Care and Cleaning of Your Upholstered Bed and Headboard

Upholstered headboards give your bedroom a cozy, warm feel that is so inviting! And with the versatility that fabric beds and headboards offer, you have plenty of options for decorating.

Your bedroom is your haven, so you want to keep it as comfortable and relaxing as possible which means cleaning regularly. However, upholstered headboards require a little different care than their wood or metal counterparts.

Cleaning your fabric bed properly will ensure that the colors stay vibrant, and it keeps its elegant appearance for a long time. If you clean it regularly, there is little chance that you will ever have to do a deep cleaning.

Tools for Cleaning an Upholstered Bed

There are a few things you will want to have on hand for cleaning your fabric bed and headboard.

• Vacuum cleaner with wand attachment
• Bucket
• Gentle detergent
• Upholstery cleaning spray (the manufacturer or place where you bought the bed can give you suggestions)
• Water
• Baking soda
• Dry, soft, white cloth

Before you use the upholstery cleaner, apply it to an inconspicuous area of your headboard to test for colorfastness. If you notice that it fades or changes the color, switch to another brand.

How to Clean Your Fabric Headboard

When you do your weekly cleaning and vacuuming, you can run the vacuum over your headboard as well. That will help keep it clean and prevent it from getting heavily soiled due to build-up. When you are ready to clean your headboard, you should always begin with vacuuming.

You should also do a regular cleaning about once a month. In between cleanings you can use a fabric refresher to keep your headboard smelling fresh.

Use lukewarm water to combine with a little detergent in the bucket. You want to see bubbles but not “bubble bath bubbles.” Dip the cloth in the detergent mixture and gently apply it to any minor stains that are on the headboard. Use a gentle, circular motion. If you have any tough stains, use the fabric cleaner, according to the directions on the label.

Allow the fabric to dry, then vacuum again to remove any residue that may be remaining.

Removing Grease Stains or Scalp Oil from Your Fabric Headboard

Your head will touch your headboard on a regular basis. It is inevitable. This means that scalp oil, hair product, and other greasy substances are going to touch your upholstered bed and it will likely leave a stain.

It’s not the end of the world, though. It can be cleaned fairly easily.

Make a thick paste of baking soda and water. This is really just to get it to adhere to the fabric. Work it into the fibers and let it sit for a few hours. When it is dry, vacuum the area well. The baking soda absorbs the oil, and the vacuum whisks it away.

Follow with a water and detergent solution applied directly to the fabric and worked in well. Blot it with a dry cloth. Follow with a clean sponge, dampened with lukewarm water. Use it to get up any remaining soap. Finally, dry with a clean cloth.

If you don’t have baking soda, dry baby powder will work on some stains.

Upholstered headboards and beds bring an air of elegance and hominess into your bedroom. At Valley Drapery & Upholstery we have expert designers who can help you find the right fabric bed for your room whether you are just getting a new bed or revamping your entire room. Call today to talk to one of our designers and get started.