The Cost of Repairing vs. Replacing Boat Seats
Despite regular maintenance and care, it’s likely your boat seats will sustain damage as your it ages. Consider your options… Refurbish vs replace with Color Glo International. Save up to 70% and bring worn, torn and sun-faded vinyl and plastics back to new!
Repairing vs. Replacing Boat Seats
The summer has come to an end, sadly… Boat owners are quite used to the right of passage of being a boat owner, which includes plenty of maintenance. Some people address repairs in the spring - some tackle them in the fall so spring is more fluid ritual of actually getting to the water.
Despite regular maintenance and care, it’s likely your boat seats will sustain damage as your it ages. Marine-grade vinyl is durable, water-resistant, and not prone to fading. But wear and tear is inevitable. Stepping on and off the boat also adds additional wear on the surfaces as your feet or shoes dig in for stability. Eventually, even marine-grade vinyl will fade or crack, and constant exposure to water makes mildew a concern.
As your boat gets a layer of dirt and dinge that becomes harder to remove over the years, you may find yourself vising a boat show or looking at websites for upgrade solutions. But the price of new boats is heavy stuff, specifically in today's financial environment. Supply chain issues, rising oil prices, inflation, and labor shortages are causing the price of boats to hit record highs - still. The price of fiberglass outboard boats is up almost 10% from 2019. While prices are starting to find their peak, buying a new boat (amongst other toys) may be out of reach for many people.
Cost of Reupholstery
If your boat’s vinyl seats, hard plastic areas, and even windshields are showing signs of age and wear, you may want to consider your options. You might immediately think that re-upholstering is the way to go. While this option is definitely cheaper than replacing or buying new, it can still be very expensive. You can expect to pay upwards of $500 to reupholster a captain’s chair and somewhere in the ballpark of $100 - $300 per cushion. Hourly rates may range from $50 - $100 per hour in boat upholstery repair costs.
You’ll also have to dock the boat while this work is being done. Depending on your vendor and how they work, this could cut into your summer boating fun.
The Color Glo solution
Color Glo International grounds its business in refurbishing vs replacing. A much more cost-effective solution is to repair your damaged surfaces on-site with a CGI specialist at your location. Color Glo is a national and international leader in leather and vinyl restoration and boat upholstery repair.
Color Glo International’s specialists use water-based products and are trained in the latest restoration techniques to make repairs on-site (in your boat) and save you money. From serving marinas to boat dealers to boat owners, Color Glo has the tools and experience to get the job done right. Our technicians can restore boat seats, tops, engine enclosures, ceilings, beds, and carpeting. They repair and re-dye tears, holes, scuffs, and scratches. We can even re-dye/re-color vinyl and plastics.
Want a new boat? Change its look!
Preventing damage
Once a Color Glo franchise has come to visit you and repair cracks, sun-fading, cloudy plastic shields, tears, burns, and more you may want to take some steps to prolong the life of your newly refurbished marine equipment.
Just like if you were to remove your boat from the water after every use, you’ll want to keep it clean in between uses. No doubt, while you're having fun in the sun, spills will happen, and crumbs and other food will fall to the floor. You’ll want to wipe, vacuum, or clean these up quickly. You can also install vents in your boat cover to allow the interior of your boat to properly dry when you close it up for the evening. It’s also important to deep clean your boat a couple of times a month when it gets frequent use. Gentle cleansers and soft cloths work well both inside and outside of your boat.
Request a free quote
Color Glo International can help with many upgrades inside of your marine equipment We can refurbish your plastic, vinyl, and upholstery while working on-site, at your location. Burns, fading, tears, etc, will all be restored to new, saving you up to 70% over buying new.
Contact a Color Glo Specialist about your Boat restoration project.
RV Repairs & Upgrades that increase Value
There are some steps you can take to boost your RV’s resale value and keep it in the best shape possible as you head out on new adventures. In addition to making sure that your RV undergoes regular maintenance to stay road-ready, there are things you can do to the interior to increase appeal.
Why RV Repairs Increase RV Value
Over the past couple of years, you probably either hit the road with your RV or camper more than usual or you may have bought one for the very first time. You may notice that when living in your RV part-time, it begins to show some wear and tear very quickly. We’ve put together a few repairs and upgrade ideas that can not only help you maintain your RV value but increase your value and help get prepared for your fall/winter adventures or the next upcoming season.
