Spring Cleaning Shortcuts

Upholstery: Long Version

Air out the cushions, refresh the frame, detail crevices, and be fabric-specific when spot-cleaning. (Check labels—generally synthetics are DIY and natural fibers need professional cleaning.)

Tools

• Two drop cloths
• Eco Breeze fabric refresher ($4, walgreens.com)
• Tennis racket
• Vacuum, plus attachments
• Dry-cleaning sponge
• Lint roller
• Piece of tape
• Microfiber cloth

Steps

1. Lay down one drop cloth; place the cushions on top. Grab any spare change. Spray Eco Breeze onto the bare seat.

2. Take the cushions and both drop cloths and head outside. Place the cushions on top of one drop cloth.

3. Beat both sides of the cushions with the tennis racket. Move the cushions to the clean drop cloth and let them air out.

4. Head back inside. If you have slipcovers, read the care labels. Toss washables into the machine. Cotton can usually be washed on a delicate setting. Silk can usually be hand washed in cool water. Linen should generally be dry-cleaned.

5. With the upholstery attachment, vacuum each piece in short, overlapping strokes, working from top to bottom.

6. Bring the cushions back inside. Vacuum.

7. Switch to the crevice tool to get into piping and other details.

8. Follow step 2 of Shortcut.

9. Replace the cushions. Swipe fabric upholstery with a lint roller to pick up any remaining dirt. Use a piece of tape to pull dust and hair from buttons. For leather, wipe with a damp cloth.

Time investment: About 25 minutes for each piece of furniture.

Rather hire a pro? You’ll pay about $75 to $150 per sofa. Natural materials, such as silk, can cost about 10 to 20 percent more. The expert will perform tests to figure out what the fabric can withstand, and each sofa takes about an hour. The fabric will be damp when the pro leaves, so let it dry for a few hours.