Couch Cleaning 101: How to Keep Your Sofa in Tip-Top Shape Year-Round

According to many furniture industry experts, you can expect the average couch to last from seven to fifteen years. However, depending on how the furniture gets used or abused, your mileage may vary. Modular sofa sets, recliners, armchairs, and desk chairs all require regular cleaning and while many people neglect this task, taking the time to look after your furniture will and keep it in tip-top shape is the best thing you can do to extend its lifespan.

No matter how long the piece lasts, whether it’s ten or fifteen years, your ability to keep your furniture clean is essential if you want it to stand the test of time. Whether you own pets or have kids greatly affects the equation as well, typically requiring an even bigger commitment from you when it comes to maintaining your furniture. With the right approach, however, you can ensure that your sofa always looks its very best.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the best practices for keeping your sofas in tip-top shape year-round.

Establish A Routine

The frequency and routine of furniture cleaning obviously depend on how much the furniture is used and by whom. If you have active young children and teens, along with pets who are allowed to be on the furniture, then it’s preferable to clean at least once a week or maybe even twice under extreme conditions.

More than twice a week might even be necessary for some situations. If you have multiple pets, young children that have a tendency to spill food and drink on the couch or adults that tend to leave a pile of crumbs in their wake, then you might need to up your cleaning game more than you thought. It all depends on how you use your sofa so be sure to consider this when you are deciding on a cleaning routine.

Supplies

To keep your sofa clean, you need to ensure you have the right tools and products.  First, a high-quality vacuum is absolutely essential. The main vacuum you use to clean your house is typically the best choice because it likely has the strongest motor, and a variety of attachments you’ll need for getting into the deep crevices between each cushion, the back, and the side arms/walls. However, some people may choose to have a second cordless vacuum to use solely on their household furniture.

Whichever route you go, you will need brush attachments, plastic crevice attachments, and extenders that let you reach deep into the sofa. Use the brushes to loosen pet and human hair so that it gets sucked easily into the vacuum.

When you’re cleaning under the furniture, again, be sure to use the brush attachments to loosen the big chunks of dirt. If there is large debris or hard items under the sofa, you’ll need to move the sofa and use an old-fashioned broom and dustpan instead to prevent damage to the vacuum’s motor.

Be sure to stock up on spare filters for your vacuum. Plan on having at least five replacement filters available if you have pets and kids so that there are never any excuses when it comes to cleaning. If you have an older model vacuum no longer in production, you may need to buy as many of those filters as you can find while they are still available.

Next, you’ll need one or two off-the-shelf stain removers in spray bottle format. There are many brands to choose from in a variety of scents and concentrations. Choose one or two that piques your interest, or ask your friends which ones they use to ensure you get the best product for the job.

Common brands include White King Stain Lifters (known for their furniture-specific products), OxiClean, and Vanish. There’s also Resolve, Folex, and Napisan. For leather or faux leather, be sure to use the proper variant of cleaner and always read the labels on these products since they may be in concentrated form. If so, dilute it with water to avoid damaging your sofa or causing the colours to run.

Keep Your Sofa Looking It’s Very Best Year-Round

Keeping your sofa spick and span is easier than you might think, especially if you stay up to date with your cleaning schedule. If you own very expensive, designer furniture, it might be a good idea to schedule an annual or bi-annual professional cleaning session to make sure things are done right. Professional cleaning technicians will bring in heavy-duty equipment that uses high suction and steam, laced with safe cleaning agents to thoroughly remove all dirt, dust, and debris particles that your DIY approach simply might not be able to handle. Whether you do it yourself, hire the pros or do a combination of both, with consistent cleaning, you can always ensure your sofa looks its very best, regardless of what time of the year it is.