Now, while you might consider your RV an extension of your home where valuable family memories are made, you also realize that, like any automobile, it is a depreciating asset. It is very likely that your RV lost 10 - 30% of its value the minute you drove it off the lot. Class A RVs will lose up to 50% of it’s value after a decade in service, according to J.D. Power, which is a leading vehicle data and information provider.
Depreciation
There are many factors that influence a camper’s depreciation. Understanding these factors can help you maintain your RV’s value. The hardest depreciating factor to combat is time. While mileage does not play a significant role in the value of your recreational vehicle, time certainly does.
There are some steps you can take to boost your RV’s resale value and keep it in the best shape possible as you head out on new adventures. In addition to making sure that your RV undergoes regular maintenance to stay road-ready, there are things you can do to the interior to increase appeal. This is where Color Glo International comes in…
Upgrades That Increase Sale Price
Reupholster the furniture
RV upholstery is built to withstand the elements, but normal use or wear and tear and the damaging rays of the sun can cause fading and blemishes. Ensuring your upholstery is in prime condition by making repairs will dress up your RV interior.
Change the carpet
If your RV has carpet, you may want to replace it when it starts to show signs of wear. Children, pets, and outdoor debris can do a big number on the carpet in your recreational vehicle. Carpet is also known to trap unpleasant odors and bacteria. In addition to vacuuming regularly, replacing our carpet can go a long way to making your RV shine with glory!
Replace window coverings
Having the proper window coverings or blinds offers privacy and can help protect your interiors from damaging UV rays. As manufacturers improve the quality of window coverings, staying on top of the latest styles and quality trends can make a buyer take notice.
Update cabinetry
You’ve had your RV for years - let’s face it, the styles change. What once was chic and functional is now old and archaic. Cabinets that were cutting edge now look dated and worn. It’s not cost-effective to replace them, but swapping out the hardware is a simple way to give them an upgrade and bolster your resale value. In a similar vein, adding a peel-and-stick backsplash can brighten up your RV’s appearance and give it a contemporary touch.
Who doesn’t want that??
Sanitize the cabin
If your RV gets used, then you’ve probably wondered “what is that smell”?if you have dogs, cats, children (or spouses), then it’s likely stuff just doesn’t smell fresh. Furthermore, the average steering wheel contains several times more dirt, grime, and bacteria than the average public restroom. Getting your RV sanitized at least once a season will ensure it’s free of germs and that it stays in tip-top shape for the next adventure.
Add storage
If you have space in your RV that can be repurposed or maybe a corner or wall with dead space behind it that doesn’t make sense, then consider adding more storage and opening everything up. Keeping things stowed properly and in an organized fashion will help you declutter and appear more attractive to potential buyers.
RV Pro Tip ***
Often when people buy used RVs or even larger motorhomes, their first inclination is to rip out some of the built-in seating. Try to resist… One of the best ways to ramp up the value of your RV is to have plenty of sleeping spaces. You might like the look of a modern sofa or freestanding table, but unless it can convert to a bed, it will only decrease the attractiveness of the vehicle.
Request a free quote
Color Glo International can help with many upgrades inside of your RV. Some of our specialties are actually in categories above and beyond the basics mentioned above. We can bring the yellow tinge on your headlamps back to crystal clear. We can refurbish your leather, vinyl, and upholstery while working on-site, at your location. Burns, fading, tears, etc, will all be restored to new, saving you up to 70% over buying new.
Contact a Color Glo Specialist about your RV restoration project.
What Is Color Restoration?
Color Glo International is the World Leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of Automotive, Aircraft, Marine and Furniture. Color Glo products are proven everyday to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.
What we do. Color restoration and repair services.
Color Glo International is the World Leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of Automotive, Aircraft, Marine and Furniture. Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982. Today in hundreds of markets throughout world. Color Glo products are proven everyday to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.
We initially began our franchising in the United States and have since then expanded into Canada and 50 countries worldwide. Our focus is restoring and repairing common defects such as worn and faded interior components such as leather upholstery, headliners, burns and broken plastic or composite molding. These problems are found in the interior of every automobile, RV, truck sports vehicle, plane or boat in use today. See the MATERIALS WE SERVICE.
Residential
Leather, Vinyl, Fabric, Carpet, Cloth, Velour, Wood Grain, Hard Plastic. Color Glo specialists are available to help restore, clean or re-dye your valuable property. We offer an on-site service safety and convenience, eliminating the downtime of transport and ensuring our best work. Our work is permanent and environmentally safe. Color Glo specialists use non-flammable, odorless, water-based products that dry quickly.
