Top Tips To Clean A Sofa Or Couch
It's cold this weekend, so why not stay warm indoors and get stuck into tasks that need to be done like giving your couch or sofa a deep cleaning.
24/07/2021
The cold weather has hit hard over the past couple of weeks, with many reporting snowfals and severe frost conditions. With everyone staying at home to keep warm, this would be the perfect time to get stuck into tasks that you have been putting off.
We are all spending a lot of time at home, not just because of the cold weather, and for many that means sitting in front of the TV to binge on their favourite TV series, catch the latest movie releases on Netflix or just catch up on programs you have been missing. With all the time spent sitting on the sofa or couch watching whatever, your sofa is probably in need of refreshing.
When it comes to upholstered furniture, you don't want to leave cleaning until it's too late. Body oils, dirt and debris can become embedded in the fibres of upholstered furniture and be almost impossible to remove, particularly on armrests where you will start to see the fabric becoming shiny due to continued flattening and absorbing body oils. Regular cleaning will prevent this from happening.
Daily Cleaning of Sofa or Couch
A sofa or couch has to look good despite the fact that it takes a lot of beating on a daily basis. People sitting or lounging, children climbing on and off, pets jumping up to get comfortable and that's not including a place to sit when you drink a cup of coffee or glass of wine or dig into a bowl of hot popcorn. Yes indeed, a sofa or couch is the heart of the living room and needs a bit of extra care and attention from time to time.
Regular vacuuming will take care of pet hairs, accidental debris and other things that can be sucked up, but it won't be able to clean up oils and stains that also occur from time to time. A build-up of oils will quickly destroy the fibres of upholstery fabrics and before you know it your sofa or couch will look a little worse for wear.
With everyone cloistered in their homes to keep them safe and the weather dropping to temperatures we haven't experienced in a long time, many of us are staying at home where it's warm. But before you get too comfortable, take a closer look at your sofa or couch and determine whether it's time to give it a more intensive cleaning.
If there are pets in the home, regular cleaning of upholstered furniture is a daily task
Deep Cleaning a Sofa or Couch
Since it is winter and using a wet-cleaning solution is not very practical for upholstered furniture, we look at a few cleaning options that don't involve water and where you won't have to wait for the fabric to dry. There are plenty of dry-cleaning methods that work just as well as wet ones and are far better for deep cleaning your couch when it needs it.
• Use a Soft Scrubbing Brush for Faux Suede
Faux or fake suede is a popular choice for a sofa or couch or sectional, but it can be difficult to keep this looking fresh and vibrant if not cleaned regularly. All you need is a soft scrubbing brush or suede brush to lift any flattened pile on the surface. If you leave these areas too long the fabrics will be hard to release and will remain flattened. Cleaning suede couches on a weekly basis is recommended to protect their shine and extend their lifespan.
Use a soft scrubbing brush in different directions to gently lift the pile and then vacuum clean.
• Use a Soft Cloth and Leather Conditioner on Leather
Leather is not a fan of moisture and requires regular cleaning and conditioning to ensure a long lifespan. If not cleaned and conditioned, you can expect leather to become dry and brittle and eventually crack. With leather being a popular choice for upholstered furniture including sofas and couches, you can now purchase a leather conditioner at hardware stores around the country. Check online for your nearest supplier.
• Clean Pleather or Vinyl with a Mild Soap Solution
Pleather or vinyl is another popular material choice for upholstered furniture and probably requires the least maintenance other than a regular cleaning with a soft cloth and a solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water.
If you need to use a wet cleaning solution on upholstered furniture, be sure to open windows to let the fabric air dry as quickly as possible
Effective Cleaning Methods
• Bicarbonate of Soda
Already proven as a great way to refresh a mattress and keep bed bugs at bay with regular application, Bicarbonate of Soda works just as well for refreshing the fabric fibres on an upholstered sofa or couch. Different fabrics are used to manufacture upholstered furniture and you need to be careful what you use on a fabric-covered sofa or couch since you don't know how it will react with the fabric.
The safest way to deodorize and freshen a fabric sofa or couch is to use Bicarbonate of Soda. This gentle cleaner is sprinkled liberally on the fabric, on cushions and under seat cushions to remove odours. The longer you can leave it on - the better. I always recommend leaving the bicarb on overnight before vacuuming away the following morning.
• Dry Upholstery Cleaner
One of my favourites for removing odours and stains is Dry Power Dry Carpet Cleaning or you can try SEBO Dry Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner. Although the former is recommended for dry cleaning of carpets, I have used this with great success on upholstered furniture.
Before you use this product yourself, test it on an inconspicuous area, perhaps behind the sofa, to ensure it won’t damage the fabric. The cleaner is sprinkled onto the fabric, particularly over stained areas, and is absorbed into the fabric making it easier to vacuum away odours and stains. You can purchase this product at select hardware stores or online.
Foam Upholstery Cleaner
Note that old or stubborn stains may require application of a stain remover and you will need to allow drying time after application. A foam cleaner is not as wet as a liquid cleaner so will take less time to dry. A good tip is to apply the foam cleaner onto the scrubbing brush and not the sofa fabric.
Quality Vacuum Cleaner
Most vacuum cleaners can be used to clean a sofa or couch, but some are better than others. I’m not going to say that it is better to spend more on a quality vacuum cleaner, but this should be a consideration if there are children or pets in the house. Spending more on a vacuum cleaner that is designed to remove pet hair and microscopic particles via a HEPA filter will be worth the cost.
Use the vacuum cleaner attachments to gently brush over fabrics and get into tight crevices down the sides and behind the seat cushions.