Sofas are one of the busiest areas in most people’s homes, so spills are bound to happen. The most apparent danger is stained, but regular dust can produce dinginess over time. Vacuum your couch on a regular basis to extend its life and keep it looking new, and be ready to mop up spills promptly.
How long will it take you to clean this up?
Clean up spills or stains as quickly as possible to avoid them settling in and binding to fibers. Cleaning most stains will take roughly five minutes (though using a portable upholstery cleaner could tack on an extra five minutes). More tough stains, on the other hand, may require more than one cleaning cycle.
Once a week, regular maintenance (mainly vacuuming) might take as little as 10 minutes.
In addition to regular cleaning, all of the professional cleaners we spoke with recommended having your furnishing fabrics professionally cleaned every six months to avoid filth buildup. To “keep upholstery looking its best,” a Crate & Barrel customer service representative suggested an annual professional cleaning.
Determine the type of material
Every upholstery cleaning expert we spoke with, as well as the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification’s (IICRC) Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Upholstery Cleaning, stressed the importance of first determining the type of furnishing fabrics you’re dealing with by looking up the cleaning code. Check the cleaning codes on the furniture tags, which are usually affixed to the cushions or underneath the couch. Some couches may have multiple tags, each indicating different cleaning methods for different parts of the couch’s furnishing fabrics.
How to Vacuum Your Couch Correctly
Begin by removing all removable cushions. Gather any coins, bobby pins, or other large items that have fallen into the couch. Then get rid of the solids. If you have pets, a lint roller will come in handy for eliminating fur. Vacuum each cushion and the sofa such as the furnishing fabrics itself with the upholstery attachment and crevice tool, paying special attention to areas where debris can collect, such as corners and seams. If you’re cleaning a delicate fabric like silk, pay attention to the vacuum’s suction power and, if necessary, adjust it to a lower level.
How to get rid of stains on the spot
If you stain or spill something on the furnishing fabrics of your upholstery, remove as much of the liquid or soil as possible as quickly as possible. “If you don’t remove all of the residues, the cleaning chemical may spread the discoloration even further,” Clipperton cautioned. In addition, if stains are overlooked, they can attach to fibers, resulting in permanent stains.
Using a dry, white, absorbent cloth or white paper towels, blot the stain. Semi-solids can also be scraped with a plastic scraper. To remove the residue, you can either use a wet-dry vac or a portable upholstery cleaner to your furnishing fabrics. However, if you don’t wipe out the tank or dustbin right away, it will begin to stink.
Once all of the residue has been removed, dab the stain with the cleaning solution and carefully blot from the spill’s perimeter to the center to prevent the stain from spreading to your furnishing fabrics.
Then, to avoid discoloration, rinse the affected area with cold water and wipe it dry, removing as much of the cleaning solution as possible.
Allow the couch’s furnishing fabrics to dry completely to avoid mold and odor.
If you have stubborn stains, seek professional assistance from your wholesale fabric supplier. They frequently offer more powerful industrial cleaning chemicals that may be able to handle the job. Even yet, there’s no assurance that a pro will be able to get rid of a stain.
Is it possible to clean a couch using baking soda or dish soap?
On the internet and social media, cleaning solutions employing common home items like baking soda and dish soap are popular, but do they work?
Baking soda has a deodorizing effect. However, if you don’t vacuum it up properly, it will remain in the furnishing fabrics, according to Lawrence Kendrick, proprietor of K&D Carpet & Cleaning Services.
When is it appropriate to hire a professional?
Almost every furniture manufacturer we consulted with said that thorough cleaning a badly filthy couch is not recommended.
You may need to hire an expert if you can’t identify the fabric, you’re working with a difficult textile or type of furnishing fabric (such as a satin weave or a fabric with thick threads), or the couch is simply filthy.