Whether you’ve just got crumbs, or the toughest of stains, these cleaning tips will have your sofa looking as good as new.
1. VACUUM
Use a hand vacuum or the brush attachment on your vacuum to clean debris and dirt from the sofa surface. Be sure to clean the crevices where pet hair, food crumbs, and dirt accumulate. If the cushions are not attached, remove them and vacuum both sides. If there’s a lot of pet hair, use a lint roller to remove hair the vacuum can’t get.
2. CLEAN THE WOOD OR METAL AREAS
Wipe down the sofa feet and other non-fabric parts of the sofa with a solution of warm water and liquid dish soap.
3. DETERMINE THE TYPE OF FABRIC YOU ARE DEALING WITH
Find the tag on the couch and read the instructions for how to clean upholstery. Here are the codes found on labels:
- WS: Use a mild detergent with a steam vacuum or a dry-cleaning detergent
- S: Use a dry cleaner detergent only.
- X: Use a vacuum only. No water.
- W: You can use water to clean it.
4. REMOVE STAINS
We all love being couch potatoes but it’s no fun to lounge on a dirty sofa. Over time, crumbs, spilled soda, pet hair, dirt, and oil from your hands and feet build up on your couch and make it look dingy. No worries. Here’s how to clean a couch so that it’s ready for you to binge watch an entire season of your favorite TV show.
1. Vacuum. Use a hand vacuum or the brush attachment on your vacuum to clean debris and dirt from the sofa surface. Be sure to clean the crevices where pet hair, food crumbs, and dirt accumulate. If the cushions are not attached, remove them and vacuum both sides. If there’s a lot of pet hair, use a lint roller to remove hair the vacuum can’t get.
2. Clean the wood or metal areas. Wipe down the sofa feet and other non-fabric parts of the sofa with a solution of warm water and liquid dish soap.
3. Determine the type of fabric you’re dealing with. Find the tag on the couch and read the instructions for how to clean upholstery. Here are the codes found on labels: