Furniture with microfiber upholstery has caught the interest of many homeowners because of the elegance and versatility of its fabric. However, as those who have purchased said furniture have discovered, cleaning and maintaining microfiber upholstery poses a challenge.

Microfiber is a special type of polyester fiber that has a very fine denier or diameter and is woven in such a way so that there are fine slits running along the lengths of the fibers. While microfiber upholstery has been touted to be hypoallergenic because of its ability to repel dust, it is super absorbent so that you should be extra careful not to spill any fluids on it. Microfibers are also like magnets in that it allows pet hairs to cling to the upholstery. Finally, because of the weave of the fibers, wear marks easily appear on the surface of your furniture.

When removing pet hairs and dust from microfiber upholstery, it is very important to vacuum your furniture daily to prevent the hairs and fine dust particles to become embedded in the fine slits of the microfibers. Frequent vacuuming also aids in prolonging the life of your upholstery. Any spills must be blotted – not wiped or scrubbed – off immediately to prevent staining. It may be necessary to use a hair dryer to quickly dry any wet spots so it won’t leave any stains. As for wear marks, try not to sit in the same place of the furniture all the time and make it a habit to rearrange cushions. Cleaning experts also recommend that you don’t place furniture with microfiber upholstery under direct sunlight to prevent fading.

There are special cleaning devices and solutions for microfiber upholstery which will help you in maintaining your furniture. Check out websites of household product retailers to see what they have to offer.