What is the best way to clean a sofa?
This post may contain affiliate links which might earn us money. Please read my Disclosure and Privacy policies hereLet’s face it. Over the past year, Americans have spent a LOT of time on the sofa. If you have children, you probably don’t even want to know what’s lurking in the cracks. If it’s been a while since you cleaned your sofa, it’s time to get to work. Let’s take a closer look at how to clean a sofa.
What is the best way to clean a fabric sofa?
The best way to clean a fabric sofa begins with vacuuming the surface. You want to get all those crumbs and hair and whatever else might be clinging to the surface. You can then work on getting out any odors and stains.
How do you clean a smelly couch?
Baking soda is wonderful for taking odors out of your sofa. The baking soda absorbs the odors. When you vacuum up the baking soda, you’ll be taking the odors with it. If needed, you can repeat this process until you get all the odors out.
Fabric Couches
Obviously, you’ll have different steps for cleaning a fabric sofa than a leather sofa. Fabric can be vacuumed and then covered in baking soda to remove odors. Let’s take a closer step-by-step look at how to clean a fabric sofa.
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Vacuum the Couch
First things first, you want to vacuum the couch to remove any loose dirt, hair, etc. As you work, remove the cushions, if possible, and vacuum in all the cracks. This is where all the crumbs, loose change, and dirt likes to hide.
You may want to check the cracks before vacuuming so you find anything that might damage your vacuum, such as change or socks that kids stuffed in the couch. Remember to get the front of the couch, down near the floor, the sides, and the back.
Sprinkle with Baking Soda
Once vacuumed, sprinkle the couch with baking soda. If you want, you can use the scented baking soda that is made for carpets. This is a really great idea if you have pets that get on the furniture.
There is a baking soda you can use that is formulated for pet odors. Regardless of the type, you’re using, sprinkle on the couch and allow to set for at least 15 minutes. You want to give the baking soda enough time to absorb the odors.
Vacuum a Second Time
Once the baking soda has done its thing, vacuum up the baking soda. Once vacuumed, you can smell the sofa and see if there are any lingering odors. If so, you can repeat the process.
Treat Any Stains
If there are stains on the couch, you want to treat the stains using a spray consisting of water, vinegar, and dish soap. To make the solution, you’ll need ¼ cup white vinegar, ¾ warm water, and 1 tablespoon dish soap.
Spray the stained area and use a soft cloth to scrub the area until the stain disappears. You can then clean the area with a damp washcloth to remove the soap. Use a towel to dry the area.
Disinfect
Last, but not least, you can spray your sofa with a disinfecting spray, such as Lysol, to disinfect it. You should be doing this once a week to keep germs at bay. Make sure to spray the arms and throw pillows as well.
Leather Couches
If you have a leather couch, it’s much easier to clean. Most dirt can be wiped away with a microfiber cloth. Let’s take a closer look at how to clean a leather couch step by step.
Wipe Down with a Microfiber Cloth
First things first, wipe the couch down with a microfiber cloth. This is so easy to do and will collect all the dust and hair that may have accumulated. If you haven’t cleaned your sofa in a while, you may need more than one cloth to do the job.
Remove the Cushions and Vacuum
Next, remove the cushions from the couch and get into the nooks and crannies with the vacuum. Again, you might want to check the cracks before you vacuum to find any “treasures” your kids may have stuck there.
Use a Mixture of Vinegar and Water to Clean and Disinfect
If you have dirty areas that won’t budge with a microfiber cloth, mix together equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl and use a washcloth to clean the area.
Dip the washcloth into the mixture and wring out the excess water, wipe the areas until the dirty area comes clean.
Once clean, go over the area with a dry cloth to dry the area. You can wipe down the entire sofa with a damp cloth dipped in the water and vinegar mixture to disinfect the couch. Remember to go back with a dry cloth to dry the sofa.
Get Rid of Oil Stains
Last, but not least, if your leather couch has oil or grease stains (we naturally have oil in our skin), you can sprinkle the area with baking soda and allow to set for 2 hours.
The baking soda will absorb the grease. If there are any remaining stains, use the step above to clean the area with water and vinegar.
Cleaning your sofa isn’t hard, it just takes a bit of time. However, your living room will smell fresher and you’ll feel better knowing your sofa is clean and sanitized.
