How to clean a velor sofa from dust and dirt at home: effective methods

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Author of the article

Svetlana Pavlikhina

Reading time: 6 minutes

Velor fabric looks expensive and presentable. It’s easy to ruin it, and you can get rid of stains at home without going to the dry cleaner.

A velor sofa can be cleaned with various improvised and purchased products. In order not to spoil the upholstery, it is necessary to follow the dosage of cleaning products and the technology for their application.

What is velor

Velor fabric is a fleecy, soft, strong, durable fabric.
From French “velours” is translated as “velvet”, and from Latin – as “hairy”. Velor is made from wool yarn, the pile of which is slightly longer than that of velvet fabric. The pattern on velor fabric is different; on this basis, velor is divided into several types: smooth, embossed, shaped.

Cleaning Features

During use, greasy stains may appear on a sofa upholstered in velor, dust or animal hair may settle.

To prevent dirt from becoming persistent and ingrained deep into the fibers, it is recommended to vacuum the sofa daily and, if necessary, use special rubber attachments on the vacuum cleaner.

Other recommendations:

To preserve the appearance of the velor material, only soft brushes are used during the cleaning process, the bristles of which will not damage the fleecy fabric.
It is not recommended to clean velor with fluffy cloths, which leave marks on the fabric. It is good to replace them with a sponge, microfiber cloth or cotton cloth. They will carefully clean the upholstery without leaving lint or threads on the surface.
The material is cleaned only along the pile, but not against it, otherwise bald spots may appear on the fabric.
Powder products cannot be used: they dissolve poorly, become embedded in the base of the fabric, and make the upholstery look untidy.
It is not recommended to use solvent or bleach as a cleaning agent. These substances discolor the material, and instead of a greasy (dirty) stain, a whitish stain appears.

To clean velor fabric, you can safely use a mild soap solution and a cotton cloth.

How is cleaning carried out?

When bringing the sofa into decent shape, you can use both dry and wet cleaning methods. It is important not to use excessive physical force when cleaning, as this may damage the surface. You should also remember that when using special cleaning products, it is not recommended to use a large volume of them at once - this may cause new stains to form. Let's take a closer look at how to clean a velor sofa at home.

Vacuum cleaner

It is recommended to carry out cleaning, starting with more gentle methods. First, it is recommended to simply vacuum the sofa. You need to be careful when doing this. Some people believe that a vacuum cleaner can damage this delicate material.

In some hard-to-reach places, the vacuum cleaner cannot be used - in such cases, special brushes with soft bristles are used. When using them, you should not use much force - the pile can be easily damaged, and the upholstery may lose some of its charm.

Roller

You can use rollers to collect wool. They are rolled over the surface, and the hairs, if any, stick to the surface of the roller.

the washing up

Now we’ll tell you what to do if sticky and dirty stains appear on the upholstery. First you need to prepare a weak soap solution. It is recommended to use a microfiber cloth for washing. You need to wash with careful, soft movements, moving in the direction of the pile. First, wipe with the prepared soap solution, and after the stain is removed, the soap is washed off with a napkin soaked in clean water. When it is washed off, be sure to blot the wet mark with a clean and dry cotton towel.

You will probably find the information on how to care for a crib useful.

Cleaning algorithm

At home, the process of cleaning a velor sofa will not take much time and effort if everything is done correctly.

Stains are removed according to the following principle:

preliminary cleaning of the sofa upholstery using a vacuum cleaner or a special brush;
soaking stubborn stains in a soap solution (the product should not drain from the rag);
removing dirt with a rag or sponge (you can’t force or rub the fabric, you need to act delicately);
drying the upholstery naturally or with a hairdryer;
steaming fabric with an iron to restore its original appearance.

In accordance with this algorithm, all superficial or stubborn stains are removed. Depending on the type of contamination, various means are used.

How and with what to clean a velor sofa

Velor does not require cleaning; it is enough to vacuum it once a week. If stains are present, you can use special products specialized for this material. To do this, you need to take a foam sponge with the applied composition and lightly wipe the dirty areas.

