Upholstery material plays a very important role when purchasing furniture. Cleaning any material can be quite challenging, as different fabrics react differently to various chemicals.
Characteristics of velour
Velour is a special type of fabric that looks much more beautiful and vibrant on a sofa than leather or other materials. However, it's also worth noting that velour requires proper care, as without it, the sofa will quickly become unattractive to its owners.
This type of fabric doesn't tolerate harsh chemicals, meaning a specific product with a specific composition is required. While its complex maintenance makes velour a less popular sofa upholstery material, its beautiful and respectable appearance makes it a popular choice again.
Advantages of velour covering
A velor sofa has a number of advantages that make many buyers confident in purchasing furniture with this upholstery. The following are worth noting:
- Practicality. The material is completely dust-resistant, allowing pet owners to relax on it without any problem, as pet hair doesn't accumulate.
- Safety. The production process uses threads and other materials that are hypoallergenic, so anyone suffering from allergies need not worry, as the pile is completely safe.
- Color palette. The variety of shades and iridescent colors is especially noticeable if the sofa's design has multiple facets and indentations, creating a truly unique and beautiful haven of patterns that true connoisseurs of beauty will love.
- Pleasant to the touch. The material has special properties that make it extremely pleasant to the touch.
- Stable. There's no deformation when sitting, and the pile stays in the same position.
But besides that, there are also some disadvantages that you also need to know in order to combat them.
Disadvantages of velour upholstery
There are also certain nuances that prevent this type of fabric from taking a leading position in sales:
- Vulnerability to certain drinks. While dust can be easily dealt with, spilled coffee, tea, or even carbonated drinks can be a challenge, as they can become deeply embedded in this material.
- Loss of luster. If your family has many children or your sofa is used frequently, its luster can quickly fade.
- Cost. The fabric isn't cheap, so you'll have to shell out a pretty penny to buy furniture made from this material.
- It wrinkles. It's quite common for velour items to wrinkle, and owners have to correct the situation.
Furniture upholstered in velor requires special care and gentle handling throughout its lifespan. It must be cleaned regularly, without the use of harsh cleaning products or methods.
Care tips for velour furniture
There are certain care guidelines for this type of furniture, which, if followed, can prolong the life of velor-upholstered furniture. Follow these guidelines, and your velor furniture will last a long time:
- If there is even the slightest stain, remove it immediately, do not wait for it to dry, for new stains to appear, etc.;
- vacuum regularly, using a special attachment;
- do not use cleaning products with large granules or grains, they can remain in the pile and then it is quite difficult to remove them from there;
- When cleaning, use only products intended for this type of fabric;
- do not expose to moisture and generally limit contact with water;
For cleaning, use special cloths that aren't too harsh, otherwise you can seriously damage the velour, making it extremely difficult to restore. The cleaning solution (cloth or rag) should be white, as colored ones may bleed.
How to clean a velour sofa
Now let's look at the sofa cleaning process. The easiest way to remove new stains is with a damp sponge, but if the stain is large or a regular cleaner and sponge simply aren't effective, use specialized products.
In addition to the usual store-bought methods, there are also folk remedies: soap, vinegar, baking soda, and other substances. At home, you can clean your sofa using the following products:
- a solution of soap in 5 liters of water;
- brush, roller for removing hair;
- microfiber cloths;
- pure water;
- sponge;
- stain remover;
Follow these steps for a quality cleaning:
- Using a vacuum cleaner with an appropriate attachment, remove dust and debris from the sofa;
- Use a roller with a sticky attachment to go over the entire surface to collect hair and lint;
- Using a cloth, distribute the soap solution evenly and in small quantities over the entire surface or dirty areas;
- apply stain remover to the surface of the sofa;
- leave for the time indicated on the stain remover pack;
- After the time has passed, collect the solution with a napkin, thoroughly wringing out and rinsing the cloth;
After all the procedures, leave the sofa to air dry. Drying with a hair dryer or other device is not recommended; air drying is the only acceptable option for velor. If the fibers are clumped, comb them out. Ironing is also recommended to restore the upholstery's original shine.
How to remove various types of stains
You don't necessarily need to follow the procedures described above. There are plenty of other ways to remove different types of stains using household items:
- Grease stains are best removed with starch, baking soda, or salt. Let it sit for a while, then vacuum up the salt or starch and remove the stain with a sponge soaked in soapy water.
- Spilled coffee, tea, and other sweet drinks should be washed with a damp towel, then applied with a soapy solution. After 15 minutes, rinse the affected area with a clean sponge and dry with a soft cloth.
- Blood is easily removed with aspirin. Dissolve an aspirin tablet in a glass of water, then soak a cloth and wipe the stain until the desired result is achieved.
- Chocolate stains can be removed by first scraping them with a plastic object, then squeezing regular liquid soap onto the stain. Then, wipe with a cloth until the desired result is achieved.
- Spilled alcohol, including wine, is best cleaned up with salt, as it absorbs dyes well.
- Vinegar can help combat stubborn stains. You can make a solution with acetic acid and then apply it to the affected area. After 30 minutes, rinse with clean water and let dry.
As we can see, caring for a sofa at home isn't too difficult, but there are some nuances.
Dry cleaning of a velour sofa
This type of cleaning is used for very old, ingrained stains that are very difficult to remove with regular household or store-bought products. As mentioned at the beginning, velour requires high-quality and gentle care, but there are also less harsh dry cleaning methods.
Chemical cleaning can remove ingrained stains, as well as paint and glue stains. In such cases, cyclic cleaning is used, as removing old stains from velor is a very complex process. A video on the topic provides a visual guide.
Now you know exactly how and what to clean velour upholstered furniture with, and you know all the steps and care instructions for this type of material. If you own such a sofa, be sure to clean it regularly.
Follow the rules and methods outlined in this article and extend the life of your velour furniture for a long time.
You can browse all the options on the Zlatamebel website, and store consultants will be happy to help you choose the perfect option for you.
Velour sofas from Zlatamebel
