THE EXPERIMENT WITH THE UPHOLSTERY CLEANER
To discover the finest DIY remedy, I decided to attempt the eight most popular upholstery cleaning solutions on Pinterest.
METHODOLOGY
I used the same approach to test each upholstery cleaning solution on the same surface (my dining room chairs):
- I used painter’s tape to separate the seats into pieces and numbered each area with a sticky note.
- Then made a batch of upholstery cleaning solutions, sprayed it on a part of the chair, and followed the cleaner’s directions.
- I did step 2 seven more times, each time using a different chair part.
- Finally, I waited for the chairs to thoroughly dry overnight before recording the findings.
RESULTS OF UPHOLSTERY CLEANING SOLUTIONS
The cleaning test findings were a bit of a shock… NONE of the cleaners matched my criteria for cleaning effectiveness and ease of use.
- Two worked well but required numerous rinsing and a long drying time to remove the cleaner.
- Two cleaned well but produced a tremendous mess.
- Two didn’t clean much at all.
I went back to the drawing board and tweaked the two best cleansers to make them simpler to rinse before retesting.
One for the green cleaning aficionado!
UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED
UPHOLSTERY CLEANER #1 CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS:
1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup dish soap (3 percent )
Directions:
Spray the upholstery with a light coat of paint. Allow 2-3 minutes for the upholstery cleaning solutions to rest on the cloth. Gently scrub with a microfiber towel or rag. If the clothing appears soapy, wet it and gently dab it.
There are just too many bubbles! I had to rinse the cloth many times before I could suck the seats dry with my steam cleaner and shop vac. When I was finished, the cloth was clean, but the procedure had taken hours. I wouldn’t use this upholstery cleaning solutions on a bigger surface.
Why does this cleaner not work:
- This cleaner includes an excessive amount of detergent, resulting in a very soapy cloth. Any remaining residue on the fabric may cause it to feel crunchy and collect dirt.
- Rinsing upholstery with too much water can cause a musty odor and damage metal zippers, wood furniture components, and other upholstery components.
Ingredients for Upholstery Cleaning Solutions #2:
1 cup vinegar, 1 cup club soda, 1 cup dish detergent
Directions:
In a spray bottle, mix the cleaner and spray it on the upholstery until it is gently wet. Allow it cool for a few minutes. Scrub softly in a circular motion using a brush. Using a steam cleaner or a shop vac, spray with water and suck dry.
Too much detergent, as a result! To rinse the cloth, I had to spritz it with water many times before vacuuming it dry. (Because my little Bissel had less suction, I switched to my strong shop vac.) When I was finished, the cloth was pretty clean, but cleaning had been a lengthy and difficult job.
Why does this cleaner not work:
- This upholstery cleaning solution includes an excessive amount of detergent, resulting in a very soapy cloth. Any remaining residue on the fabric may cause it to feel crunchy and collect dirt.
- Rinsing upholstery with too much water can cause a musty odour and damage metal zippers, wood furniture components, and other upholstery components.
Ingredients for Upholstery Cleaner #3:
2 cups boiling water, 1 tbsp dish soap, 1 tbsp white vinegar, 1 tbsp baking soda
Directions:
Wait 10 minutes after sprinkling baking soda over the discoloration. Baking soda should be vacuumed. In a spray bottle, combine the dish soap, vinegar, and water. Soak the cloth briefly and then blot it dry.
Results:
This combination did not clean or remove stains very well. This might be due to the minimal amount of vinegar in it. It’s not something I’d use again.
Upholstery Cleaning Solutions No. 4 (Best Upholstery Stain Remover)
Ingredients:
1 c white vinegar, 1 c rubbing alcohol
Directions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle. Allow 1-2 minutes for the cleanser to soak into the cloth surface. Allow drying after aggressively scrubbing with a sponge or clean cloth. If necessary, repeat the process.
