The sofa is an integral part of human comfort. Whether you just got home from work, or returning from a party with a lot of people, it's always nice to lie back and relax on a clean couch. To keep your sofa clean, simply follow these basic cleaning methods.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preparing to clean
Step 1. Determine what fabric your sofa is made of
Sofas can be made from a variety of fabrics, ranging from cotton to leather. It is very important to know what it is made of in order to determine how to clean it. Take a look at the sofa tag at the bottom of the sofa to determine the type of fabric. The label may say “W”, “S”, “WS”, “X”, or “O”.
- A “W” or “WS” label indicates that your sofa can be washed with soap and water.
- The “S” label means the sofa should be cleaned with dry products and non-water based cleaners.
- If the tag says “X”, it means that the fabric can only be vacuumed or cleaned by a specialist.
- An “O” label indicates that the fabric is organic and needs to be cleaned with cool water.
Step 2. Get all the cleaning supplies you need
Depending on the type of fabric, you will need some kind of cleaning agent. Among other things, you will need some kind of detergent, a brush or sponge, a rag, and a vacuum cleaner.
Step 3. Rinse all wood and metal parts of the sofa
If the legs, bottom of the sofa, and armrests are made of wood or metal, wash them with soap and water to remove dust and dirt. Alternatively, you can also apply special varnishes to wood or metal to enhance the shine of a particular part of the sofa.
Step 4. Remove the pillows from the sofa
Some pillows can be removed from the washing machine. This is necessary in order to clean the entire sofa.
Step 5. Vacuum the sofa
For best results, use an upholstery brush on the vacuum cleaner. It is very important to remove as much dirt, hair, dust and crumbs as possible before cleaning. Depending on the material the sofa is made from, this may be the last step that you can take yourself without hiring a specialist.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the sofa with a soap and water solution
Step 1. Prepare your detergent
Take a quarter cup of dish soap and dissolve it in a glass of warm water. Stir everything quickly to create soap bubbles.
Step 2. Wipe the fabric
Take a sponge or soft brush and submerge it completely in soapy water, and then brush the sofa with smooth circular motions. Start at the top of the sofa and work your way down.
Step 3. Wipe off excess soap or bubbles
Use a dry rag to wipe off any excess soap suds that remain on the couch. If the foam dries, it will leave an unpleasant dark stain.
Step 4. Dip a clean rag in cool water to rinse the sofa
You should remove as much of the cleaning agent as possible. Use a wet rag to walk on the couch a second time to remove any remaining dirt.
Step 5. Please wait
Before you can lie back on your couch, it must be completely dry. You can turn on the air conditioner for heating or open windows to speed up the process.
Step 6. Put the pillows back in place
After the pillowcases and pillows are dry, you can put them back in place.
Method 3 of 3: Cleaning the sofa without water
Step 1. Pour alcohol into a spray bottle
Thanks to its short evaporation time, alcohol, unlike water, will not leave marks on fabrics such as polyester and microfiber. While you are cleaning the sofa, the alcohol will smell, but when you finish cleaning, there will be no smell from the alcohol.
Step 2. Spray small areas of the sofa with alcohol
Use a sponge to scrub these areas and remove dirt from the upholstery. Do not spray too large an area of the sofa at a time, as you will not have time to clean the sofa before the alcohol evaporates.
Step 3. Take a soft brush and scrub the entire sofa with it
Clean the sofa with small circular motions to return the fabric to its original condition.
Step 4. Replace all pillows
You can now lie down on your clean sofa!
Advice
- Try not to eat or drink on the sofa to keep it in good condition for longer.
- If you suddenly spill vegetable oil or grease on the sofa, don't worry! Sprinkle cornstarch or baking powder over the stain and wait overnight. The next day, just vacuum the stain.
- If you don't want to clean your sofa with dish soap or rubbing alcohol, you can buy water-based and non-water-based sofa upholstery cleaners at most supermarkets.
- Brush the sofa again if necessary, but no more than twice.
- If your sofa starts to smell bad, sprinkle it with baking soda and let it sit overnight. Vacuum it in the morning and enjoy the fresh scent again!