Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance And Repair - 01500283
06/24/03
Vinyl Upholstery--Cleaning
Regular Cleaning
Wash with mild detergent and water. Use a soft
bristle brush for stubborn soil. Rinse and dry. Some
household cleaners and solvents remove plasticizers from
vinyl, making them brittle. Abrasive cleaners scratch the
smooth surface.
Sometime letting detergent solution stand on surface
and "soak" a few minutes loosens soil.
Special Cleaning
Vinyl cleaners sold in furniture stores or auto
stores help clean stubborn soil on vinyl upholstery.
Vinyl upholstery will absorb stains and dye from fabrics
that crock or bleed (like crocking blue jeans on white
vinyl or bright prints that bleed). A vinyl protective
finish, sold at same stores, helps protect upholstery and
resists or retards absorption of stains.
Act at once to remove stains from vinyl. Use a white
cloth or paper towels. Keep solvents away from wood or
metal parts. When solvents other than water are used to
remove a stain, wash the area with detergent and water,
rinse and dry.
1. Nail polish and polish remover will cause permanent
damage if left on the surface. Wipe off quickly. Blot; do
not spread the liquid. Sponge lightly with synthetic
turpentine or mineral spirits. While nail polish remover
or amyl acetate will remove polish, both may affect the
vinyl. Use them only if necessary at you own risk.
2. Ballpoint pen marks may respond to alcohol. If not,
cover area with a white cloth soaked in a 3% solution of
hydrogen peroxide and leave from 30 minutes to overnight.
3. Felt tip markers may respond to treatment with
mineral spirits.
4. Remove substances such as oil paint, shoe heel marks,
ink, tar, crayon, grease, shoe polish, ointment and
cosmetics with synthetic turpentine or mineral spirits.
Use hydrogen peroxide bleach treatment if necessary (see
#2 above).
5. Chewing gum should be hardened with ice and chipped
off. Remove residue with synthetic turpentine or mineral
spirits.
When using solvents suggested in No. 1, 3 and 4
(turpentine or mineral spirits) use only in a well-
ventilated room and avoid breathing fumes or getting on
your skin. Be sure there is no flame, spark, pilot light,
or cigarette in area, as they are flammable. Air out
cloths used, to evaporate solvent before disposing.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension
Specialist, Emeritus with references from Wisconsin
Extension bulletin, Care and Cleaning of Upholstered
Furniture, and Georgia Extension bulletin, How to Care for
Your Furnishings.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State
University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race,
color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability,
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Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director,
MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI 48824. This information is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
This file was generated from data base 02 on 02/04/08.
Data base 02 was last revised on 06/24/03.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
strausc@msu.edu .