You’ve stained your new microfiber couch and now you’re in a state of panic as you’re wondering whether to clean it yourself or hire a professional service to do it for you.
Keep calm, because we’ve got you covered. You don’t need to pay expensive fees to get your couch back to its original state, you just need some time and patience, a bit of knowledge about how to clean it, and the right products to make it as good as new.
In this article, we’ll give you all the important information about microfiber as a material, how to clean your microfiber furniture, and what products you’ll need to do it. After you reach the end, you’ll know how to keep your upholstery made of microfiber in great shape for years to come, so let’s get started.
What Is Microfiber?
Microfiber is one of the most popular materials made of synthetic fibers that’s also used for furniture upholstery. It’s an affordable option for furniture such as chairs, couches, sofas, ottomans, and so on. Not only is this material affordable and durable, but it’s also very easy to clean by yourself and moderately resistant to stains.
If you understand the characteristics of this material, it will be very easy to keep it clean. And if you follow our advice, you’ll definitely manage to keep your microfiber couch looking as if it’s brand new.
The Microfiber Cleaning Codes
First, you need to figure out what type of method you’re going to use to clean your microfiber furniture. And this can easily be determined if you just look at the tags on your furniture and find the cleaning codes. When you find the tag, you’ll find one or more of the following codes:
- W – you should clean your microfiber chair with a water-based cleaner;
- S – you should use a solvent cleaner;
- S-W – you can clean it with either of the two, whether that’s a solvent cleaner or water-based cleaner;
- X – you can’t use any type of cleaning solution on your furniture, you can only clean it with a vacuum cleaner.
The Difference Between Water-Based Cleaners and Solvent Cleaners
A W code on your microfiber furniture is one of the best things you can see, as most products used for cleaning are water-based and you have a lot to choose from. You can decide between a store-bought water-based upholstery cleaner or a homemade solution of soapy water.
However, the most common code found on microfiber upholstery is the S code, while no code whatsoever is also common. If there is no code, you may treat it as if there’s an S code and clean it with a solvent cleaner. It’s best to go with rubbing alcohol as it’s one of the cheapest on the market, you can find it anywhere, and it will dry very quickly.
Cleaning the Microfiber Chair
Now that you know all the essentials about microfiber as a material and what the cleaning codes mean, it’s time to start cleaning your chair. We’ve divided the process into 3 steps.
1. Select the Right Product
You probably have most of the cleaning products we’ll go over below, but if you don’t, they can be purchased in most stores.
- If your chair needs to be cleaned with water-based cleansers, you can go with upholstery shampoo, mild dish detergent, carpet cleaner, and even a gentle soap.
- If your chair needs to be cleaned with solvent-based cleansers, you can go with rubbing alcohol, dry-cleaning solvents, and even clear alcohol, such as gin or vodka.
- If your chair has an “X” tag, this is another reminder not to use any water-based or solvent-based cleaners.
You will also need the following equipment:
- Clean cloth
- Spray bottle
- Soft sponge
- Soft scrub brush
2. Clean the Microfiber Chair
After you’ve gathered everything you need, it’s time to start cleaning the microfiber chair, which will take you about 30 minutes or less.
- Vacuum. The first thing you need to do is vacuum the hair and dirt that’s been gathering on your chair. Remember to use the special attachment for upholstery if you have pets, or use a dry bristle brush.
- Perform a spot test. Before you start working on the whole chair, it’s best to do a spot test on some area that isn’t that visible so you can see how the material reacts to the cleaning product you’ve chosen and whether it stains or causes damage. Just grab a washcloth, dab it with the product, and apply it to an inconspicuous spot on the chair. Wait about 20 minutes for the area to dry and then check whether a spot or stain has appeared.
- Place the chosen cleaner in a spray bottle. Regardless of what you’re using, whether it’s a water-based solution like upholstery shampoo or a solvent-based solution like rubbing alcohol, you need to place your desired cleaner into a spray bottle. This way, it’s easier to apply it to the desired location on the chair without applying too much as the spray bottle will spray mist.
- Spray the chair. Apply the product where you intend to clean and blot the area with a clean cloth. You can also rub the chair in small circles. Repeat the process until there are no stains left. If you’re trying to remove a smaller stain, this may just do the trick, but if not, proceed to the next step.
- Scrub with a sponge. Make sure that the sponge you’re using doesn’t have a very harsh texture. The sponge should be either light-colored or in color similar to the chair so the color of the sponge doesn’t transfer to the microfiber. Scrub where you’ve previously misted and you should see the stains coming off in the process. Apply more of the product in the spray bottle if needed.
Finish the Cleaning Process
Now that your chair is nice and clean, it’s time to finish the cleaning process in a few easy steps.
- Blow-dry the wet spots. If you don’t want to wait for the spot you’ve treated to dry on its own and you’re eager to see the results, you can use a blow dryer to speed up the process. Just remember to use the blow dryer at the coolest and lowest setting and keep it about 6’’ away from the fabric.
- Restore the fluff of your microfiber chair. It’s quite common for the microfiber to feel stuff after it’s dried, but you can soften it up and get it back to how it was before. Take a soft brush and rub the fibers slowly and gently in a circular motion. After a while, you’ll see that your chair is feeling soft and plush once more.
- Spray a fabric protector on your chair. After your chair is clean and dry, you need to finish the procedure by applying a spray-on fabric protector to prevent your chair from staining in the future. Grab a fabric protector at your closest grocery store and spray your chair all over. Keep in mind not to spray this on wood or other materials, so just keep it on the microfiber. When spraying, it’s important to keep the nozzle about 6″ away from the fabric while holding the can in an upright position. Allow it to dry before you apply a second coat. Remember that spraying several light coats is better than spraying one heavy coat. Repeat this step every time you clean your chair.
Final Thoughts
While it’s good to have your furniture professionally cleaned from time to time, that can get a little costly. Now you know that you don’t have to do that each time you have a spill. By using simple water or solvent-based cleaners that you probably have lying around the house, you can remove even the most stubborn stains.
What you need to remember is to always read the codes about which cleaning agents you can use on your furniture to make sure that you don’t damage the material by using the wrong cleaner. It’s also important to keep in mind what type of material your furniture is made from as you’re buying it, and when possible, always opt for microfiber furniture that can be cleaned both with water-based and solvent-based cleaners.
We’re positive that our advice will help you clean your microfiber furniture yourself. Good luck!
