Umbrellas:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umbrellas don't get very dirty, which is fortunate, because they've got to be among the most awkward things in the world to clean--like trying to bathe a stork. But what about large patio umbrellas, which stand outside rain or shine and catch tree, pollen, wet leaves, and bird droppings?
Here are some tips for both types:
To clean your regular umbrella, just let the rain do the job the next time in showers. 'To prevent mold and mildew, open the umbrella and let it dry thoroughly before you put it away. If you must clean it more thoroughly, open it up, spray it with a hose, and scrub gently with a sponge dipped in warm water with a squirt of dish-washing liquid. Rinse and, again, dry thoroughly.
To remove dirt, pollen, and bird poop from a patio umbrella---which is usually made of either vinyl or a coarse fabric---spray it with a garden hose. Then scrub it with a nylon-bristled brush dipped in a bucket containing a sudsy solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid. Rinse by spraying the umbrella with the hose.
Protect a patio umbrella's metal rods by polishing them with a car wax. Wax also makes the metal easier to clean in the future. Following the manufacturer's directions, lightly wax the metal. Take care
not to get the wax on the umbrella covering, as it can stain fabric and gunk up vinyl mesh.
Upholstery
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upholstery poses a cleaning challenge, since it almost always covers some sort of padding--be it cotton batting or foam rubber---and since it's often not removable. Even when upholstery material can be removed from the padding, as in the case of zip-up sofa cushions, the experts warn against removing and washing it. If the upholstery shrinks, it may not fit back on the cushion. The most basic tenet in most upholstery cleaning therefore, is to clean without soaking the padding beneath.
Vacuum upholstery regularly to remove dust and the dust mites it harbors. Use an upholstery attachment with a gentle brush end, so you don't damage the upholstery attachment with a gentle brush end, so you don't damage the upholstery material. Use a crevice tool attachment for nooks and
crannies. If your upholstered piece is stuffed with feathers, do not vacuum it unless it is lined with a
WATCH OUT
To avoid stripping away the protective coating often found on vinyl patio umbrellas, don't scrub yours with abrasive brushes or pads, and don't clean with bleach, bleach-based cleaning products or solvents. This coating protects the material from the sun's deteriorating UV rays. Removing the coating can cut the life span of vinyl in half, making it prematurely weak and brittle.
down-proof ticking. You might suck the feathers out.If you have no vacuum-cleaner attachments., brush the dust away with a soft-bristled brush at least once a month. Dust, when moistened or ground in, can stain upholstery.
For more thorough cleaning, or to remove stains, your upholstery will need washing. First, check the upholstery manufacturer's suggestions, usually tagged to new upholstery fabric sold after 1970. This tag will tell you whether you should use a water-based shampoo, a dry-cleaning solvent, or neither of the two. Next, pick an inconspicuous spot on the upholstery and pretest whatever cleaning technique
is recommended. If there is shrinking, bleeding, or running colors, contact a professional cleaner. If not, proceed to clean it.
If shampooing is allowable, use as little moisture as possible. You don't want to wet the upholstery's stuffing, because it dries very slowly and can attract dust mites and mold. Clean using suds only. The easiest method is to use a foaming commercial shampoo in an aerosol can. Follow directions on the can, which typically will tell you to allow the foam to stand until dry and then to vacuum it off.
To make your own upholstery shampoo, mix 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid per 1 squirt of warm water. Make suds by squeezing a sponge in the solution. Scoop the suds off the top, applying them sparingly with the sponge to the upholstery. Rub gently in the direction of the fabric's grain. Rather
Upholstery Stain-Removal Basics
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To find out what specific solution you should use to remove a particular stain--what takes out chocolate or grease, for example--see Stains.
Meanwhile, here are some general tips for removing stains from upholstery:
than letting the suds dry as you would a commercial shampoo, work on a small area at a time, lightly rinsing each area as you go with a clean, damp sponge. Again, avoid soaking the fabric. Be sure to remove all the suds, or the residue will cause the fabric to soil faster.
If the fabric calls for dry cleaning only and the upholstery is portable, have it professionally cleaned. If however, you are cleaning a stain--or if the upholstery is part of a large piece of furniture--you can do it yourself, using a commercial dry-cleaning solvent, such as K2r or Carbona. Don't pour the solvent on the stain. Instead, moisten a clean, white cloth with the solvent and use the cloth to draw the stain out. Blot repeatedly--never rub. Rubbing can stretch or damage the texture of the fabric.
Always use solvents sparingly and in a well-ventilated area. And don't use them on upholstery filled with latex from rubber padding, because the solvent can dissolve the padding.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umbrellas don't get very dirty, which is fortunate, because they've got to be among the most awkward things in the world to clean--like trying to bathe a stork. But what about large patio umbrellas, which stand outside rain or shine and catch tree, pollen, wet leaves, and bird droppings?
