One's couch is an essential basic pleasure. Whether you've just come home from work or are having a party with lots of guests, then relaxing on a clean sofa is always fun. To keep the sofa shiny, follow the basic techniques for cleaning the sofa below.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparation for Cleaning the Sofa
Step 1. Determine the type of sofa upholstery
Sofas can be upholstered in a variety of fabrics, from cotton to leather, and knowing exactly the upholstery you're dealing with is important in knowing how to clean them. Check the tag on the bottom of the sofa to determine the type of fabric. The marker reads “W”, “S”, “WS”, “X”, or “O”.
- Markers with the letters “W” or “WS” indicate that the sofa can be washed with water-based soap.
- A marker with the letter “S” means the sofa needs to be washed by a dry cleaner or cleaned with a non-water based laundry soap.
- If the marker reads “X”, it means that the sofa upholstery can only be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or washed by a professional chemical cleaner.
- A marker with an “O” means the upholstery is organic and needs to be washed in cold water.
Step 2. Prepare the necessary cleaning equipment
This will vary depending on the type of sofa upholstery, but the kit should include laundry soap, a scrubbing brush or sponge, a rag and a vacuum cleaner.
Step 3. Wash the wood or metal parts of the sofa
If the legs, underside, or arms of the sofa have wooden or metal parts, scrub them with soap and water to remove any dust or dirt. Also, you can use a wood or metal polish to give these parts a shinier shine.
Step 4. Get rid of all the sofa cushions
Some sofa cushions have removable covers, which you can machine wash. Sofa cushions should be set aside so that the sofa can be washed.
Step 5. Clean the entire sofa with a vacuum cleaner
If the vacuum cleaner is equipped with special complementary features for sofa upholstery, use it for maximum results. It is important to remove as much dirt, hair, dust, and food crumbs as possible before starting to scrub them. This may be the last step you can do without professional help, but it depends on the type of upholstery.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the Sofa with Water-based Laundry Soap
Step 1. Make laundry soap for the sofa
Mix 250 ml of warm water with 62.5 ml of dish soap. Stir quickly until foam appears on the soap.
Step 2. Rub the sofa upholstery
Soak a sponge or soft brush completely in the soapy water, and start scrubbing the sofa in gentle circular motions. Start at the top of the sofa and work your way down.
Step 3. Wipe off any excess soap or suds with a rag
Use a dry cloth to clean the soap that remains on the sofa. If the soap is allowed to dry, it will leave an unsightly dark stain.
Step 4. Use a clean cloth soaked in cold water to clean the sofa
You need to remove the laundry soap as much as possible. A second cleaning with a damp cloth also helps remove any remaining dirt on the sofa.
Step 5. Wait
The sofa needs to be completely dry before using it again. You can turn on a fan and open a window to speed up this process.
Step 6. Put back the sofa cushions
After the fabric on the sofa cushion dries, return the sofa cushion to its original position.
Method 3 of 3: Cleaning the Sofa Without Water
Step 1. Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol
Due to the fast evaporation time, rubbing alcohol will not stain sofa upholstery such as polyester and microfibers, as can happen when cleaned with water. The alcohol gives off an odor when you clean it, but won't leave an odor after the cleaning is complete.
Step 2. Spray some rubbing alcohol on the sofa
Use a sponge to scrub these areas, to remove dirt from the upholstery of the sofa. Don't spray too much because you won't have time to scrub it all off before the alcohol has evaporated.
Step 3. Take a soft brush and scrub the sofa
Move the brush in small circular motions to return the upholstery to its original position.
Step 4. Put back all the sofa cushions
The clean sofa is now ready to be reoccupied!
Tips
- Repeat scrubbing if needed, but not more than twice.
- If you don't want to use dish soap or rubbing alcohol, there are water and non-water upholstery cleaners available in supermarkets.
- If you've ever spilled oil on a sofa, fear not! Sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda on the oil stain and leave it overnight. Clean with a vacuum cleaner the next day.
- If a bad smell starts to bother you, sprinkle some baking soda on the couch and leave it overnight. The next morning, clean the sofa with a vacuum cleaner, and enjoy the fresh smell of the sofa!
- If possible, do not eat or drink on the sofa to keep the sofa in good condition.