Automotive
Pet Damaged Seats, Cigarette Burns, Seats & Door Panels, Dashes & Consoles, Vinyl Roofs, Sun Decks, Convertible Tops, Carpet, Ripped and Torn Cushions. Would you like your vehicle to look even better than when you first brought it home? You will be amazed at the professional quality of our services. We can restore, repair, rejuvenate , and re-color all of the above fabrics and interiors.
Headlight Restoration
Having trouble seeing the road at night? If you have old, faded, dull and stained headlights or tail lights Color Glo can restore them at a fraction of the replacement cost. In just a few simple steps Color Glo can make your lights crystal clear again. We offer onsite mobile service, so we come to you! This means less inconvenience for you; our customer. We will come to your work or home and restore your headlights or tail lights - on site.
Aviation
Our Speciality. Color Glo, together with Aero Interior Maintenance, offers services that are targeted at leather, vinyl, and plastic surfaces used for interior components of aircraft. These components would include aircraft seating, side panels and reveals, headliners, seat bases, window reveals, table tops, and drink rails. The industry uses many different types of plastics, vinyls, and leathers to accomplish both practical and maintainable surfaces but also to bring elegance to these interiors.
Cleaning and conditioning – Would include basic cleaning of built up soiling, newsprint ink or ink stains, removing simple scuffs, applying a final coat of leather conditioner.
Repairing worn areas – Many high wear areas such as seat arm rests and upper back cushions have the actual coating worn thin or all the way through the actual finish coating thus exposing the actual leather to premature wear and leaving it unprotected from the elements. Cleaning, repairing surfaces, and re-dying with multiple coats of finish will bring these areas back to a like new condition.
Repairing & Re-dying of damaged areas – Many times faded colors, damaged surfaces from scuffs, scratches, and cracking can be repaired to a like new condition. This would include leather, vinyl, and hard plastics. These areas are then re-dyed back to an original color.
QUALITY CONTROL. Many companies have tested their products to prove that they will not alter existing burn certificates but what they haven’t done is create an FAA repair station that controls who uses these products, how they use them, and how they will qualify their work. This is called a quality control system. Using an FAA certificated system will assure that trained people are using these products, these products are traced from point of origin to point of use, and a quality control system is used to issue FAA approved paperwork to the aircraft owner returning the aircraft to service after the maintenance we provide is completed. Color Glo in correlation with AIM, use either FAA form #8130-3 or logbook entry forms at the customer requests. Rest assured that existing burn certifications will not be voided when AIM maintains your interiors.
OUR GUARANTEE. A common question is “How long will it last?” It is simple to make something look good going out the door but the real value to the end user is often found months later after these surfaces have been used and cleaned by the customer. We cannot control how you clean or maintain these surfaces after they leave our hands but we feel confident that it will wear well and often times as well as the original finish. Our guarantee is that we will make you satisfied or your money back, no questions asked. We have not experienced cracking, peeling, tackiness, product coming off onto clothing, and the many other problems that many products cause. We take great pride in the fact our products stand the test of time again and again. We have a long list of customers who continually ask us to perform our maintenance on every annual inspection of their aircraft. They have found that routine maintenance can keep the appearance and condition of these interiors in a like new condition even though they may have thousands of hours of actual use.
Marine & Recreational
Make that old boat, camper or RV look like new again! Color Glo can Restore, Repair, Clean as well as renew or often change the color of Leather, Vinyl, Cloth, Velour, Woodgrain, Fabric, Hard Plastic & Carpet used on Motorcycles, ATVs, Boats, Jet Skis, Motor Homes, Campers and much more!
Time and use have taken their toll on your once beautiful boat. You may be considering buying brand new vinyl or plastic seating or even replacing that great boat all together. Stop! There is another way!
Color Glo can restore all the interior of your beautiful and hard earned watercraft and recreational vehicles. Whether it be vinyl, boat carpet or even hard plastic, we can make the interior of your boat look new again. Who knows... you may even find our products make your boat look even better than new! Color Glo specialists can perform these services:
Seats and beds repair.
Boat tops restoration.
Engine enclosures restoration.
Mildew removal.
Woodgrain restoration.
Hard plastic repair
And much more!
Medical Vinyl Repair
Refurbish and restore. Bring new life to old equipment and eliminate the costly expense of replacing important work center furniture and equipment with high retail alternatives.
Deodorizing
Whether your clothes or household items have a old musty odor to them from sitting in the trunk of your car, or to the annoying scent of mothballs; Color Glo specialists can remove almost all foul smelling odors with our deodorizing treatments. We neutralize and deodorize using environmentally friendly, biodegradable products.
Deodorizing treatments range from having virtually no scent, to fresh and clean scented garments, vehicles, furniture or any household item.
A professional service that will eliminate bad odors:
In homes
In Vehichles
In Boats
In Trailers
Commercial spaces
Commercial
Color Glo can Repair, Restore and Rejuvenate all your Office Furniture. Keep all your vinyl and leather office chairs for longer and restore them to a like new status. We do all our repairs on site which eliminates any possible down-time for our customers and keeps your employees happy and productive.
COST EFFECTIVENESS. Restored items demand higher resale value, increasing your margin potential if you're looking to sell them. Restoration also mitigates the very costly option of replacement and extends the life of your corporate furniture and office spaces. You will realize a huge cost savings when compared to the alternative.
On-Site Service
Property never leaves the customers site.
Convenient for our customers.
Eliminates customer downtime.
Your property is always secure.
Permanent Lasting Repairs
Specially formulated proprietary water-based products used in this market.
Non-flammable & odorless.
Dries in minutes and usable same day.
Are you a business owner in need of color restoration/repair? Are you an entrepreneur who would love to build a book of business offering world-class services?
An Ounce of Prevention for Your Furniture
We've all heard the saying...“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin was talking about fire prevention in the city of Philadelphia when he coined this phrase, but it’s one that can be applied to any situation.
We've all heard the saying...
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin was talking about fire prevention in the city of Philadelphia when he coined this phrase, but it’s one that can be applied to any situation. This philosophy will go a long way if we apply it to the objects that make our body comfortable – that is, the furniture we sit on, such as restaurant and office seating; transportation seating, and yes, even those dentist chairs!
Whether you’re an individual or business, making and keeping these types of seating comfortable is important. However, in this article we’ll focus on homeowners and their furniture.
Furniture problems and preventions
So let’s talk problems and prevention. And if you’re picturing grandma’s plastic-coated furniture, then know there are better solutions. Here are some things you can do to not only keep your seating comfortable but looking good as well. Try to do as much prevention as possible to avoid having to go for the cure. Also, realize that the type of seating material is going to determine the type prevention as well.
Problem: Scratches
Scratches can result from a variety of sources: pet claws and sharp objects being the most common. We’re talking about human-caused scratching and other marks (we’ll deal with pet-related issues in the last point).
Prevention: A large part of the prevention of scratches is simply being mindful of what we have in our hands and how we let that object come in contact with our furniture. A protective coating can help protect tiny scratches, but a deep scratch can only be prevented by carefulness on the part of the person who uses the furniture.
Problem: Stains
Stains can come from a variety of sources. The list is endless: food spills, liquids, ink, bodily fluids, and even water. We think that a quick swipe with a cloth (or our sleeve) solves the problem, but the surface isn’t really clean and residue can remain.
Prevention: Once again, stains can generally be prevented by carefulness on our part. Be mindful of how and where you place things that could stain your furniture. And if you do spill something, clean it up immediately, making sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions so as not to cause further staining.
Problem: Dirt & Dust
Dirt and dust mostly come from constant use and the environment. Sometimes it’s brought in by people and pets, and it’s pretty much always around, and furniture is often the recipient.
Prevention: Since most of this unpreventable, being proactive in keeping the furniture dust free, vacuumed and wiped clean, will stop the buildup of dirt and dust. If you let it build up your furniture will look dingy and clean up will take longer and require more effort.
Basement and lower-level living spaces can naturally cause dust and dirt build up.
Problem: Tears, Cracks & Punctures
Cracks can come from constant use, while tears and punctures are caused by sharp objects coming into contact with the material.
Prevention: There isn’t much we can do about the cracks that occur from constant use. But you can keep the material well-conditioned to prevent dryness that will lead to cracks. As for tears and punctures, once again be mindful of the objects you have in your hands. If you’re carrying something sharp, like a knife, have it in a sheath or make sure the blade is in such a position that it won’t come in contact with the soft material of your furniture. When talking specifically about your leather furniture, you may want to learn how to make your own beeswax leather polish to ensure your expensive investments last a lifetime.
Problem: Fading & Bleaching
Constant use will lead to fading or a worn look in the material, while bleaching is due to the furniture being exposed to direct sunlight on a consistent basis.
