A recliner is like a well-worn pair of slippers. It gets more comfortable with use. To keep it from falling apart, you need to keep it clean. This means knowing how to clean the material it’s made from. We’ve put together this quick guide on how to do that, and we hope you find it valuable.
In This Article We'll Discuss
1. How to clean a leather recliner
You can use mild household cleaners on leather. Plan to dilute it with water, and we’d recommend distilled water because tap contained trace amounts of chlorine that make it safe to drink but damages leather. Mix the two until you start to see suds form.
Clean an out-of-the-way part of the chair to make sure your cleaner won’t stain the chair. Use a light touch. You don’t want to damage your chair.
Once you’ve cleaned the chair, dry off the excess water. Use just a little bit of olive oil to condition the leather and keep it supple.
2. How to clean a fabric recliner
For caked-on stains or patches of dirt, use a stiff-bristled (non-metal) brush to remove as much as possible. Don’t use too much force or you might grind the dirt into the fabric.
Check the care tag on the recliner. It will tell you if there are certain kinds of cleaners to not use. There are specialized upholstery cleaners are most big box stores, and this is the best route to go. Find one that works on your specific kind of fabric.
When you’re finished, lay a cloth over the top to dry up excess liquids. Allow it to air dry.
3. How to clean a suede recliner
You’ll want to take care in cleaning suede because it is among the most delicate of recliner materials. If you use the wrong kind of cleaner, you may void any warranty. Read the recliner’s care tag carefully and ensure the cleaner you plan to use is appropriate.
Regardless of what cleaner you get, use a suede brush or eraser first. These can remove dirt without the need to use any kind of cleaner. Give your recliner a good, thorough vacuuming.
If there are still stains, use an appropriate cleaner. For ink stains, you can use a glass cleaner. For grease stains, cover in cornstarch for the night and then vacuum it off.
4. How to Clean Upholstered or Cloth recliner
Cleaning a cloth recliner isn’t terribly complicated, because the material doesn’t require special care. Always start with a good physical cleaning. Brush caked-on stains or clumps of dirt and vacuum the entire recliner. Vacuum the entire chair, giving special attention to the corners and places where the fabric meets.
You can either buy a basic fabric cleaner available at most big box or online retailers, or you can just make one. Mix dish soap and water, and add some vinegar for odor control. Spray the parts of the recliner you need to clean and scrub with a rag until clean.
Dry it with a towel, finishing with an overnight air drying.
5. How to clean microfiber recliner
Brush or vacuum a microfiber recliner and then check the tag for what kind of solution is appropriate. A “W” means water-based, an “S” means solvent-based, an “SW” means either, and an X means neither.
Dish soap mixed with water is a good water-based cleaner. Add a little bit of vinegar to remove odors. For a solvent cleaner, rubbing alcohol mixed with water works great.
6. How to clean faux leather and vinyl recliners
Faux leather is a little easier to clean than regular leather and more forgiving of water-based solvents. Vinegar is your friend in cleaning these recliners. Don’t use more than you need to.
Gently wipe the stain away with a rag blotted in just a little white vinegar. You can also try warm water as an alternative. There are also specialized faux leather cleaners available for purchase.
7. How to clean La-Z Boy fabric recliner
Vacuum your La-Z Boy recliner with a soft fabric brush to pick up the biggest pieces of dirt. Read the care tag for instructions on what kind of cleaning material is safe for your recliner. Take care when cleaning this high-dollar investment.
Once your recliner is clean, dry the spot with a hairdryer set on the coolest setting. Never use heat.
Tips for cleaning a recliner headrest & footrest & seats
Places where your body comes into regular contact with the recliner tend to get the dirtiest. Oils in your hair can also leave stains.
Cover the entire area of the stain with cornstarch. This should be safe for all materials. Let it sit overnight so that it absorbs the stain. The next morning, brush it off and into the garbage. Clean with an appropriate cleaner for your recliner material.
How to clean recliners from smells and prevent them
You can remove lots of odors by vacuuming or brushing your recliner. Make sure you get the nooks and crannies where food accumulates. Then, give your recliner a good general cleaning, paying special attention to any dirty spots that you can smell.
You can also dust your recliner with a light layer of baking soda. Let it sit for half an hour and vacuum it. If the material doesn’t watermark or stain from liquids, you can also spritz the entire thing with white vinegar and allow it to air dry.
How to protect recliner from stains going forward
The best way to clean a stain is to prevent it from happening. We know it’s unlikely that you won’t spill something on it, so the trick is preventing what you drop from leaving a stain. That means creating a barrier between you and the recliner fabric.
While you can pay a professional to spray on a treatment or do it yourself, you can also create a physical barrier by purchasing a recliner cover or slipcover.
Conclusion
We hope you liked our handing guide to cleaning your recliner. We put it together because we know your recliner helps you relax at the end of a hard day’s work. Knowing how to clean it means getting the most out of it. We’d also invite you to leave a comment or share it.
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