How to Clean an Upholstered Headboard

REGULAR CLEANING 

Because upholstered headboards are covered in fabric, they gather dust, dirt, and pet hair. One of the best things you can do for your upholstered headboard is to clean it regularly. If that sounds intimidating, we assure you that it isn’t that bad. All you have to do is vacuum your headboard.   

To vacuum your headboard, use the vacuum’s arm attachment. Turn your vacuum on low—if you can—and, using short strokes, work from left to right and then top to bottom to make sure you get any trapped dirt.  

TACKLING STAINS 

Sometimes, stains happen, and that’s just life. Fortunately, we have a few different ways you can get a stain out of an upholstered headboard.   

Steam Clean: If your vacuum has a steam clean feature, that’s one of the easiest ways to get out stains. Unfortunately, most vacuums don’t have that feature, but we have a few more ways to get out those stains.   

Get a Professional: If the stain is bad, there are multiple stains, or you don’t want to clean it yourself, you can always contact a professional cleaner to get out the stain. Hiring a professional can be expensive, so just remember that before you pick up the phone.   

DIY: You can always try to get the stain out yourself. It’s the cheapest option and you can do it on your own time. We’ll give you a few cleaning tips and tricks to get the stain out yourself as well as a step-by-step option.  

Tip #1: Liquids  

If something spills on your headboard, immediately soak up as much as you can with a clean towel or paper towel. Blot at the stain to prevent it from soaking further into the fabric.  

Tip #2: Oil or Grease Stains 

Cleaning oil or grease stains out of fabric can be daunting, but baking soda or baby powder is your best friend in this instance. Apply the baking soda or baby powder to the stain and let it sit for at least an hour. Once the powder has soaked up all it can, vacuum it up and see how it did. If the stain is still there, don’t get discouraged. Gently apply a small amount of a mild detergent mix (a combination of dish soap and water) by either spraying or blotting it on from the outside of the stain to the inside. Then let it dry and vacuum the headboard again.   

Tip #3: Stains That Have Set 

If the stain has set, there is still hope. Apply a small amount of fabric or upholstery stain remover (after testing in on a hidden part of the headboard). Wait for an hour. If the stain is still there, try it again or use one of the ideas up above.   

Tip #4: Let the Fabric Dry 

Make sure the fabric dries completely, or that could cause you problems in the future. Blot at any remaining liquid, then let it air dry. You can also use a hairdryer if you want it to dry faster.  

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR REMOVING STAINS

Sometimes, it’s nice to have some basic step-by-step instructions, so here you go.  

1. Remove the linens from your bed so they don’t get cleaning solution on them. 
2. Make the cleaning solution. 
3. 3 ½ oz water 
4. 1 oz rubbing alcohol 
5. ¼ tsp dish soap 
6. Place all of the above ingredients in a spray bottle and gently mix. 
7. Using a dry bristle brush, gently brush the stain to agitate the fibers.  
8. Liberally spray the cleaning solution onto the headboard, making sure to get on and around the stain. 
9. Repeat steps 3-4 two more times.
10. Gently brush the area once more. 
11. Take a damp cloth and gently blot at the headboard to lift some of the excess liquid.  
12. Let the headboard dry completely for a few hours or speed up the process with a hairdryer.  

*If you’d like to see a video version of these instructions, check out this video by LiveItUpLeslie.  

You’re all set to take care of your upholstered headboard. Just remember to vacuum it regularly and follow the tips we’ve given you if it gets a stain. Don’t have an upholstered headboard? Get one now from our headboard collection.