Care of Furniture With Fabric Sprays

Clean

• Remove the stains and dirt from the surfaces of your furniture. Spray the surfaces thoroughly with a fabric spray like Scotchgard or Bissell upholstery cleaner. Rub the cleaner into the furniture gently with a fabric brush. Wipe off any excess soap with a wet cloth.

  Wet sheets of paper towels thoroughly, and lay them over the entire surface of the furniture. Allow the paper towels to dry on the furniture overnight. The stains will detach from the fabric of the furniture and go into the wet towels. Repeat this process again if you want to make sure all the dirt is up from the furniture.

Deodorize

• Odors due to cigarette smoke and pets can be difficult to remove from furniture because they settle into the fibers. Odor-neutralizing fabric sprays kill the odor-causing bacteria. So once the furniture surfaces are clean, neutralize any odors with a deodorizing fabric spray like Febreze or Renuzit's odor neutralizer. Do not over saturate the surfaces---a light spritz over the furniture will suffice. Be sure to spray under the cushions of couches, sofas and recliners.

Protect

• When the fabric is clean, protect it from being soiled again by spraying it with a protectant spray like the ones offered by 3M and DuPont (Teflon fabric sprays). These products create a layer of protection over the fabric to stop odor and dirt from attaching to the fibers. If something spills, it will run off. Make sure the surface is clean and dry, and then lightly spray a coating of the spray over all your furniture surfaces. Wait for it to dry, or in the case of a foaming spray, wait for the foam to slowly disappear into the fabric.

Pets

• If you have a problem with pets soiling or scratching your furniture surfaces, purchase a non-toxic pet repellent spray. These sprays are made from bitter agents, which animals do not like to smell or be near. Spray the sides of your couches thoroughly, which are common target areas for cat scratching, and spray on the top of the furniture to stop your puppy or kitty from sitting on and possibly soiling the cushions.