How to Clean Upholstery

There are many types of textile uphlostery in both the home and business place that should be cleaned on a regular basis. These items can include the sofa, dining chairs, cushions, mattresses, curtains, drapes and even car interiors. Then there is the many different types of upholstery fabric including cotton, wool, polyester, suede, leather and many more.

Thankfully Duplex Cleaning Machines supply an exclusive range of JetSteam and JetVac steam cleaners that are ideal for cleaning, stain removal, deodourising and thermal disinfection of them all. For information on how the JetSteam and JetVac machines work on different upholstery read below:

Believe it or not but mattresses are the piece of upholstery that really should be treated most. Most people get carpets cleaned annually but ignore the mattress they sleep, sweat, and do other things in for 8 hours a day. Instead the mattress is left untreated to be a hiven for general dust, stains, odours, and parasites like dust mites or bed bugs.

How to clean upholstery

Ideal Duplex cleaning products for mattresses

The JetSteam steam cleaner or the JetVac steam vacuum range are ideal machines for cleaning mattresses. Both types of machine use +145ºC to +190ºC superheated 94% dry steam to emulsify soiling, thermally decontaminate and break down odours.

The main difference with the machines is that the JetSteam requires use of a cotton/microfibre cloth to capture emulsified grime, where the JetVac simultaneously extracts using a vacuum. Either way the result is clean, decontaminated and most dry mattresses in minutes.

How to clean mattresses with a JetSteam / JetVac

Before using steam, vacuum the mattress to remove dry dust. This will prevent the moisture of the steam mixing with the dust to create unnecessary grime.

JetSteam - After vacuuming, connect the triangle swivel head, with a cotton or microfibres cloth clamped, to the JetSteam hose. Start cleaning on the sides of the mattress as they generall contain less soiling. Clean in long slow passes to allow steam time to emulsify grime, decontaminate, and penetrate into the mattress to deodourise. After completing the sides repeat the same process on the top of the mattress.

* If there are stains these may require some agitation to break up. When the cloth gets quite wet or dirty replace with a fresh one to ensure better results.

JetVac - Connect the upholstery tool to the JetVac steam vacuum hose. First dry vacuum to remove dust from the mattress. Then put the brush onto the upholstery tool to steam and lightly agitate the mattress fabric to break up any soiling. Start this on the top of the mattress and then the sides. After the mattress has been steamed and agitated remove the brush. Now slowly steam vacuum the mattress fabric to allow steam to emulsify soiling and the vacuum to recover the grime. Moving slowly also enables steam to better penetrate into mattress to deodourise and decontaminate.

* Some stains may require some extra agitation or water injection to break up.

Important - Always remember to avoid over dampening the inner cushioning to prevent long drying times that can lead to odours, mould or mildew growth.

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Curtains and blinds have traditionally been difficult items to clean home owners or cleaning contractors. The problem is that curtains with a blockout backing can be easily damaged in a washine machine and drapes are difficult to take down for cleaning. For contractors there has also been a time factor involved for drapes.

Ideal Duplex cleaning products for curtains

The JetSteam steam cleaner or the JetVac steam vacuum range are ideal machines for cleaning curtains or drapes. Both machine use +145ºC to +190ºC superheated 94% dry steam under 4-8 bar pressure to emulsify surface soiling, decontaminate, deodourise and remove creases.

The main difference with the machines is that the JetVac uses a vacuum to simultaneously extract grime, while the JetSteam requires use of a cotton/microfibre cloth to capture emulsified grime or downward pressure to force liquified grime to the ground. Either method however will produce a quality clean, with less effort, in shorter time and reduced odours.

How to clean curtains / drapes with a JetSteam / JetVac

Before using steam, vacuum the curtains or drapes to remove any dry dust. This will prevent the moisture of the steam mixing with the dust to create unnecessary grime.

JetSteam - Before steaming vacuum the drapes to remove any dust and select your the preferred tool. This can be the pressure lance, triangle swivel with cloth, the window tool or Fixed Mini Mop. The tool you chose will dictate the method required:

Pressure Lance - Start from the top of the curtain / drape and slowly steam down going left to right. This will require close contact (5cm/2") to the fabric, sideways movement of about 10-20cm per pass and moving downward at about one meter per minute.

* The idea is to move at a speed that continually emulsifies the grime and forces it down to the floor. Cleaning can also be made easier pulling the curtain from the botton to make taut to prevent the curtain moving away from the head.

Triangle Tool - Clamp a clean cotton or microfibre cloth over the head. Then starting from the top, slowly steam down the curtain in vertical passes. This will require cleaning on contact to the fabric so the emulsified grime can be captured by the cloth. When the cloth gets dirty change over with a clean one.

Window Tool - Start from the top of the curtain / drape and slowly steam down in vertical passes. This will require close contact (5cm/2") to the fabric to prevent streaking and moving downward at about one meter per minute.

* The idea is to move at a speed that continually emulsifies the grime and forces it down to the floor. Cleaning can also be made easier pulling the curtain from the botton to make taut to prevent the curtain moving away from the head.

Fixed Mini Mop - Place a clean microfibre pad on the Mini Mop. Then starting from the top, slowly steam down the curtain in long vertical passes to the base. This will require cleaning on contact to the fabric so the emulsified grime can be captured by the cloth. When the cloth gets dirty change over with a clean one.