It is recommended to remove fresh stains with a sponge and hot water. There is no need to rub the dirty areas too hard, as this material is quite easy to clean. Pet hair can be removed with a regular brush with soft bristles or a special brush.

The ease of care for this fabric is obtained as a result of the use of high-tech fibers in its composition, which have antistatic and anti-allergenic qualities.

Cleaning products

To remove dirt from a velor sofa, both folk remedies and store-bought ones are used.

Often used:

soap solution;
vinegar solution;
aqueous solution of aspirin;
heating with an iron;
special products for cleaning velor.

Each of these products is suitable for removing a specific type of contaminant.

Folk remedies

Products used to remove stains from fabric:

Contamination from tea, coffee, or any other coloring drink or liquid can be easily washed with soap and water. A weak solution of vinegar and water also helps get rid of such stains.
Stains from fruit juices can be removed with an aqueous solution of ammonia and vinegar.
The blood is washed off with cold water and a small amount of liquid or laundry soap.
Grease or wax stains are removed by heating: a cotton cloth is applied to the area of contamination and ironed with a hot iron.

Chewing gum is frozen with a small piece of ice, after which it falls off on its own.

Specialized means

The most famous cleaning product for fleecy surfaces is Vanish. The substance is sold in the form of a foam solution, which is applied to the stain or to the entire fabric.

Once the cleaning agent has dried, remove it with a vacuum cleaner.

Furniture is cleaned quickly and efficiently . Store-bought solutions are easy to work with, they act quickly, they smell nice, but their price does not always suit the consumer.

Removing stains

Folk remedies are used depending on the type of stains. They are cheaper than store-bought ones and are always on hand.

Cleaning from dirt

A dirty stain on velor upholstery can be easily removed with soapy water. To do this, dissolve liquid, laundry or toilet soap in warm water.

A clean microfiber cloth or sponge is soaked in the solution, wrung out, and wiped over the stain. Once the dirt has been removed, the surface of the sofa is dried naturally or using a hairdryer.

Removing dust

Dust deposits are removed from velor fabric using a vacuum cleaner and a special nozzle for cleaning furniture. It is advisable to do this daily: this way the dirt will not eat into the upholstery, and stains will be easier to remove.

You can get rid of dust in another popular way:

Wet a large sheet and wring it out.
Cover the entire surface of the sofa with a damp cloth.
Beat off dust with a carpet beater.

Dust rises not only from the upholstery, but also from the inner layers of the furniture and settles on the wet sheet.

Required Tools

How is upholstered furniture dry-cleaned at home? Where should you start? Of course, from the selection of the necessary tools that will be the main assistants in this matter. Not everyone has special dry cleaning equipment at hand. To clean soft interior items at home with your own hands, you will need:

vacuum cleaner;
brush;
rag or sponge;
clothes steamer or steam cleaner.

Washing vacuum cleaner

Steam cleaner

Brush

Vacuum cleaners of different types are suitable for cleaning upholstery material, depending on the type of stain. Special attachments that come with washing vacuum cleaners will allow you to get rid of stubborn dirt. A handheld vacuum cleaner is designed for surface removal of dirt and dust. For high-quality cleaning, you can purchase additional accessories for a regular vacuum cleaner: nozzles, air bags, water filters.

If cleaning is carried out using a brush, then you need to pay attention to the material from which the product is made. For a more thorough cleaning of upholstery fabric, you will need a stiff bristle brush.

If you give preference to a rag, it should be soft and made of natural material. A steam cleaner as a cleaning tool not only carefully removes any dirt, but also helps to disinfect the fabric from germs.

Why spend money on expensive tools for removing stains, if every housewife has ordinary household appliances in her arsenal? When used correctly, you can clean a sofa, armchair or soft pouf with your own hands.

It is necessary to choose the right tools for dry cleaning furniture. This will keep the upholstery in its original form and avoid mechanical damage to delicate fabrics.

Cleaning stubborn stains

It is not so easy to remove stains from blood, juices, tea or coffee at home, but there are simple, proven methods for them.

Blood

Fresh blood is washed off with cold water, then blotted with a clean, absorbent cloth.

