Cleaning poufs and footstools: let's find out how to do this properly
Just like armchairs and sofas, poufs and footstools can get dirty and malodorous. Periodically, therefore, you need to wash and sanitize them properly - just like you do with the rest of the upholstery (and especially if you have children and/or pets at home).
So, how do you wash and clean poufs and footstools? Let's find out together:
A quick guide for the various types of poufs
Unless the covers are removable and can be washed by hand or in a washing machine (check the manufacturers' labels), there are different methods for cleaning of poufs depending on the material they are made of:
- Cotton: use a soft cloth, or a non-abrasive sponge, with a mild detergent or mild shampoo.
- Imitation leather: use a sponge or soft cloth and a very delicate detergent and not too much water.
- Leather: in addition to dedicated detergents, you can try using saddle soap (a must-have for the leather upholstery in your home!).
- Vinyl: use alkaline detergents (and never acidic ones), and a soft-bristled brush.
- Wool: use detergent for delicate garments, dab on without using too much water using a soft cloth.
- Faux fur: vacuum well and then dab with a sponge and a delicate detergent
- Velvet: if you have detergents specially for upholstery of this type, use this. Otherwise, dab with a sponge and a mixture of water (one cup) into which you have dissolved and mixed a level teaspoon of delicate dishwashing liquid or Marseille soap.
How to eliminate unpleasant odors from a pouf
Especially when used as a footstool, pouf can start to smell bad over time and this must be dealt with too.
Routinely, you should vacuum your poufs. You could even go as far as to buy cleaning appliances which are specially designed to clean poufs (and similarly-styled furniture).
That said, to deodorize a pouf yourself, you can use baking soda: just like you do with mattresses and carpets, sprinkle baking soda all over the pouf, wait for half an hour (or more), and then vacuum up all the baking soda. This is a somewhat "mild treatment", which may not give great results immediately. However, repeated treatments will make a difference.
If it becomes necessary to wash the pouf to remove more persistent odors, then use products which are active oxygen-based. Do not use bleach (unless it is very diluted). As with all furniture, it is best not to saturate the furniture with water, especially if you do not have a vacuum cleaner or similar tool that can then extract liquids (a "wet vac"). Remember that too much humidity could cause mold to develop.
Make sure you properly wring out any cloths you dip in cleaning liquids and that the soaps you use are always diluted. This process takes patience, but saturating the fibers with water and soap which cannot then be properly removed, will worsen the smell problem you are trying to solve!
You can also add some hydrogen peroxide to your mixtures of soap and water - this will help to sanitize the pouf and combat any mold and fungi.
In all cases, it is best to do a test on a hidden part of the pouf first to check that you cleaning products and methods won't damage it. Once you're sure about this, you can return your pouf to pristine condition!