JetVac - Using the upholstery tool with brush dry vacuum to remove dust. Start the cleaning by steaming and lightly agitating the curtain / drape fabric to loosen soiling. To do so hold the base of the curtain / blind so it is taut making cleaning easier. Then remove the brush from the upholstery tool and steam vacuum the curtain starting from the top. Move the head from top to bottom in slow long vertical passes. If using a JetVac with a water filtered vacuum the vacuum speed can be adjusted to a low setting to reduce both noise and pulling of curtain.

Although leather upholstery can be scrubbed clean with a brush and warm soapy water; steam is a much faster, easier and more effective method. Some leather may also absorb moisture excess moisture and take some time to dry.

Ideal Duplex cleaning products for leather

The JetSteam steam cleaner or the JetVac steam vacuum range are ideal machines for cleaning leather upholstery. Both types of machine use +145ºC to +180ºC superheated 94% dry steam under 4-8 bar pressure to emulsify surface soiling, decontaminate, and deodourise without overwetting the leather.

The main difference with the two machines is that the JetVac uses a vacuum to simultaneously extract grime, while the JetSteam requires use of a cotton/microfibre cloth to capture emulsified grime. However, the steam only JetSteam is generally more popular due to pricing and ease of drying with a cloth.

How to clean leather with a JetSteam / JetVac

JetSteam - Triangle Tool - Clamp a clean cotton or microfibre cloth over the head. Then starting from the top, slowly steam down the sofa either in vertical passes or circular motions. This will require cleaning on contact to the leather to emulsify grime and be captured by the cloth. When the cloth gets to wet or dirty change over to a clean one.

Mini Mop - Place a clean microfibre pad on to the Mini Mop. Then starting on an edge, slowly steam in straight passes ensuring steam has time to emulsify soiling. Be sure to clean on contact to the leather so the emulsified grime can be captured by the cloth. When the microfibre cloth gets too dirty or wet change over with a clean one.

JetVac - Using the upholstery tool with brush attachment, steam the leather to break stains and soiling. After steaming the emulsified grime can either be removed by using a clean absorbent cloth or by vacuuming. If removing the grime by vacuum the brush attachment will need to be removed to allow better suction. Another way is to replace one of the two bristle strips in the brush attachment with a squeegee.

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Suede is a leather that is commonly used in sofas due to stylish looks, softness and confort. This comes at a price as suede is also a difficult fabric to clean because the textured surface easily absorbs grime and liquids.

Traditionally suede sofas have been cleaned using low moisture methods like a suede brush, suede eraser, suede spray with brush, or just a damp cloth with warm soapy water. This is because it is important not to overwet the suede as it can cause decolouration and blotches. A better low moisture alternative to clean suede is with superheated dry steam vacuum as it can chemically free clean, sanitise and deodourise in one action.

Ideal Duplex cleaning products for suede

JetVac steam vacuums (Eco, Mini, Compact, Pro) used with an upholstery tool and brush are ideal for cleaning suede sofas. Producing +145ºC to +165ºC superheated 94% dry steam under 4-6 bar pressure; JetVacs are able to break down grime/stains without overwetting the fabric. Infact, JetVac steam vacuums use as little as 3Lt of water per hour and simultaneously extract liquid by vacuum leaving the suede fabric almost completely dry.

How to clean suede with a JetVac

Using the upholstery tool with brush, dry vacuum in a circular motion to remove dust and break up dry stains . After vacuuming, simultaneously steam and agitate the suede still using the brush. Then remove the brush from the upholstery tool to create better vacuum suction and steam vacuum the suede in slow passes starting from an edge. Move the head in slow straight line passes to ensure steam has time to emulsify soiling and the vacuum recovers maximum moisture.

Urine stains on mattresses have always been one of the hardest cleaning tasks. This is because overwetting the mattress can create mould issues, it's hard to penetrate into the stain, urine creates hard to remove brown stains and the odours can remain trapped deep in the mattress for years.

Ideal Duplex cleaning products for urine stains

The JetVac Junior or JetVac Pro steam vacuums are ideal machines for treating and removing urine stains from mattresses. Unlike other systems or methods, the JetVac range does not require harsh chemicals that often do more harm than good.

Instead JetVac steam vacuums use +165ºC superheated 94% dry steam, hot water injection and vacuum to simultaneously steam, flush and extract urine stains from bed mattresses. The result is clean, decontaminated and most dry mattresses in minutes.

How to clean urine stains with a JetVac

Fresh Stains - Treating relatively fresh urine stains is quite easy with a JetVac steam vacuum and upholstery tool.

First steam the effected area agitating to expose stain, then flush using the hot water injection function, while flushing use the vacuum to extract the bulk of the urine stain stain, and finish by stream vacuuming the stain.

The result is a clean, thermally sanitised, deodourised and mostly dry mattress in minutes.

Older Stains - Treating older urine stains is a little harder as the stain is more set (commonly seen by brown rings) and the odours are trapped deeper. The best method can be to use white vinegar in conjunction with a JetVac steam vacuum.

Firstly blot the stain with vinegar using a towel from the outside to the inside until the colour lightens. Then steam and lightly agitate the stain using the JetVac upholstery tool with brush to help further break up the surface stain and allow steam to penetrate into the mattress. Follow by using the hot water injection to flush and simultaneously remove the urine stain residue by vacuum.

Odours - Cover the freshly cleaned damp area with baking soda and leave overnight to absorb any odours. The next day simply vacuum the dry baking soda off the mattress.

Important - Always remember to avoid over dampening the inner layer of the mattress and sofa cushion when cleaning upholstery; no matter what stain you are trying to remove. This is because cushioning or padding that is left too wet will be difficult to dry and could lead to mold or mildew growth.