UPHOLSTERY

Office upholstery cleaning: stains and care

A fresh stain should be blotted off upholstery straight away with a clean dry cloth, never rubbed. The cleaning code on the furniture tells you what is allowed: W means water based, S solvent based, WS both, and X means no liquid at all.

Which office furniture needs cleaning

Office upholstery means more than the sofa in reception. It covers work chairs, meeting room chairs, waiting area sofas and some acoustic fabric panels. A work chair can be in use for the whole working day, yet cleaning it is often forgotten simply because clients never see it.

The work chair is also the piece with the most contact with the person using it. The seat cushion and the backrest collect sweat, hair products and food crumbs, and on dark fabric none of it shows. The difference is usually noticed only when one chair has been cleaned and the one next to it has not.

What to do with a fresh coffee stain

With a fresh coffee or food stain the main thing is to act fast. Blot the liquid up with a clean dry cloth and use a little cold water if you need to. Do not rub, because rubbing drives the dirt deeper into the fabric and can damage the surface.

Soaking the fabric can leave drying marks later. These are pale or dark rings around the stain and they are often harder to remove than the stain itself. If a dry cloth and a little water do not shift it, leave the stain to a professional.

What the upholstery cleaning codes mean

The cleaning code on the furniture is an important clue. W means water based cleaning, S means solvent based cleaning, WS allows both, and X means that cleaning with liquid is not recommended. Always read the manufacturer instructions before you use any product.

The code is usually on a label under the seat or behind the backrest. If there is no label and the origin of the furniture is unknown, test the product on a hidden spot first. Fabric with an X code is cleaned by vacuuming or a dry method only, and liquid can leave a mark that cannot be put right afterwards.

Which fabric suits commercial premises

When choosing furniture for commercial premises, look at how well the fabric stands up to wear. The Martindale rating shows how much rubbing a fabric takes. Colour and weave count as well. A small pattern or a melange yarn hides everyday marks better than a plain pale surface.

In heavily used spots such as the waiting area and the meeting room, go for a denser fabric and a shade that does not show every mark. That cuts the need for cleaning more than any later care will.

How professional cleaning differs from cleaning at home

Professional cleaning starts by lifting the loose dirt and checking that the fabric can take the treatment. An upholstery extraction machine pulls the cleaning solution back out together with the dirt. After the work the furniture needs drying time, so it makes sense to book the job for an evening or a weekend.

That extraction step is the main difference between cleaning at home and professional cleaning. Solution left in the fabric attracts dirt, and the surface then gets dirty again faster than before.

How often to clean upholstery

In an ordinary office, work chairs and meeting room chairs can be cleaned once a year, and a busier waiting area more often. While the fabric and the foam are still in good condition, cleaning is usually more sensible than replacing the furniture.

Lux Puhastus provides upholstery cleaning for business clients in Tallinn, Viimsi, Maardu and the Saue area. You can book carpet cleaning on the same visit, or other services such as specialised cleaning. The site survey is free. Ask for a quote.

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