ORGANIC UPHOLSTERY CLEANER

Taking the Green Way Out.

Congratulations on deciding to stray from the caustic underworld of chemicals. More so now than ever, our health is integral to the entire planet, not just our loved ones. Adding in simple little touches like retaining the professional services of those who also believe in the same tenet adds years of sustainability all around. In this FIRST STEP, we'll get started with getting to know the upholstery. Under the cushions, you'll find tags with a series of letters that denote the best way to handle a stain for that particular piece of furniture. These codes come in especially handy when stains and emergencies are just too massive for you to tackle on your own.

A basic solution made with equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol with the option of 10 to 15 drops of essential oil(s) in a spray bottle and a clean sponge or cloth can make a world of difference. Keep the stain damp with continual fine mists of your green cleaner, all the while sponging the residual dirt away. You may be leery about using rubbing alcohol, but in this case, it acts as a drying agent. If you truly don't want to use it, then substitute it for diluted lemon juice. Personally, I would save the lemon juice blend for your outdoor upholstery cleaner as it's natural reaction with the sun will yield comparative results to that of bleach. We'll get to the great outdoors in a couple of minutes.

The Stain is Covering Something Deeper.

Sometimes, an unknown stain is a warning sign of something a bit unsightly. In this STEP TWO section, we'll be digging for clues. Unzip the cover of the furniture cover, if it has a zipper, and begin a more in-depth investigation. Is the foam pad abnormally bunched up, damper than expected, or even squishy? If so, remove the slipcover and take a good look. You may have the beginning of mold from past spills or damp weather, or even poor servicing from a mediocre company.

This is borderline territory. There are plenty of organic, non-toxic upholstery cleaners now on the market that can get rid of mold, or you can drag out some bleach and give that a try if you want to risk breaking down the cushion composite fiber. OR you can call a highly reputable steam cleaning service crew in to vaporize it away the SAFE way. No matter what you choose, the important thing is to nip mold in the bud. The spores will spread rapidly, and by keeping them fed by continuing to use any liquid at this point would be moot. If mold keeps you on hold AND you also have outdoor furniture, let's move ahead into....

The Great Outdoors! The Third and Final Step in Upholstery Cleaning.

So many people just ignore their outdoor furniture. The seasonal wear and tear is so short-termed that we tend not to consider how valuable the investment was. By applying the same technique to the outdoor upholstery, we can extend its life. Beginning with removing its cover every sunny morning for just a couple of hours to completely dry it from overnight condensation or post-rain build-up and a routine spray and wipe with a water/lemon/vinegar mix will perform miracles. As will a scrub of baking soda and dish soap paste....either brushed away when dry or hosed off. Remember, outdoor furniture is designed to be exposed to the elements every ONCE IN A WHILE and is NOT resistant to fading, cracking, peeling or retaining massive amounts of water. Precautionary measures can assist in the long run as well. If the forecast is calling for rain, either cover it or remove the cushions to indoor storage. If you’ve booked in a vapor service cleaning for your indoor furniture, don’t forget to inquire about their outdoor upholstery service as well.There you have it—three simple and effective steps into going organic and green with your upholstery cleaning. Getting back to the way things "used to be" only matters with the price of bread, milk, mortgages, and memories. The world isn't getting any bigger, so the longer we do our small parts to keep it greener will add some happy vibes. Pass the granola.