Upholstery makes my home comfortable and inviting to guests; upholstery adds character and color to every room; upholstery enhances the curb appeal of my house; I cannot live without my favorite armchair—it's impossible!
And whether it consists of one piece or ten pieces (which also means ten different ways of cleaning them), upholstery makes a difference.
So it may not feel like it, but upholstery is always there, whether we notice its presence or not. And the problem is that sometimes this piece of furniture can't be taken for granted; it has to be cleaned and looked after before things get out of hand. Cleaning doesn't just refer to vacuuming the living room floor or dusting the coffee table in your living room, although those are both crucial as well. Cleaning also refers to larger items such as sofas, loveseats, chairs, armchairs—upholstery in general. Because if you don't pay attention to and clean them regularly, they may become a haven for bacteria and other germs and harmful chemicals.
So what are the reasons why it's important to have upholstery cleaned? There are many. First of all, because there is a positive correlation between household dust mites and allergies such as asthma. And these dust mites thrive on organic matter such as human skin scales (dead or alive), pet dander, fungi, pollen grains, food residues etc.
Yes, you read that correctly; household dust mites can be found in your furniture—in fact anything that uses animal products can house them—including mattresses and carpeting too. But they also make their way into other items such as upholstered chairs and sofas. And even though you can't see them, they are feeding off of the allergens and organic matter in your upholstery.
So if you have asthma or other allergies, it's important to pay special attention to dust mites and how they affect your health. Good Housekeeping says that getting rid of them requires more than a regular vacuum job; vacuuming won't get rid of these harmful chemicals—chemicals that can make their way into your body through breathing. It also mentions that since there is no scientific evidence yet as to whether or not you should strip furniture down and completely clean it, the best idea may be just to replace upholstered furniture every few years (every years at most).
So there are two reasons: first, bacteria and harmful chemicals can gather in your upholstery—chemicals that can lead to health problems; and secondly dust mites, which feed off of the allergens in your furniture, can also cause harm.
But there's more! Not only does this bacteria have the potential to cause allergies and other physical problems such as skin irritations (unless you use a professional service), but it can also have an impact on our environment.
Remember that all these bacteria end up outside, into the open air where we breathe them in. And another reason why cleaning is so important is because household dust mites leave fecal pellets containing enzymes that break proteins from food residues they eat. So they basically release proteins and enzymes into the air that can be dangerous for us.
With all of this being said, it's important to remember that you can't do miracles when it comes to upholstery. If you really want it clean, a professional service is your only option—one which I recommend every time if you have allergies or don't feel comfortable with harmful chemicals gathered in your furniture (which are now likely to cling onto your clothes too). Some of these chemicals include formaldehyde; benzene; heavy metals such as arsenic and lead; and even VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which may not be immediately mentioned on labels but rather designated by words like "compounds or "mixture."
A professional service is also your best bet if you want to prolong the life of your furniture. After all, cleaning upholstery yourself can lead to permanent damage—if you don't know what you're doing. Think about it: there are different types of materials in each piece of upholstered furniture, from foam and fabric to chenille and microsuede. You could do more harm than good by scrubbing at something that doesn't need it, or not using a safe enough method when tackling stains which involve water (and being uneducated on what products to use).
And lastly, let's think about how much money this saves you! If you have an old sofa or chair in your home, then you're not getting the full use of it—sure, it can be aesthetically pleasing to look at or sit on. But what's the point of having something if you aren't really using it? For this reason, I always recommend either buying new furniture that doesn't contain any allergens and is easy to clean; or finding a professional service and simply making cleaning upholstery a part of your regular routine.
It's so important that we remember all these things when thinking about our furniture and how best to maintain it: dust mites release harmful chemicals into the air which can cause allergies (and other health problems); they also feed off of allergens in our upholstered furniture. Not only this, but bacteria are releasing chemicals also—chemicals that cause skin irritations etc., and can be dangerous for the environment. And finally, cleaning upholstery is a great way of prolonging furniture life and thereby saving you money in the long run.
So take it from us: make sure you're getting your upholstery cleaned as part of your regular routine. It's so simple to do, and you'll be surprised by how much better your living room looks with clean upholstery (as well as how much cleaner you feel!).