It can be easy to forget about washing up the upholstery before a spillage occurs or a stain mysteriously emerges. But given how much it is used, and how much secret dirt and dust builds up on your sofas and armchairs, freshening them up now and then is necessary.

Begin by removing throws and cushions, and checking back and forth for any loose changes, candy wrappers, etc. Install the upholstery attachment onto your vacuum cleaner for cloth sofas. To stop scratching it using the brush attachment on leather upholstery. Slowly suck up all the crumbs and dirt that have accumulated on the surface, using slow sweeping motion. Switch over to the crevice tool to get anything from the edges your fingers couldn’t reach, as well as cleaning the seams. Repeat on the cushions.

If your upholstery still has its label or a sticker attached to the underside, check it first before using any cleaning products. W indicates that a water-based cleaner can be used. S or P means it can only be washed (dry-clean only) with solvents. SW or WS means you can use either a solvent cleaner or a water-based detergent. A steam cleaner would also be good to use. Lastly, X means you can't use any water or detergent on the surface-then has it washed professionally.

In most forms of upholstery white vinegar is a perfect natural stain remover. Begin by blotting the stain with a water and vinegar solution in equal parts, then gently wipe the stain away using a microfiber cloth (only use a fresh cloth to make sure it is absolutely clean). Replace this with a combination of mild detergent and tepid water to eliminate the residual traces of vinegar. Naturally, allow it to dry.

Check out the latest collections of sofa upholsteries from AlKilani Fabrics.