| By :
Janet Webb
Copyright (c) 2010 Janet Webb You know when dust settles on upholstered furniture just like the dust that settles on your hardwood floors or the shoulders of an unworn suit? And just like the housecleaning of your hardwood floors or the dry cleaning of your pinstripe suit, your furniture too requires continuous upkeep and care in order to ward off damage of dust and dirt accumulated over time. It's not enough to vacuum periodically. Instead, professional furniture cleaning can extend the life of your furniture plus contribute to a healthier home environment. Furniture cleaning covers the gambit from fabric to leather. Yes, even leather needs routine cleaning and care. Fine upholstered furniture can last decades when treated right. Furniture from famous crafters like Whittemore-Sherill, Henredon and Baker is meant to last a lifetime. That lifetime warranty generally won't apply when the manufacturer's recommended cleaning methods aren't followed. Less than professional, or do-it-yourself cleaning, is no substitute for professional cleaning when it comes to retaining both warranties and life span. The technique of professional upholstery cleaning depends on the type of fabric. Methods include hot water extraction, dry cleaning, wet shampoo and dry foam cleaning. The fabric or textile has everything to do with selecting the preferred cleaning method of your upholstered furniture. Hot water extraction is also called steam cleaning. Using this technique the furniture is soaked in hot water and upholstery cleaning with a powerful suction tool to immediately extract the hot water from the furniture. It's comparable to having your teeth cleaned when the hygienist rinses off your teeth and at the same time uses a suction tip to remove the accumulated water from your mouth. Literally, dry cleaning is cleaning sans liquid. First, a dry cleaning solution is sprinkled on the surface of the upholstery. Then the professional uses heat extraction and pressure in a sort of vacuum method of the upholstery fabric. Conversely, wet shampooing uses upholstery shampoo and water to extract grime and dust from upholstery. The shampoo isn't the same kind used on your hair or when you give your dog a bath. Remember that time you used hand dish soap in the dishwasher and had bubbles pouring out of the dishwasher into the kitchen? Well, that's why a professional uses the chemically balanced upholstery shampoo recommended for specific fibers when cleaning your upholstery. Some fabrics simply cannot get wet, particularly silk. A professional upholstery cleaner will combine soap and hot water and brush on the suds with a dry brush or sponge to clean fabric before they're vacuumed up, instead of using water. Leather is the most durable fabrication used on upholstered furniture and still it needs professional cleaning to retain its supple quality. Professional upholstery cleaners use a cleaning solution with very little water mixed into it. The solution is applied to and very quickly absorbed because leather can warp or wrinkle when exposed to too much water.
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