Proper care and maintenance are a must if you want to keep your sofa in tip-top shape. This calls for regular cleaning and immediate treatment of spills and stains. Below are some tips to guide you with furniture care in the best way possible to keep it cozy and functional over years of use.
What you need to know first
Manufacturer’s instructions
Before you start and do anything, find out the sofa manufacturer’s instructions in caring for and cleaning your sofa. This step is crucial for two reasons: to avoid ruining your couch and ensure that you will not void your product warranty.
Codes on tags
Various sofa fabrics call for different care instructions. Fortunately, there are tags on the sofa and cushions that can guide you on this. These tags contain cleaning codes, including the following:
W: You can use distilled water, water-based cleaner, or foam to treat stains on your sofa.
S: You may use solvents to clean your sofa.
S/W: You can use distilled water, dry solvent, or water-based cleaning agents on your sofa (i.e., dry-cleaning solvent, foam of mild detergent, and upholstery shampoo).
X: You can only vacuum-clean your sofa. You cannot use water or any cleaning agent on it.
Regular maintenance of fabric sofa
Cleaning your sofa regularly can keep them in excellent look and shape. Even without spills and stains, weekly cleaning is recommended.
- Use a dry brush on your fabric sofa to remove debris and loosen off the dirt.
- Vacuum off dirt and other deep-seated dust from your fabric sofa using the low setting.
- Plump, switch, and flip off sofa cushions to maintain your sofa’s shape and keep them from looking worn out easily.
- If you have a leather fabric, simply wipe off dust and dirt using a soft clean cloth. In addition to your weekly cleaning, wipe off the surface with the recommended cleaning agent for your type of leather to condition and maintain its finish. Do this once or twice a month to keep your comfortable leather sofa in great condition.
Deep cleaning your sofa
Dust, debris, and other dirt accumulate in your fabric couch over time, so deep cleaning is recommended once or twice a year. Deep treatment also helps clean off faint stains from your sofa. In this process, you will only need a scrub brush, baking soda, and vacuum cleaner. Don’t worry about baking soda since it is considered safe for most upholstery fabrics unless otherwise stated in the manufacturer’s cleaning guide.
- Like your weekly sofa maintenance, use a brush to remove dust and debris from your sofa.
- Scatter baking soda all over your couch. You can use your brush to spread the baking soda and cover all sides of the sofa. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Thoroughly vacuum off the baking soda from your fabric using the brush attachment.
Removing stains
Before doing any stain treatment, remember not to go against the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and the codes indicated in the tags of your couch.
- Treat spills and blotches immediately. Do not wait for the stain to set, making it more difficult to remove.
- Use a brush to loosen the stain, then remove other debris on the affected area using a vacuum cleaner.
- Use baking soda to clean off stains just as instructed in the deep cleaning process above. Or, you may also use a baking soda solution made of equal parts water and baking soda. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour to fully absorb the stain. Once done, vacuum the treated area with the brush attachment.
- Alternatively, you can make a vinegar and soap solution to remove stubborn stains on your fabric sofa. For this process, prepare ¾ cup warm water and add ¼ cup vinegar and 1 tablespoon of mild dish soap. Mix and spray on the affected area. You may also dab the solution on the stain using a soft cloth. Make sure the cloth is clean and does not bleed on the fabric sofa.
- After treating the sofa stain with baking soda or the vinegar and soap solution, blot the affected area with a clean, dry cloth and let it air-dry. You may also use a hairdryer on its lowest setting to hasten the drying part.
If you are not confident to clean deep stains off your fabric sofa on your own, you can always contact a professional to treat your couch for you.
