It’s going to be super embarrassing if you invite the person you are trying to impress over to watch some Netflix and chill if you have a couch that looks less than presentable. Even if you’re not trying to impress anyone, maintaining a clean sofa is mandatory in keeping your living room looking awesome. Therefore, along with the sofas, knowledge about how to clean different types of carpet would complete the overall ambience.

How to clean microfiber.
How to clean microfiber.

This way when you have company over, you can concentrate on being a gracious host rather than having to make up excuses for this or that stain on the couch. Before you start cleaning it is vital to find out what kind of material the cover of your sofa is finished in.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to the best blogger Guy About Home who offers the best garden and home improvement tips! If you are a home decor and design fan, don't miss the tips on home ideas. If you are a home garden owner, then you might be interest in our complete guides to house plants!

Look for the manufacturers tag under the seat cushion or under the piece of furniture itself. If you have a recliner, the tag is generally located under the footrest or on the inside back of the recliner.

Carefully read the care label, and it should indicate a specific letter which has a corresponding meaning as to what kind of cleaning product should be used to clean your couch.

W for water-based cleaner/detergent, use only those kind of cleaners

WS for either water-based cleaner/detergent or a dry cleaning cleaner/detergent

S for dry cleaning just

O for the material is organic and should only be washed using cold water

X means to vacuum and bristle brush, is not often seen anymore

Tools to clean a sofa

  • Rubber gloves
  • Sponge
  • Bristle brush
  • Washcloth
  • Fabric cleaner
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Spray bottle

How to clean a sofa

In case you own a steam cleaner, that right there is all you would need to clean your sofa thoroughly. All you need to do is run your steam cleaner on top of every inch of your couch then dry with a washcloth or towel. If you don’t have one, do not fret, just read on.

Once you have read the directions of the furniture tag and are aware of what kind of cleaning product is required, make sure to prepare what you need before you start cleaning. It is essential to use the recommended cleaning product to prevent any undue damage to your couch.

If you want to know how to clean a fabric sofa then just follow the steps below. I have compiled the best cleaning methods that are safe to use on most materials that couches are covered in, so the instructions below can be used universally.

Step 1 Vacuum clean

This is an excellent first step in pre-cleaning your couch. Use your vacuum cleaners upholstery attachment to scrub each section; this will dislodge any dust or debris hiding in the fibres of the sofa.

Lift the cushions out and lay them on the table, vacuum the base of the sofa. Then use your vacuums crevice tool attachment and vacuum the uncovered areas, inner corners and sides as well.

Step 2 Clean the legs

Most likely your couch’s legs are made of metal or hard plastic. Regular detergent soap and water should be excellent for this. Just use a bristle brush or sponge to scrub and wash the legs clean. Wipe dry with a clean washcloth when you’re done.

Step 3 Apply the cleaner

All purpose cleaner – As the name suggests using this type of cleaning agent is safe to use on your couch regardless of the material your sofa is covered in. One such cleaner is Better life Natural all-purpose cleaner. When using this, spray and clean in sections, this cleanser does not have a requisite wait time.

Merely spray then scrub with a bristle brush or sponge. It is a must to dry with your couch right after cleaning, use a clean washcloth or speed dry using an electric fan. If you do not dry it immediately after cleaning, an unsightly stain will develop, and you will need to clean it again.

Fabric cleaner – This type of universal cleaning agent is safe to use on almost any sofa finish.

If you want to know how to clean a suede sofa or if you want to know how to clean a microfiber sofa then look no further, using a fabric cleaner will undoubtedly work wonders for you.

When you start cleaning, do so in sections, spray the fabric cleaner on one part of your sofa, just give it a good coat but not too much. Then use a bristle brush or sponge to scrub the section you sprayed, keep rubbing until you are satisfied it is clean.

This instructional video shows you how to use fabric cleaner to clean a suede couch, and it also shows how to use a credit card to remove the dirty residue when using a fabric cleaner.

It is also a good idea to remove the remnants of the cleaner. Just as the video above shows, you can use a credit card or a nylon scraper to scrape away the dirty residue of the cleaner. You can also use a shop vac for this step.

Leather cleaner & Conditioner – Using a specially made leather cleaner is one of the best options on how to clean a leather sofa. Mr. leather is one such cleaner, designed and manufactured to clean, shine and protect all kinds of leather. Just read the instructions and use accordingly.

Step 4 Dry it up

To dry use a clean washcloth to wipe the cleaned section dry. If the washcloth shows that the couch is still dirty, then you would need to do some more cleaning and scrubbing until it comes clean. You can also use electric fans or blowers to speed dry your couch.

Conclusion:

Find the care label of your sofa then use the appropriate cleaning product. Better yet just follow the steps above since the steps indicated are safe to use for any couch finish. Include the couch in your checklist for your scheduled living room maintenance, and it should not be too tough to clean if cleaned regularly.

As an alternate solution, a little redesigning; such as inspiration from Pinterest living room decorating, might even do your ambience wonders.

For more amazing ideas you can have, visit Guy About Home today or you can check the related blogs:

Hi there! I’m Guy, the guy behind Guy About Home (that’s a lot of guy’s). I’m just your average guy (ok, I’ll stop) living in the USA who is really interested in making and doing.