Dried blood can be scraped off with a hard object, cleaned with a brush, then wipe the stain with a solution of washing powder that contains a stain remover.

It is not recommended to use stain removers with chlorine separately for cleaning colored velor fabrics: they discolor the area of the fabric to which they are applied.

Wine

Wine and blood stains are washed off with aspirin: the tablet is crushed to a powder, dissolved in 250 ml of warm water and the stains are wiped with the solution.

Tea coffee

Such stains can be easily removed with a regular solution of diluted soap. Instead of toilet soap, you can use laundry soap: it is more effective. As soon as the dirt is removed, the velor is cleaned from the soap solution with clean water.

The fastest ways to cleanse

Grease stains can be easily removed with salt or soda. As soon as the oily substance gets on the sofa upholstery, sprinkle it with a small amount of table salt and after 3-5 minutes remove it with a vacuum cleaner, and blot the stain with a clean damp cloth.

Fruit juice stains are quickly removed with a mixture of ammonia and vinegar (9%) in equal parts. Once the solution is absorbed into the contaminated area, blot it with a clean sponge.

How not to spoil the canvas

In order for the sofa to remain not only clean after washing, but also have a presentable appearance, its cleaning must be carried out in accordance with certain rules:

Do not use hard brushes;
washing is carried out in one direction - along the pile;
Do not clean stains using circular movements or against the lint;
do not use bleach for colored fabrics;
The vacuum cleaner is used only in conjunction with a special attachment; the pile is cleaned in one direction.

The material is handled with care; no hard brushes, sponges, aggressive cleaning agents or concentrated acids are used during the cleaning process..

If you have doubts about the effectiveness or safety of a particular folk remedy, you can try applying it in a corner or on the underside of the sofa fabric.

If the upholstery does not change color or structure, the substance can be safely applied in a visible place.

Summer shoe care

Products are cleaned from liquid dirt with a weak solution of laundry soap or baby laundry detergent. Use a brush to clean the contaminated areas, then moisten a flannel cloth with the solution, wring it out and wipe the stains. You cannot wash shoes with the solution. To clean shoes, you can use ammonia diluted with water in a ratio of 1:5. Moisten a cotton pad with the solution and wipe the contaminated areas.

There are professional products for caring for summer shoes:

German-made foam cleaning agents suitable for painting of varying durability and cleaning products made from combined materials.
Cleaners for stains of any degree of penetration. They come complete with a brush and a small sponge. The products contain color fixatives, so the shoes do not suffer from their use.
Aerosols for restoring the color of faded products, which must be selected strictly in accordance with the original color.

Features of care

When choosing furniture for your home, it is worth learning about how upholstery is cared for during use. You also need to figure out how to clean your velor sofa upholstery if it gets stained.

In order for a velor sofa to serve for a long time and maintain its appearance, you must follow the rules of caring for it:

use a vacuum cleaner regularly - this will prevent premature contamination of the velor fabric;
fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones: as soon as a coloring liquid in the form of juice or coffee gets on the upholstery, you should immediately blot the stain with an absorbent sponge or napkin;
if the velor cover is removable, it can be washed in a washing machine at a water temperature not higher than + 30 ᵒC;
It is strictly forbidden to wring out the fabric by hand - this spoils the appearance of the fabric, streaks and bald spots appear;
velor upholstery is dried naturally, not ironed;
If, after cleaning or washing, the pile becomes wrinkled, it is combed and lifted with a cleaning brush (medium-hard bristles).

Home or professional cleaning products are tested on an inconspicuous area.

Features of proper care of velor furniture.

It is impossible to imagine a cozy and comfortable living space without upholstered furniture. Chic sofas and armchairs, which are important elements of the interior, instantly attract attention and are a favorite place to relax for every member of the family. Watching your favorite TV series with a cup of aromatic tea and a piece of cake, a football match with delicious sandwiches and a bottle of beer, a sincere conversation with a close friend over a glass of wine - all this leads to unpleasant consequences that are well known to each of us. Unfortunately, stains cannot be avoided.