Most people tend to overlook the textured and piled fabrics that cover upholstered couches and chairs. These fabrics, too, are dust traps. Upholstery should be vacuumed weekly to keep it bright and fresh-looking and at least once a year it should be shampooed or even dry cleaned.

In just four easy steps you´ll have your couch or chair looking like new!

Step 1: Preparing the cleaning solution

Mix 1 gallon of lukewarm water with 1 tablespoon of white powdered laundry detergent and 1 teaspoon of household ammonia or white vineger. Pour a small amount of the detergent mixture into a bucket; then, using an ordinary kitchen egg beater or an electric mixer, whip the ingredients into a stiff foam; there should be little or no liquid at the bottom of the bicket. Alternately, use an electric blender to create the foam.

Test the cleaning solution on an inconspicious area of the upholstery.

Step 2: Wiping out light soil

Fold a clean white terry towel into a convenient working size, and dip it lightly into the foam. Wring it thoroughly, until no more moisture can be squeezed out. Wipe one complete panel of the upholstery with firm, parallel strokes, either hroizontal or vertical; overlap the strokes slightly. Occasionally dip the towel into the foam to recharge it, each time wringing it out. As soon as the working surface of the towel appears dirty, refold it to expose a clean section. As the foam begins to dissolve, whip it again.

Repeat the entire process, going over the panel in the opposite direction. Then remove the foam by wiping the entire panel with a clean terry towel moistened in fresh water and wrung dry. Work in parallel strokes in the original direction; rinse the towel often, and each time wring it dry.

Step 3: Brushing out heavy soil

Immerse a soft-bristled nylon scrub brush in boiling water for a few seconds to soften the bristles. Blot dry with a clean terry towel. Dip the brush in the foam mixture, and shake most of the foam back into the bucket. Using light pressure, scrub the upholstery in a circular pattern, working over about a square foot at one time. Repeat, scrubbing adjacent areas; as you work, overlap the areas slightly. Recharge the brush with foam as necessary, and when the bristles begin to stiffen, immerse them again in boiling water. If the foam begins to dissolve, rewhip it. Remove the foam with a clean terry-cloth towel moistened in fresh water.

Step 4: Restoring the nap

When the fabric has dried completely, run your hand back and forth to determine the direction of the nap. Then, using a clean, dry terry towel, raise the nap by wiping the fabric in the appropriate direction. For best results, flattern you hand, with fingers extended, and stretch the towel across the palm, holding the ends taut with your free hand. Work in smooth, overlapping strokes until the original appearance is restored.

Allow yourself several hours to shampoo a chair, a full day or more for a couch, but do not expect to do the whole job at once. Cleaning large pieces of furniture can be time consuming and an arm-wearying process but in the end you will be glad and proud of your master piece.

Blotting up grease with powder:

Immediately after a spill, cover the entire spot with a 1/4 inch thick layer of absorbant powder. Leave the powder in place for one minute; then either shake it out over a piece of newspaper or gently scrape it off with a spoon, but be careful not to rub the powder into the fabric.
Repeat with fresh layers of powder as long as the powder continues to absorb traces of the spill

Wicking out fluid:

While the spill is still wet, lightly touch the tip of a crumpled absorbent white cloth or paper towel to the spot. The liquid will be drawn into the cloth or paper by capillary action. Do NOT use pressure; this could force the liquid into the fibers or spread the stain.

Spots caused by substances other than liquids must be lightly scraped with a dull knife to remove the solid matter. They can then be diluted with an appropriate cleaning solution.

Spraying dirt off glass crystals:

Move furniture out from under the chandelier, and spread a plastic dropcloth over the floor. Turn off the electricity to the chandelier at the light switch and allow the light bulbs to cool; then tighten the bulbs in their sockets. Working from a ladder or step stool placed to the side of the fixture, spray a chandelier cleaner onto the glass pendants until the liquid begins to drip. Allow the chandelier to dry before removing the dropcloth.

Loosening old wax:

Open all doors and windows for ventilation, then tie a pad of #3/0 steel wool to a long handled wax applicator or sponge mop. Pour mineral spirits over a 2-foot-square area; rub briskly back and forth with the steel wool in the direction of th floorboards; on parquett floors, work parallel to the direction of one of the wood emelents.

As the wax dissolves, wipe it up immediately with a lint-free absorbent rag. Continue cleaning small sections until you have covered the entire floor, changing the steel wool and the wiping rag as they become clogged with dirt and wax.

Remove residual wax by rubbing lightly with a dry pad of steel wool after the floor ries. Sweep up or vaccum up remaning wax powder.