent brighteners that dye the fibre, and dishwasher detergent because many contain bleaching agents. The safest general approach remains the trade's own: apply to a white cloth, work from the edges inwards, do not rub.
Properties
- pH
- Varies by product
Why
- Upholstery cleaner is explained by Residue and resoiling
- Upholstery cleaner is explained by Penetration into fibres
Sources for this page
Sources
Spot Solver: spot and spill removal procedures
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) · Trade or professional body
Relied on for: That laundry detergent must never be used because of optical brighteners, that automatic dishwashing detergent is excluded because many contain bleaching agents, that residues attract soil and require several rinses with a mist sprayer, and that stated concentrations must never be exceeded. (states this directly)
ACT Coated Fabric Selection Guide for Healthcare Upholstered Seating
Association for Contract Textiles · Trade or professional body
Relied on for: That upholstery cleaning codes are assigned by the manufacturer and govern whether a water-based or solvent-based method may be used. (states this directly)