I am really into using natural cleaners at all times.
One of the main reason is that I have a chronic condition that gets worst with strong chemical smells.
Also, natural cleaners are better for our environment, as whatever we wash down the drain goes back into the water we drink.
On a different note, I am into buying secondhand items whenever possible (aka 99% of the times).
It's cheaper and it keeps stuff out of the landfills.
It's cheaper and it keeps stuff out of the landfills.
That said, most things are either washable or "wipeable".
Others items, such as used upholstered furniture, need a more creative approach.
Today I am sharing how to clean used upholstered furniture.
Let me start by saying that
we got this loveseat for FREE off Craigslist.
we got this loveseat for FREE off Craigslist.
this picture was taken AFTER the deep cleaning |
(the only other things I got for free in the past off of CL was a bag of small rocks...)
Being free, I knew that this loveseat was probably in need of some TLC.
After we got this home, I inspected the loveseat.
Structurally was in perfect condition.
Not so the upholstered fabric.
Let me rephrase.
The fabric had no rips...
but it did have smaller stains and cat hair (most of it was not noticeable).
No smell, which is ALWAYS a plus!
In the morning I set out my cleaners and got to work.
First of all I lint rolled the entire furniture by using packing tape.
Same concept as the lint roller...just cheaper.
It's powerful and it has "rollers".
I used a 50/50 vinegar/water mix, and sprayed over the most noticeable stains.
I scrubbed the stains with an old towel.
Repeated until it looked clean.
I then sprayed the entire seat and back.
Don't be shy.
Spray and scrub.
Repeat as necessary.
It has a plastic attachment you can used for carpet...
well, I used it on the upholstered fabric.
So I steamed the entire thing.
Several times.
For a deep cleaning.
(And scrubber with the old towel as necessary),
For a deep cleaning.
(And scrubber with the old towel as necessary),
until I felt like it was clean.
In the end I used a clean old towel and paper towels to blot dry the loveseat.
Let it dry for several hours before sitting on it.
My husband came home later in the day and said:
It looks brand new!
It kind of is.
The bottom tag said it's only 2 years old, and they paid $500...which I am not surprised, because I have been keeping a close eye on similar items on different sites, and they all range above $350+
Not bad since I got it for free + 1 hour of cleaning time.
I am hoping to rearrange the furniture in our sunroom soon.
Maybe I will put this against the brick wall.
Till then...
Stay Frugal,
14 comments:
Such a great find and totally worth and hour of cleaning! Awesome!! I love the free section! Thanks for the tips!
Wow, I did not know you could get things free on Craigslist! You hit the jackpot, I would buy that loveseat in a heartbeat. It's got classic lines. Love it, and love your steam cleaning job!
xoKathleen
It look fabulous. Love how it turned out.
WHAT a find!!!!! It does look like brand new. That will look really great in your new sunroom.
I use vinegar for a lot of things, too. I don't like the smell but I like the outcome. For cleaning my bathtubs, etc. I mix vinegar, water and Dawn liquid and spray it on. It gets everything SQUEAKY CLEAN.
Have a fun, frugal day- xo Diana
Turned out great! I'm pretty sure you could clean just about anything with vinegar, Dawn, baking soda & water. Soda and vinegar make a great drain cleaner!
That's a pretty settee! It really does look new. I have a chair that could use a little extra cleaning so maybe I'll try something like you did. Thanks for the suggestion.
A great find! And amazing cleaning tips!
Thank You!
What a fabulous find. Great cleaning tips.
Dearest Daniela,
You are such an environment conscious girl and also very frugal. Guess if you are still from the old school, like we were raised in the Old World, you don't mind the hard work as the rewards are BIG! Now it's your FREE treasure and safely cleaned.
Kudos to you for an excellent job!
Hugs and hope you don't have as much rain + rain as we get...
Mariette
I love it! You have such a good eye and knack for finding these hidden treasures. I love the natural approach to cleaning as well. I've passed up many upholstered items because of not knowing how to clean them. Thanks for the tips!
Holy smokes, it looks great!!!
-andi
Wow! You totally scored and all of your cleaning sure paid off because it's gorgeous! Thanks for the tips!
Okay that....is a score!!!
What a great find! I have been searching Craigslist for a while now looking for a sofa for my home with no luck. Everything is in bad shape or very pricey.
I normally use a mixture of vinegar and water with a drop or two of liquid soap. The steam cleaner would be great to have, I may have to borrow one as my son has a steam cleaner. :-)
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