4 Steps to Clean Your Sofa

The sofa is the beating heart of your home. It’s where you relax and rest and spend your evenings. That’s why it’s important to clean it regularly. So what can be done about all the dog hairs, crumbs and other junk that is inseparable from our beloved couches? Try the following steps below to bring the couch in your living room back to life.

1. Vacuum the Couch

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.

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

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

Knowing how to clean a couch means knowing how to remove stains. You can use a commercial cleaner or you can make your own cleaners from natural ingredients you have in the kitchen. Homemade cleaners are cheaper and kinder to the earth.

Here's how to clean a sofa, by fabric type:

• For fabric upholstery: A little bit of vinegar, some warm water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap or Castile soap. Put in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area. Scrub with a soft cloth until the stain lifts. Use a second cloth moistened with clean water to remove the soap. Dry with a towel.
  

• For leather upholstery. A pinch of olive oil with a sprinkle of vinegar and put into a spray bottle. Spray the cleaner on the surface of the couch and buff with a soft cloth.
  

• For synthetic upholstery: Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of warm water and 1/2 tablespoon of liquid dish soap or Castile soap in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area and scrub with a soft cloth until the stain is gone.

  
  More Couch Cleaning Tips

  Use a Lint Roller

  If your couch is made from a fabric the easily attracts lint, hair or dust, you should keep a lint roller on hand that you can exclusively use for your couch. This works best for a couch that only requires a light amount of de-linting, but it can work for larger jobs, too. In a pinch, you can use large pieces of packing tape to de-puppify the couch.

  Leather Soap and Conditioner

  If you have a leather couch, leather soap and conditioner is something you can use to keep it looking clean and fresh. You also can use a slightly damp, clean rag to wipe off my leather furniture about once a week.

  Steam

  If your couch is made of a fabric that can be cleaned with a water-based cleaner, try using steam to loosen up dirt and stains. Try this: Grab your iron, put it on the "steam" setting, and wave it back and forth across any trouble spots on your couch.