Cleaning the upholstered dining chairs is not the same as other normal chairs. The kitchen and dining room have upholstered or fabric dining chairs and most of the dining chairs come with padding. Such chairs have more tendency to absorb the spilling milk, tea, or other food.
The longer the food sits on the chair, the more difficult it is to clean. A frequent dropping of food not only fades the appearance of fabric but also boosts wear and tear.
In cleaning, the first step is to know the type of fabric and the nature of stains. The dining chairs come in different types of fabric. You need to read the manufacturer’s guidelines about cleaning as each fabric has its own demands.
Dusting and Vacuum Cleaning: A pre-cleaning step
Before applying any cleaning methods, we need to make our furniture dust-free.
Regardless of the fabric, the dining chairs have the potential to hold dust, debris, pet hairs, germs, etc. during routine usage. If not removed timely, the gradual accumulation of debris leaves permanent staining marks on the fabric. Regular and timely dusting of dining chairs not only removes the dust and debris but also boosts the appearance of furniture.
The vacuum cleaner is a great tool for dining chairs to get rid of dust, pet hairs & debris. Regular vacuuming with different attachments is recommended for better cleaning.
1. Homemade Cleaner Solutions
Once the dusting is done, there is time to make DIY solutions. There are different simple ways to make cleaner from easily available household products like vinegar, lemon juice, club soda, natural dish soap, etc.
To remain safe, apply the solution to a very small and hidden portion of upholstery. This way confirms whether the cleaner is safe for the fabric or not.
A. White Vinegar, Rubbing Alcohol, and Water
To make a cleaner solution, take 1 cup of water, ½ cup of white vinegar, and ½ cup of rubbing alcohol. Mix the solution and pour it into a spray bottle. In the case of delicate fabric, you can dilute the solution by adding more water.
Spray the solution on a clean towel to make it wet. Now blot the stain by putting a wet towel on it. Use an absorbent cloth to dry the affected area. Keep blotting and drying until the stain moves out of the fabric.
This method removes stains like coffee, tea, fruit juice, ketchup, sauce, jam, ink, etc. from the dining chairs.
B. White Vinegar, Dishwashing Liquid, and Water
Take one tablespoon of white vinegar and dishwashing liquid each, and mix them in two cups of warm water. Take a clean towel to wet it with the solution. Blot the stain in a circular motion. Follow the blot and dry method to remove the stains.
The solution not only removes dye stains but can be used on sinks, planters, trash cans, toilets, fridges, etc.
2. Cleaning With Baking Soda
Having many important properties, baking soda is an ideal way to remove dark stains like oil and grease from dining chairs. Take a cup of baking soda in a bowl and pour ½ cup of water into it. Keep adding a small amount of water until a thick paste appears.
Apply the paste to chair stains and let it be there few minutes. The paste draws the stain out of the upholstery. Once the paste dries, it removes the stains.
3. Cleaning With Oxygen Bleach
Oxygen bleach not only removes the stains but also brightens the fabrics. In contrast to chlorine bleach, it is safe for colored fabrics.
Though oxygen bleach proves to be safe for different fabrics, it should not be used on leather, wool, or silk. Bleach is considered safe for all types of washable fabrics. Before applying the oxygen bleach, first read out the manufacturer’s instructions about the fabric.
Mix 2 tablespoons of oxygen bleach in 4 L warm water. Use hot water if the bleach does not solve. Soak a piece of clean towel with the solution and blot the wine stain with it. More blotting is best to remove the stains.
Oxygen bleach removes wine stains, and stubborn stains like hot cocoa, blood, chocolate, tomato sauce, etc.
4. Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is one of the most useful ways to clean upholstered dining room chairs. Before cleaning, make sure the chair fabric is water safe or not. Water safe fabric comes with a label of “SW” which means solvent and water safe.
Don’t steam the fabric which is not water safe. Such fabrics come with a label of “X” which means the fabric is prone to water damage.
The very first step before steaming is to vacuum-clean the dining chair’s upholstery. Vacuuming removes the hairs, trash, dust, allergens, etc. which may otherwise make the dining chair dirtier if they get wet by vacuum cleaning.
Identifying Stains before Steam Cleaning
There are stains like food, urine, dirt, etc. that can easily be removed by steam cleaning only. Such types of stains don’t need any pre-treatment of cleaner solutions before steam cleaning.
However, there are stains that are oil or grease-based which require pre-treatment before steaming. Pre-treatment can be done with commercial or homemade cleaner solutions like vinegar, alcohol, baking soda, laundry detergents, dish soap, etc.
Steam Cleaning Process
Before starting the cleaning, a product called a soil emulsifier is used to loosen the elements like dust, dirt, pathogens, allergens, etc. that got stuck into the dining upholstery. Spray the soil emulsifier on the upholstery of the dining chairs and let it sit for a few minutes. After that, apply the upholstery shampoo and rub it with a brush on the fabric.
Use the right steam cleaner as per the type of chair fabric. The most liked ones among the users are upholstery steam cleaners.
5. Cleaning With Hydrogen Peroxide
With excellent oxidizing properties, hydrogen peroxide works as a powerful cleaning and disinfectant solution. Mostly, it comes in a concentration of 3% to 12% solution.
Take a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and mix it with ¼ cup of dishwashing liquid to make a cleaner solution. Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
Spray the solution on the dining chair’s upholstery and allow the solution to sit for a couple of minutes. Rub the stain with a microfiber cloth. This will remove the stains.
Conclusion
Before jumping to any methods, always consider the following points:
