Detailing Microfiber Upholstery

[Bob Foster]

This post is meant for both those who are new to cleaning it and to those among us who want to improve on the technique outlined below. So do your best to add to this process to make it a practical process for many people to learn from, both new and very experienced.

Microfiber is a common fabric found mostly on casual furniture in living and family rooms across North America. It is usually found in solid colors in all most any color imaginable. It has a high degree of consumer acceptance because of its suede like appearance with good durability and forgiveness to spills and soiling resistance compared to other similar looking fabrics.

The work always starts with inspection, understanding the customer’s expectations and explaining to them what you believe the outcome of the work will likely be. It’s wise to under promise and over deliver. The job ends when both the customer and you are satisfied.

Appropriately prepare the work area with canvas painters drop sheets.

Note the makeup of the material you will be cleaning, test your fabric for crocking, color fastness and delamination with the pre-spray and spotters you will be using.

Vacuum each piece on all surfaces very thoroughly. Most upholstery is never vacuumed thoroughly so even though it may look good you will be surprised how much foreign material you will get out of the fiber.

Pre-spray each piece to allow it to dwell and also pre-scrub each piece with a circular motion with a horsehair brush.
Note that if this is the first time you have cleaned microfiber you will notice that fabric looks horrible and that is normal. It would be a good idea to warn your customer of this before you start. Don’t worry, because if you follow this process it will look better when you start the drying process and fantastic when it dries.

During this pre-spray and agitation phase use appropriate spot procedures as the fabric requires. Any spots that appear to have soaked through the fabric into the cushion base may require that you remover the outer fabric to remove deeper contaminants in the seating foam.
Extract using very warm water. Be careful not to use water that is too hot especially with continuous-flow tools as this may melt certain fabrics. Use dry strokes to leave the material with a lower level of moisture.

For vacuuming and cleaning you will find it very useful less tiring and professional looking to use a Stanley Workmate fold up work bench to work off of.

After extraction, take a horse hair brush an using a circular motion brush all the tool lines out of all surfaces you cleaned. Then if you would like you can take a clean terry towel and with a lateral motion brush the microfiber in the stand-up direction so the surface looks uniform. Whatever you do always remove the tool lines.

Tent the cushions on the couch or chair so as to maximize the surface area of the cushions so they will dry the fastest possible way. If you have fans use them and if not open opposing windows in the room to allow cross ventilation to remove the humidity out of the room with the drying furniture.

 

[KevinL]

Only open windows if it's less humid outside than in. Also be careful opening windows if there is construction in the area or other reasons for high levels of dust in the air. I've seen freshly cleaned carpet get trashed by dirt floating in open windows.

 

[Royal Man]

I prefer to towel leaving the fibers laying DOWN.

IMHO: leaving it up looks like crap!!

 

[Bob Foster]

They dry better up and will come down the first time anyone sits on them or touches them. Or don't even bother to towel them if you have worked a lot of circular motion into them with the brush anyway.

 

[ACE]

Good Post, as always Bob. 8)

I love cleaning microfiber! It makes me look like a hero everytime. The Phochem upholstery tool is they only way to go on microfiber.

 

[Bob Foster]

I have the Drimaster, Prochem and the Sapphire and far prefer the Sapphire tool on microfiber. It seemed to work best with the vacuum relief slide about 1/2 open.