Prevention: This problem is actually a fairly easy one to prevent. Simply put, keep your furniture out of direct, constant contact with the sun.
Problem: Pet-Related
Pets can cause a variety of problems: smells, residue, stains, and scratches. Some pets can be trained, but others (like cats) consider themselves the rulers of their domain.
Prevention: We all know that pets have a mind of their own, and generally don’t care about our wishes and how we want them to treat our furniture. In some cases, they can be trained, while in others we may need to use a product that will deter them from damaging our furniture. Take a look at our post on How to Make Your Own Cat Repellent for some natural ways to discourage your pet.
Final thoughts on your furniture
As you can see, most prevention involves carefulness and mindfulness on our part. If we are proactive in the care of our furniture, that will help prevent many of the accidents that can occur. It will keep our furniture looking good and comfortable to sit in. When something does happen to damage your furniture, be sure and take care of it immediately so that more damage does not occur from neglect.
We have several articles on our blog that will give you some good tips on taking care of your furniture:
If your seating has been damaged to the point where a homemade, natural or store-bought solution cannot cure it, then it may be time to turn to our professional color restoration and repair technicians. Find a Color Glo Franchise Location HERE on our website.
How to Clean Velour Upholstery
We can't help it, we love velvet and velour, especially nice grays or deep blues. But you struggle to help it retain its luster or keep from being a hair and dirt trap. Here's some advice on how to clean your velour.
How to clean velour and velvet
We can't help it, we love velvet and velour, especially nice grays or deep blues. But you struggle to help it retain its luster or keep from being a hair and dirt trap.
The velvety appearance of velour (and velvet) makes it an elegant, beautiful choice for upholstery. But it does require some extra care to keep it looking beautiful and luxurious. With dirt and dust, the fabric loses its soft touch and becomes stiff and dull looking. You may also notice slicked wear spots over time where your head or face often sits.
There is some hope. Check out these tips on how to clean velour upholstery for new looking furuntire all the time.
What you need to clean velour
First thing is first. You need to round up some basic household supplies. Gather these items:
- Soft brush
- Vacuum with brush attachment
- Bucket
- Water
- Mild liquid soap (Ex: Woolite Upholstery Soap or mild dish soap)
- Ammonia
- Muslin fabric
- Suede brush
Steps to cleaning velour upholstery
- Use your brush. Your starting point is to remove as much dirt as possible by brushing it away with your soft brush.
- Loose dirt and visible dust can be removed by using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.
- Fill up a bucket with warm water.
- Add a small amount of mild soap and stir the water. Do not agitate the water to form suds, just mix in the soap nicely to create a soapy liquid. Add a few drops of household ammonia for extra cleaning power if you think you need it. Up to you.
- Muslin fabric is a special type of material and is gentle to keep from damaging the soft fibers of the velour.
- Dip the fabric piece into the soapy water and wring it out completely. Wring it out until it just feels damp - excess water will not be your friend here.
- Rub the moistened cloth over the surface of the upholstery. Use a back and forth motion as you are cleaning. "wax on, wax off..."
- Repeat as necessary until the surface is clean.
- Change the cloth and water as necessary to keep working with clean materials.
- Once the surface is clean allow it to dry completely.
- Brush the surface with a suede brush to restore the soft texture.
“Wring it out until it just feels damp - excess water will not be your friend here.”
Velour tips and advice
- Do Not... clean velour with high heat cleaners. An example of this is a steam cleaner. The heat can (and will) damage the material and cause discoloration.
- Do ask advice... Velour is a sensitive fabric and is often best left to cleaning and color restoration professionals. If your piece is very soiled or you just don’t want to risk damaging the surface, hire a professional who is experienced with velour.
- Choose wisely. When choosing a liquid soap, avoid those with additives and color. A clear soap is the best option.
Lastly, about your velour
If it's hairy and fuzzy...
Vacuum any accumulated dust or dirt with a special upholstery attachment for velvet - this may or may not come with your vacuum. This will also remove any fuzz that has formed on the surface of the fabric. Run your vacuum attachment back and forth until the surface is clean.
Remember the days of pantyhose trickery? It works here to. If you don't have the proper attachment for your vacuum, then place a piece of pantyhose over the nozzle and start lightly vacuuming your velvet or velour. Fuzz be gone!
If you've spilled...
