Deep cleaning your upholstered bed frame

Upholstered bed frames are so on trend. Purchasing one is a real novelty. They look fantastic in any room, often transforming it from something plain to something considered and beautiful. Teamed with a nice set of curtains and a new carpet or rug - or even without anything - they can completely transform your bedroom. So, what’s stopping you?

Well, many people we speak to say they’re concerned about keeping their upholstered bedframe clean. They think it comes with a lot of maintenance compared to a traditional bed frame, which you can just wipe down. Wrought iron or wooden bed frames don’t stain as readily, and they can’t be ruined by a tear.

This is all true, but it’s not as difficult as you think you take care of your upholstered bed frame. They need deep cleaning, yes, but other than that, they aren’t much different. In our opinion, the benefits - beauty, elegance and trendiness - outweigh the maintenance negatives.

Don’t let looking after your bed frame put you off. We’ve got years of experience with upholstered beds. We’re here to tell you how to keep it looking its best, in our handy guide to deep cleaning your upholstered bed.

Vacuum your bedframe

You no doubt vacuum your bedroom fairly frequently. Well, if that’s the case, you could easily get into the routine of giving your bed frame a once over at the same time. Use the small attachment piece if you can, as it will aid you to get into small areas that might be a struggle usually.

If you don’t have a vacuum, you can take unwanted bits off your bed frame using a lint roller, or buy a dustpan and brush. Make sure it’s clean, or buy one especially for that purpose, otherwise you might stain your bed frame, thus defeating the object.

You’ll be really surprised how big a difference this makes. Dust and accumulated dirt make your bed frame look old and tattered. Plus, dust is an allergen, so you really don’t want it accumulating on your bed.

If your upholstered bed frame is faux leather, use a damp or dry cloth, instead. Use this once a week, for optimum, deep-cleaning freshness.

Blot cleaning

It’s not uncommon for us to spill something on our beds. Perhaps you have an eating ban, but we love a brew in bed on a Saturday mornings, and bad spillages happen to good people. If this happens, stay calm. Avoid scrubbing motions, as this can tear or damage your fabric. Instead, use a technique called ‘spot cleaning’. Where possible, use a cleaning solution specially created for the material on your upholstered bed, or use water. Pat the spot with a damp cloth until the stain disappears.

For more information on this method of cleaning - and which cleaners you should use on which type of fabric - read our other article, which includes information on cleaning codes.

Baking soda

Baking soda is famous for its cleaning properties. Here’s how to use it in four easy steps.

1. Pour a sufficient amount of baking soda onto a dry cloth

2. Pat the cloth on the affected area

3. Leave it to do its magic for a few hours

4. Using the vacuum cleaner, hoover up any of the residue left over.

Inside tip: baking soda can sometimes be slightly messy, so why not time it to when you need to change your sheets? This way, you’ll save yourself time, and cut down on the amount of cleaning.

Check your products

You should never use certain products on upholstered beds. Bleach, for example, is a really bad idea, and lots of household cleaners have bleach in them, though you wouldn’t know unless you read the label.

If you’ve vacuumed your bed and it still looks a little unclean, it might be a good idea to purchase a proper upholstered bed cleaner.

We recommend you vacuum first, then spot clean some of the badly affected areas, then look for your bed’s cleaning code, which will give you a clear indication of what solutions you are allowed to spray on your bed. When you’ve found that information and bought (or made) your product, spray your bed, then blot. Do not rub, or you might damage the fabric.

We recommend you try any product you buy on a small, hidden area of your bed first. Leave it for a few hours. If there is no discolouration and the area is clean, proceed in cleaning the rest of your bed.

Dry with a soft, dry cloth. You can use a hairdryer, but proceed with caution. We recommend a low heat setting, and a nozzle placed a significant distance from the actual fabric of your upholstered bed.

Feeling fresh

Our bedroom is where we go to relax, so we want it to smell as fresh and clean as it looks.

We know everyone has their own personal taste in scent, so we recommend looking for a chemical free spray smelling of something you like, like lavender, cinnamon or pine, then lightly spraying over the fabric of your bed.

If you’re in any doubt at all, please check with your bed manufacturer and the designer of your spray that the products will work well together.