Cleaning upholstered furniture: What kind of stains make life difficult for us?
One thing cannot be disputed: stains of all kinds are annoying! It's even more annoying when you have the wrong stain remover on hand, which actually only makes the problem worse instead of effectively making it go away. This is not surprising, because every stain has to be treated differently. But don't worry: With the textile cleaner from Emma Grün you have already found the perfect cleaner for various stains. With the following tips, you can effectively treat the different types of stains with proven home remedies.
All types of stains have different structures and must be treated accordingly. They are divided as follows:
- proteinaceous
- Fatty
- pigmented
- bleachable
- Special Patches
So it makes sense to treat greasy stains with surfactants. Oxygen helps with red wine stains. The correct immediate measures also differ. If you have the opportunity to act immediately, protein stains should be removed with cold water and greasy stains with soap and warm water. As you can see, every stain has to be treated differently so that it never disappears again. The most common types of contamination are:
red wine stains
How quickly it happened: A moment of inattention and the good drop is already spreading on the sofa or the carpet. Reflexively, most of us try to get the stain out again in no time at all with water and a little soap. Unfortunately, this action only aggravates the tragedy. With a stain remover spray like Emma Grün's, the stain is gone in no time. If you prefer a dry method, you can use cornstarch. And this is how it works: Sprinkle the stain, leave it to work until the flour has absorbed the red wine and finally vacuum it off.
grease stains
Grease stains can be easily wiped away on smooth surfaces. However, this looks different on upholstered furniture and other home textiles. Textile cleaners that contain surfactants are suitable for this. But potato starch also makes grease stains disappear. Simply sprinkle some flour on the affected area, leave it to work and then brush it off.
foxing
So-called mildew stains are moisture damage caused by mold. They leave a yellowish-brown discoloration on home textiles and really look ugly. They can be removed with special stain removers that contain washing soda.
pen stains
This accident happened faster than we would like. They are extremely stubborn and are best removed with a cleaner that contains solvents in the form of paint particle removers.
Blood & Coffee Stains
Fresh coffee and blood stains can be easily and efficiently removed with baking soda. The propellant literally absorbs the stain and makes it disappear as if by magic. Dried stains on textiles are a bit more stubborn. But it doesn't need chemicals. Stain removers that contain ingredients such as washing soda, such as those found in Emma Grün's premium upholstery cleaner, remove these types of stains effectively and permanently.
wax stains
Wax stains belong to the fatty types. Stain removers that contain surfactants and solvents break down the grease, making the stain easier to remove.
How do unpleasant odors develop in cars and living spaces and how do you get rid of them?
Normally, most people clean their upholstered furniture rather superficially every week. Dust and crumbs as well as dirt particles are removed with a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth and in no time at all the living spaces shine again in their old glory. The problem: Unfortunately, this effect is short-lived and the unpleasant odor that hides deep in the upholstery spreads back into the living room.
Odors arise in different ways. Some penetrate the tissue via the air, as is the case, for example, with kitchen odors or the smell of cigarettes. Others, however, are caused by dirt and debris from pets, spilled liquids and food, and perspiration. Bacteria are always responsible, which multiply and produce the unpleasant stink. Simply vacuuming over it quickly is not enough.
However, conventional cleaning agents only tackle the problem on the surface and not in depth. They mask the bad smell with artificial fragrances that do their job for a few hours but ultimately do nothing at all. A few steps are required to effectively remove odors from upholstery or carpets. In most cases, you can use various home remedies. Sustainable upholstery cleaners such as the textile cleaner from Emma Grün, which is a real power pack thanks to its ingredients, are also suitable as effective odor killers. These home remedies and natural textile cleaners are effective against odors:
baking soda
Baking soda is good for odors caused by acids. The basic agent has the property of neutralizing acids and making unpleasant smells disappear. For a perfect effect, spread around 200 grams of baking soda powder on the sofa, armchair or car seats and leave to work for a few hours. Then vacuum the powder thoroughly.
vinegar water
Vinegar has a disinfecting effect and naturally eliminates bacteria and germs. The household remedy is particularly suitable for combating kitchen odors, sweat or the smell of nicotine. To get rid of odors like these from upholstered furniture, mix the vinegar mixture of one part water and two parts vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it over a large area of the upholstery to be treated. A soft cloth is suitable for materials such as leather. Simply apply some of the mixture and rub the couch, armchair or car seats. Follow-up treatment is not necessary. Important: Vinegar can attack sensitive materials. It is therefore advisable to carry out a material test on a non-visible area before treatment.
rose water
Rose water binds odors. For an optimal effect, fill the natural fragrance water into a spray bottle, spray the upholstery and leave to work and dry overnight. The next morning all vapors have disappeared and your upholstered furniture exudes an unobtrusive and homely scent.
Upholstery cleaner spray
Textile cleaners in spray form, such as the upholstery cleaner from Emma Grün, can be used in a variety of ways. They bind unpleasant odors with their high-quality ingredients such as washing soda, green surfactants and wool wax. Natural fragrances such as a subtle needle scent also ensure a pleasant living environment. And the best thing about it: They work without chemicals and are therefore good for the environment, people and their pets.
steam cleaning
Stubborn odors can be removed with a steam cleaner. Its handling is comparable to that of a vacuum cleaner and it cleans without chemical additives.
Good tip: If you don't want to buy a steam cleaner right away, you can rent one from a qualified hardware store. The devices are not suitable for cleaning leather.