The paint and pen stains were removed using this combination. The solution, on the other hand, did nothing to clean the cloth in general. I’d use this cleanser to address stubborn stains on the spot. (Alcohol should never be used on acetate, triacetate, modacrylic, or acrylic fibers.)
Why does this cleaner work (or not work)?
- Fabric can be efficiently cleaned using alcohol-based solutions to remove paint, ink, and stubborn stains.
- Vinegar is a mild acid that breaks down fundamental dirt and, when it dries, naturally removes smells.
- Because the solution lacks detergents to break down dirt and oils, it did not accomplish much to clean the overall cloth.
Ingredients for Upholstery Cleaner #5:
1 tablespoon white vinegar, 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol
In a spray bottle, combine all of the components. Allow 1-2 minutes for the cleanser to soak into the cloth surface. Allow drying after scrubbing with a clean rag. If necessary, repeat the process.
Results:
Because it contained rubbing alcohol, this mixture, like cleanser #4, helped to erase ink stains, but it did not clean the cloth in general. Instead of using this cleanser, I would treat spots with a few drops of normal rubbing alcohol. (Alcohol should never be used on acetate, triacetate, modacrylic, or acrylic fibers.)
Cleaner for Upholstery #6 (Best Dry Upholstery Cleaner)
Ingredients:
A tiny amount of water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch
Directions:
To make a thick paste, combine the ingredients with just enough water. Allow to dry after applying to cloth (this should take about half an hour). When the paste is dry, vacuum the cloth to remove any remaining residue. (Alternatively, combine baking soda and cornstarch, sprinkle over, then vacuum clean after approximately an hour.)
Results:
I was blown away by how nicely this upholstery cleaning in Melbourne solution removed fabric stains! Spots could be seen rising to the cleaner’s surface. This cleanser is ideal for mild cleaning and for fragile upholstery that should not be too damp.
Why this cleanser is effective:
- Baking soda is a gently abrasive basic cleanser that breaks down acidic filth and smells.
- Cornstarch is a great absorbent of moisture, oil, and odors.
Upholstery Cleaning Solutions #7
1 teaspoon dish soap, 16 ounces water, 50 percent hydrogen peroxide solution, baking soda
In one spray bottle, combine dish soap and water; in a second container, add equal amounts hydrogen peroxide and water to make a 50 percent solution. Spritz the cloth gently with soap water, then evenly spray with hydrogen peroxide solution and sprinkle with baking soda. Spread baking soda evenly across the surface using your hand or a towel. Allow for overnight drying. Clean using a vacuum.
The cleaner did an excellent job of eliminating stains and brightening the cloth in general. It was, however, quite messy to apply and difficult to vacuum clean. This cleaning should not be used on dark fabrics since it may bleach them. It’d also be difficult to eradicate on a large basis.
Why this cleanser is effective:
- Dishwashing detergent removes dirt and grease from dishes.
- Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleach substitute that brightens fabrics and removes stubborn stains.
- Baking soda is a gently abrasive basic cleanser that breaks down acidic filth and smells.
Upholstery Cleaning Solutions #8
1 teaspoon dish soap, 16 ounces water, 100 percent hydrogen peroxide solution, baking soda
Directions:
Fill one spray bottle with dish soap and water, and another with hydrogen peroxide. Spritz fabric gently with soap water, then evenly spray with hydrogen peroxide and sprinkle with baking soda. Spread baking soda evenly across the surface using your hand or a towel. Allow for overnight drying. Clean using a vacuum.
The cloth was brightened and stains were removed with ease with this upholstery cleaning solution (it brightened even more than the 50 percent solution). It was, however, exceedingly difficult to apply and vacuum clean. I wouldn’t use this cleanser on dark clothes since it can over-bleach them. It’d also be difficult to eradicate on a large basis.
Why this cleanser is effective:
1) Dishwashing detergent removes dirt and grease from dishes. 2) Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleach substitute that brightens fabrics and removes stubborn stains. 3) Baking soda is a gently abrasive basic cleanser that breaks down acidic filth and smells.
