How do I clean antique upholstery?
by Jerry
+6
I have an antique arm chair that I want to restore. The wood is not a problem, but I need to know the best way to get layers of antique dust out of the upholstery. The fabric is not heavy, maybe cotton, and in good shape except for the dirt. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. Jerry
Hi this is Peggy. Here are some instructions on cleaning antique fabric. Good luck. Beautiful chair. How to Clean and Maintain Antique Upholstery Furniture | Clubhouse ...
Jul 17, 2017 - Begin by carefully dry vacuuming your upholstery. In most cases, a simple vacuuming removes nearly 70% of the dirt and grime from your furniture. Then apply the foam to a foam sponge, and gently test by gently rubbing a spot on an inconspicuous area of your fabric.
I would clean the dust off first by vacuuming as Peggy suggests. I have dealt a lot with furniture like this and I doubt the cotton fabric is very old. I would wring a white cloth out hot water (no cleanser) and wipe the fabric off. But truly this would be an easy chair to recover if you want to do that.
I would use a bucket of warm soapy dishwater and a soft brush to gently scrub the dirty arm covers. You don't want it to get too wet--slightly to mid damp would be fine. You could pat it dry with some bath towels and set it out in the sun to dry.
Vacuum very well. Use foaming rug cleaner and a soft rag. Let dry well. hen vacuum. May take a few times.