Most homes you enter have fabric sofas as the main upholstered furniture in the living room. No wonder, as they are practical, typically quite comfortable and can be really beautiful. Fabric couches come with one major drawback though: keeping the couch fabric clean and fresh-looking can be a challenge you might not feel up to. Keeping your fabric sofas in a pristine condition is unfortunately the only way to fully enjoy them. You can make sure you are up to the challenge by learning some of the top cleaning hacks and strategies out there. You can make your sofa look as good as when it was brand new if you follow the tested cleaning methods we laid out for you.
What is the best way to clean sofa fabric?
No matter whether you need to clean pet stains or a food spill from the surface of your sofa, or you are looking for an easy cleaning method for regular maintenance, you will need to consider a few factors before you commence the cleaning process.
First and foremost, check the manufacturer’s instructions about any guidelines they might have left for cleaning your fabric sofa. You should be able to quickly find those online on their website. Or, better yet, look at the tags on the sofa itself, if you haven’t already removed those. The most important thing that you need to make sure of is if the fabric your upholstered furniture is made of is water soluble. That will give you an important hint as to the exact cleaning method that you need to use to remove stains, pet hair, and other undesirable elements from the surface and deep into the fabric of your fabric sofa.
Warm water and general purpose detergent works best on water soluble sofa materials, but for non-soluble materials, an appropriate upholstery cleaner will be necessary. You can even make a homemade cleaning product to remove the stains. Steam cleaning equipment and other specialized gear will come in handy when dealing with non-soluble materials. Don’t worry, though – in most cases, especially when it comes to general fabric sofa cleaning and maintenance – you won’t need anything on the level of equipment professional cleaning companies use. In case you are not sure whether or not your store-bought steam cleaner is up to the task, you can always research the professional cleaning companies operating in your area and get them to help out.
How to clean a fabric sofa – the steps
Get your cleaning solution, steam cleaner, and vacuum cleaner at hand, and get ready to have your fabric sofa clean and shining in no time. A lint roller is going to be another handy piece of equipment, especially if you will be dealing with a lot of pet hair in the process. The simple steps that you need to follow to get your sofa cleaning journey completed in no time are:
- Carefully inspect the surface of the couch or sofa for visible dirt and stains. Don’t forget to roll the sofa cushions to check them on all sides.
- Toss the sofa cushions aside – you will need to clean those separately. Do the same with any other upholstery attachment that you can remove safely from your fabric sofa.
- Use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to thoroughly remove any moveable dirt and pet hair from the surface of the furniture. Feel free to use a stiff brush for optimal results.
- Gently blot any visible stains – including pet stains and stubborn stains – using warm water and some of the many solvent-based cleaners found in your local supermarket. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of warm water, white vinegar, and baking soda if you are a fan of homemade solutions.
- Place a dry cloth over the blotted area and let it sit for a few minutes. Then gently wash the spot with a clean cloth and warm water. Use circular motions and try not to spread the stain further across the surface of your fabric sofa. Repeat if necessary.
How do you clean a fabric couch without washing it?
You will need a steam cleaner if your fabric couch or sofa can’t be washed. Steam cleaners are particularly effective for removing stubborn stains that cannot be washed out. Most non-washable materials fear well with regular store-bought steam cleaners. The power of steam will reach deep into the fabrics of the sofa and cushion covers. It will break down the stain you are treating and let you gently remove it with circular scrubbing motions.
Can fabric sofas be shampooed?
Simply put, you can shampoo some sofas, but others not. Check out the manufacturer’s guidelines to see if you can use carpet cleaners or an upholstery cleaner on the fabrics. If the manufacturer says using shampoo is fine, get a damp cloth and treat the fabrics as instructed by the product’s label.
How to Spot Clean Fabric Sofa Stains
Spot cleaning comes in handy when you need to remove stains that have just occurred. Spot cleaning is particularly useful for addressing stubborn stains that have just occurred. Use the same cleaning method as if you are cleaning the entire sofa. Vacuum the area, then apply the cleaning detergent after gently blotting the inflicted area with a dry cloth. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
Why Have a Couch Cleaned Professionally
Professional cleaners will be able to complete the job faster and up to better results than you ever will be. They will bring in the right equipment, tools, and an appropriate upholstery cleaner, saving you time, as well as the risk of accidentally damaging the material your cherished sofa is made of.
