Microfiber is a popular choice for upholstery fabrics nowadays, because it is beautiful, and wears well. It also costs less than other types of upholstery fabrics and is relatively easy to maintain. Microfiber upholstery cleaning however, is a little tricky because of the special characteristics of the microfiber fabric. This fabric is usually made from tiny microscopic polyester fibers which are often combined with rayon, acetate, or nylon. Because of this, microfiber upholstery has some unique and special properties, which have to be taken into consideration during cleaning.
Some of these properties are:
- High durability.
- Great attraction for grease, oils, and animal fats.
- Easily retains soils and particulate matter.
- Great resistance to water and water-soluble dyes and stains.
- Soft and luxurious appearance.
Soiling of microfiber upholstery is usually due to body oils and grease, or airborne particulates, which mostly accumulate on the arm rests and headrests or bottom skirting of the furniture.
Often, there is also an accumulation of dry soils, food particles, insect fragments, or microorganisms under cushions, or in crevices behind the seat cushions or under the arm rests.
Cleaning microfiber upholstery should be preceded by thorough vacuuming. Care should be taken to vacuum crevices and other hard to access areas. This can be accomplished by using a special crevice tool attachment which is usually found on most household vacuum cleaners.
Vacuuming should be followed by brushing with a soft synthetic or animal-hair brush.
This will serve to get rid of stuff like animal hair, lint, or skin scales that might be embedded in the fibers. It will also provide some sort of agitation on the surface of the fibers, and make it easier to remove embedded soils.
After vacuuming and brushing, a suitable mild pretreatment solution is applied to the microfiber fabric. The solution should be hot, but the temperature should not exceed about 150°F. Highly alkaline reagents could cause undesirable effects, so it is recommended that all cleaning solutions should be tested in an inconspicuous spot to pre-determine if the dyes in the fabric will bleed.
The hot pretreatment solution or pre-conditioner should then be rubbed into the fabric and left for about 10 minutes until the chemical reaction is complete.
A low moisture upholstery cleaning tool is then used to extract the resultant solutions. Avoid excessive wetting of the fabric. If truck mounted equipment is used, the microfiber upholstery fabric should be sufficiently dry after this step. If the vacuum used is not powerful enough, it may be necessary to use an air mover or t can turbo dryer to effect proper drying.
It is advisable to spray on a suitable fabric protector, and brush or groom the microfiber upholstery after this step. This will preserve its beauty and protect it from being tarnished by oils, grease, inks and dyes, and similar substances for a long time.
Mark it Clean Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning is your one-stop shop for professional-grade carpet and upholstery cleaning. Our team of experienced professionals use the latest equipment and techniques to get your carpets and furniture looking like new again. We understand that accidents happen, so we offer a wide range of services to meet your needs, including pet stain removal, odor removal, and more. Contact us today for a free consultation!
Mark it Clean Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
520 W Willow St, Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 726-2929
https://markitcleanusa.com