Here are some tips for both types:
To clean your regular umbrella, just let the rain do the job the next time in showers. 'To prevent mold and mildew, open the umbrella and let it dry thoroughly before you put it away. If you must clean it more thoroughly, open it up, spray it with a hose, and scrub gently with a sponge dipped in warm water with a squirt of dish-washing liquid. Rinse and, again, dry thoroughly.
To remove dirt, pollen, and bird poop from a patio umbrella---which is usually made of either vinyl or a coarse fabric---spray it with a garden hose. Then scrub it with a nylon-bristled brush dipped in a bucket containing a sudsy solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid. Rinse by spraying the umbrella with the hose.
Protect a patio umbrella's metal rods by polishing them with a car wax. Wax also makes the metal easier to clean in the future. Following the manufacturer's directions, lightly wax the metal. Take care
not to get the wax on the umbrella covering, as it can stain fabric and gunk up vinyl mesh.
Upholstery
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upholstery poses a cleaning challenge, since it almost always covers some sort of padding--be it cotton batting or foam rubber---and since it's often not removable. Even when upholstery material can be removed from the padding, as in the case of zip-up sofa cushions, the experts warn against removing and washing it. If the upholstery shrinks, it may not fit back on the cushion. The most basic tenet in most upholstery cleaning therefore, is to clean without soaking the padding beneath.
Vacuum upholstery regularly to remove dust and the dust mites it harbors. Use an upholstery attachment with a gentle brush end, so you don't damage the upholstery attachment with a gentle brush end, so you don't damage the upholstery material. Use a crevice tool attachment for nooks and
crannies. If your upholstered piece is stuffed with feathers, do not vacuum it unless it is lined with a
WATCH OUT
To avoid stripping away the protective coating often found on vinyl patio umbrellas, don't scrub yours with abrasive brushes or pads, and don't clean with bleach, bleach-based cleaning products or solvents. This coating protects the material from the sun's deteriorating UV rays. Removing the coating can cut the life span of vinyl in half, making it prematurely weak and brittle.
down-proof ticking. You might suck the feathers out.If you have no vacuum-cleaner attachments., brush the dust away with a soft-bristled brush at least once a month. Dust, when moistened or ground in, can stain upholstery.
For more thorough cleaning, or to remove stains, your upholstery will need washing. First, check the upholstery manufacturer's suggestions, usually tagged to new upholstery fabric sold after 1970. This tag will tell you whether you should use a water-based shampoo, a dry-cleaning solvent, or neither of the two. Next, pick an inconspicuous spot on the upholstery and pretest whatever cleaning technique
is recommended. If there is shrinking, bleeding, or running colors, contact a professional cleaner. If not, proceed to clean it.
If shampooing is allowable, use as little moisture as possible. You don't want to wet the upholstery's stuffing, because it dries very slowly and can attract dust mites and mold. Clean using suds only. The easiest method is to use a foaming commercial shampoo in an aerosol can. Follow directions on the can, which typically will tell you to allow the foam to stand until dry and then to vacuum it off.
To make your own upholstery shampoo, mix 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid per 1 squirt of warm water. Make suds by squeezing a sponge in the solution. Scoop the suds off the top, applying them sparingly with the sponge to the upholstery. Rub gently in the direction of the fabric's grain. Rather
Upholstery Stain-Removal Basics
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To find out what specific solution you should use to remove a particular stain--what takes out chocolate or grease, for example--see Stains.
Meanwhile, here are some general tips for removing stains from upholstery:
- Remove as much stain-causing material as you can by blotting with paper towels or scraping with a dull knife. when blotting up a large stain, always blot from the edge of the stain to the center to contain it.
- Avoid rubbing or pushing the stain deeper into the upholstery.
- Since you never want to soak an upholstered cushion or piece of furniture, spray bottles are good for lightly applying water-based cleaning solutions and rinse water.
- To dry upholstery that has been rinsed with water, lay a pad of paper towels on the spot and place a weight, such as a brick, on the pad. (Put the brick in a plastic bag or on a piece of foil to prevent color transfer from the brick to the upholstery.) Let the upholstery dry and then remove the towels.
than letting the suds dry as you would a commercial shampoo, work on a small area at a time, lightly rinsing each area as you go with a clean, damp sponge. Again, avoid soaking the fabric. Be sure to remove all the suds, or the residue will cause the fabric to soil faster.
If the fabric calls for dry cleaning only and the upholstery is portable, have it professionally cleaned. If however, you are cleaning a stain--or if the upholstery is part of a large piece of furniture--you can do it yourself, using a commercial dry-cleaning solvent, such as K2r or Carbona. Don't pour the solvent on the stain. Instead, moisten a clean, white cloth with the solvent and use the cloth to draw the stain out. Blot repeatedly--never rub. Rubbing can stretch or damage the texture of the fabric.
Always use solvents sparingly and in a well-ventilated area. And don't use them on upholstery filled with latex from rubber padding, because the solvent can dissolve the padding.
No comments:
Post a Comment