The number one thing you should do in a hurry is blot. Find a clean, super-absorbent cloth or paper towel and let it soak up the excess liquid. Do not dab or rub the area - you'll just work it deeper into the fibers. Its very likely you can just leave the cloth in place and it will absorb most of the liquid and it can then air dry. A spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide may get any excess staining out just by spraying and letting it sit, but be warned, you should color test an area that is out of sight first.
If your velvet or velour has lost its sheen...
Try directing a steamer at the reverse side of the matted areas to make the fibers fluffy again. Then dry brush the area, making sure the pile is going in the same direction.
Need to hire a professional?
How to Clean Upholstery Tips and Tricks
Like many homeowners, you have upholstery all over your house. If you want your home to stay clean, beautiful and well cared for, then learning to how to clean your upholstery can be very important.
How To Clean Upholstery
Like many homeowners, you have upholstery all over your house. If you want your home to stay clean, beautiful and well cared for, then learning to how to clean your upholstery can be very important. Let's face it... no matter how careful you are with your upholstery and furniture, accidents do happen. If you have children and / or pets, then they happen more often than you'd like to admit.
Spills happen very quickly, and when they do time is of the essence. Even if you live a pristine lifestyle and never spill that glass of red wine on your furniture; dirt, dust, and general wear and tear will begin to show from regular use.
So behold, a "How To Clean Upholstery" guide to help keep your home clean and beautiful. The focus of this article is mainly on fabric upholstery. For tips on how to clean leather furniture or suede, you can read our article on How To Care For Your Leather Furniture.
Before Cleaning Your Upholstery Make Sure To Vacuum It
First thing is first; vacuum your upholstery. Over a very short period of time, your upholstery can begin to look dingy or develop spots or stains. Doing a thorough vacuuming will remove the dirt and dust which, when wet, can further dirty your nice chairs or couch. Use an upholstery attachment to get into all the cracks and crevices, and to thoroughly clean all the cushions.
If you have pets, then work to remove as much pet hair as possible. Sometimes, vacuums do not remove pet hair entirely so it may be necessary to get a pet hair remover product, such as tape rollers, Swiffer products or even the Bissell Handheld Pet Hair Eraser.
Image: www.houseforsix.com
Next, dust your upholstery with baking soda
You heard that right. Go to the pantry and grab a box of household baking soda and dust the entire piece with it. Remove the cushion(s) and dust those separately. You should leave it sit for at least 30 minutes, but if you've got some errands to run and can let it sit for a few hours then you'll be in a better shape.
When you come back, pull out the vacuum with your upholstery attachment and vacuum the piece entirely again.
Image: www.houseforsix.com
What Upholstery Cleaners Should Be Used To Clean Your Upholstery?
You need to know what types of upholstery cleaners should be used on your upholstery. This is largely dependent on two things: (1) the type of fabric the upholstery is made of; and (2) the type of spill or stain on the upholstery.
Upholstery fabrics can vary widely from wool to cotton, silk, acetate, linen, olefin, rayon and even acrylic (including blends of these fabrics as well). In addition, different upholstery fabrics have been dyed with different colors, in different ways, and the age of your upholstery should also be taken into account.
*** Very Important Note, if you have very old upholstery, antique upholstery or it is very valuable, I would suggest calling in a professional fabric restoration specialist.
Hopefully, you've followed instruction and not removed the upholstery's tag. The first step is to look at the tag for instructions specific to your piece.
The Secret Recipe to Upholstery Love
Now... we do recommend doing the above, but as a general rule from experts across the internet this simple solution is a sure win for most upholstered chairs and couches. Try this recipe:
- 2 Cups of Water
- 1/4 Cup Laundry or Dish Soap
- Splash of Vinegar if you piece has tough stains or odors
Now grab your standard hand mixer from the kitchen and beat the mixture on low for 30 seconds to a minute until its frothy. It might look like that egg white frosting you put on your angel food cake. If you don't have a mixer that's ok, you'll simply shoulder therapy when you're finished doing it by hand.
Image: www.houseforsix.com
Round up Some Help
Now, gather the neighborhood kids and get to scrubbing. The key to this mixture is to grab just the bubble and avoid the liquid on the bottom of the potion. Scoop the bubbles out with your hands and apply to the upholstery.
After you rub your upholstered piece down in the foamy bubbles, wipe the whole thing with a wet rag. To eliminate any lingering soap or dirt, rinse out your rag and repeat.
Place the piece someplace to dry that is out of the way (maybe the garage or basement). Replace any cushions after it has dried. You'll love your fresh and clean chair or couch as if it were brand new!