Those stains and spills on your favorite recliner aren’t just ruining its aesthetics, but also they are ruining the fabric’s lifespan.
Let’s face it, cleaning the recliner sounds like a daunting task. Moreover, not everyone knows how to clean a recliner because it isn’t like a regular chair.
A recliner has fabric, cushioning, and other things. So, cleaning it requires care. Here in this article, we have covered some steps to assist you in cleaning the recliner.
With these steps, you will save a lot of money, with the assurance of making your recliner spotlessly clean.
Steps You Need to Follow to Clean the Recliner Properly
Cleaning a recliner with these steps will leave it to look clean and smell good. The steps that we have covered will help you remove stains, marks, and smell.
The best part about these steps is that you will find the ingredients around the house. Now there is no need to put your hard-earned money into expensive products.
Let’s get started:
1. Vacuum Clean the Entire Recliner
The first step is vacuum cleaning the entire recliner to get rid of dust and dirt. You can use a vacuum cleaner on any type of recliner, be it leather, upholstery, or any other material.
Use an attachment with a soft brush to clean the dust thoroughly. Not just the seats, armrests, and headrest. You need to clean the back and the base of the recliners as well.
Lean the recliner on the floor, and then clean it with a powerful vacuum cleaner. In order to clean the creeks, use different attachments with the vac while cleaning.
2. Clean It Thoroughly
Cleaning the recliner requires care, and you should choose the cleaning products depending on the material. For your ease, we have classified the cleaning process, depending on the material.
Generally, most of the recliners come with leather and fabric upholstery.
Steps to clean leather or faux leather
Faux leather is not genuine leather, but it looks and feels exactly the same. The steps listed below are applicable to leather and faux leather recliners.
Items you need for cleaning:
- Paper towels
- Leather polish
- Clean rags
- Dish detergent
- Lukewarm water
- A container or a bucket
Prepare the solution
Prepare a soapy solution inside a bucket or in a container. Add a few drops of mild detergent into warm water to prepare the solution.
Clean the recliner
Dip a clean cloth into the bucket, and start cleaning the recliner. Blot the areas where you see the stains, and rub them gently for better cleaning.
Don’t use a brush or any object which has bristles as it can damage the material.
Wipe off the excess water
After cleaning the faux leather, you will see some water droplets on it. Clean them using paper towels to avoid any water stains or streaks. Let the recliner dry, and follow the next step:
Buff using leather polish
A good quality leather polish will add a new life to the recliner. No matter which color the leather is, you can use a polish on it as they are universal. Take a few drops of polish on a clean rag, and buff it on the recliner.
Cover everything from the seats to the headrest and the feet of the recliner.
Steps to clean fabric upholstery
Fabric upholstery is different as compared to leather. And that is why the cleaning process is different.
Items you need for cleaning:
- Upholstery cleaning solvent
- Warm water
- A bucket
- Clean rags
- Soft-bristle brush
- Mild detergent
Recliners with upholstery have further two categories:
- Solvent-safe fabric
- Water-safe fabric
You should determine the type of fabric of your recliner. The best way to find it out is by checking the washing/cleaning instructions. Read the instructions carefully to avoid damaging the fabric.
Solvent-safe fabric cleaning
Cleaning solvent-safe fabric is easy, and you can do it within 30-40 minutes. Make sure to purchase the best solvent cleaner to make sure that the fabric looks like new and smells good.
Spray the solvent
Spray the solvent all over the recliner with care. Use proper gloves and safety glasses to avoid any contact with your skin and eyes.
Another thing to keep in mind is the quantity. Read the instructions behind the spray bottle to determine how much you should spray for optimal cleaning.
Brush the recliner
After spraying the solvent, brush the recliner to clean the dust and dirt. Along with using the brush, you can use a damp cloth for blotting to remove stubborn stains.
Clean using paper towels
Lastly, clean the upholstery using paper towels as they absorb the moisture quickly. Place the paper towels over the wet area, and let them absorb the water.
Water-safe fabric cleaning
In water-safe cleaning, you need to replace the solvent with water. The fabric can withstand cleaning with water, and it won’t get damaged, or the color won’t fade away if you use proper cleaning steps.
Prepare the solution
Take a container full of lukewarm water, and add a few spoons of mild detergent to it. Mix it thoroughly so that you see foam floating on the water.
Clean the recliner
Dip a clean cloth into the water, and then squeeze out the excess water. Using the wet cloth, start wiping the upholstery. Also, you can use a brush with soft bristles to clean it thoroughly.
Use blotting technique
You can get rid of stains and telltale marks using the blotting technique. Use the damp cloth to rub the stain and try to remove it gently.
Wipe with towels
Wipe dry the recliner using a soft towel. Rub the towel everywhere so that it soaks the moisture, and the reclines becomes ready to rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I steam clean a recliner?
Steam cleaning is possible only with a particular type of upholstery. You cannot steam clean leather or faux leather recliners. To determine if your recliner is steam cleaning safe or not, try it on a small portion.
Steam cleaners used pressurized steam to clean the fabric, and that can result in color-fading and other issues if done incorrectly.
How to get rid of the smell from the recliner?
To get rid of the smell, you can use vinegar as it a natural ingredient that is cheap and available in every household. Prepare a solution of vinegar and water. Use a teaspoon of vinegar in a bottle of water as an example.
Dip a clean cloth in the mixture, and use it to clean the recliner. Let the mixture sit on the recliner for some time. The vinegar will evaporate over time, and you can clean the water using paper towels.
Vinegar is effective in reducing smell. Also, it protects the fabric from catching mold.
Should I hire professionals to clean the recliner?
No, there is no need to hire professionals if you have this, how to clean a recliner guide by your side. Follow these steps to clean the recliner quickly.
Final Thoughts
With these steps, you can clean any type of recliner with ultimate care. We have listed the best methods that you can follow to clean the recliner without damaging it. Be careful while cleaning the recliner as you have to deal with some chemicals.
Wear protective goggles and gloves to keep the dust and chemicals away from your eyes and hands.
Lastly, make sure that the recliner is dry if you don’t want your pants to get wet.