The longevity of your furniture and the well-being of your family are closely related to having a clean place to live. Sofas become soiled over time with allergens and dust mites, in addition to organic pollutants that can negatively affect indoor air quality. While you can hire a professional to clean your sofa, it’s possible to do it yourself, in a safe manner, by using methods that have been proven effective through scientific studies. To accomplish this successful cleaning routine, you must first identify the type of fabric your sofa is made of, then select a pH-neutral cleaning solution that is right for that specific type of fabric. You will then be able to remove deep-rooted dirt from your upholstered furniture without damaging either its structural integrity or its overall visual appeal.
How to safely clean your sofa at home while understanding the fabric codes
Identifying the manufacturer’s cleaning code (usually found on the care labels) is critical before applying any liquid or chemicals to fabrics. These codes help ensure that you will not cause permanent damage to the fabric fibres or risk ‘bleeding’ dye from the fabric. Using an incorrect solvent will result in the fabric shrinking or the backing being destroyed.Here are the manufacturer’s cleaning codes:
- W: Use water-based cleaning agents.
- S: Use mild, dry-cleaning solvents that do not contain water.
- S/W: Both water-based and solvent-based cleaning agents can be used.
- X: Only vacuuming, no cleaning agents should be used on this fabric.
Stage 1: Removing dry soil with high-efficiency vacuums
The first step of any safe and effective cleaning method is to remove all dry particulate material (like dust) first. Dust is made up of many contaminants, including allergens, that build up within soft furnishings, such as couches, over time.
- Preparation: Attach the correct upholstery nozzle to the vacuum cleaner (and reduce the suction level).
- Execution: Apply the vacuum to the entire couch, using very light pressure and working into the seams and corners of each cushion and the sofa itself.
- Deep Cleaning: Once all dry soil has been removed from the dry soils, use the brush attachment to remove any additional dry soil (often in the form of animal dander).
- Hidden Areas: Remove all cushions from the sofa and vacuum under each cushion (including around the edges of the cushion itself).
Stage 2: Cleaning without a vacuum
If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, you can still manually remove surface soil from your upholstery without pushing those particles further down into the fabric weave.
- Remove Loose Soil: Use a soft-bristled brush to raise any encased debris.
- Remove Dust: Use a dry rag to brush or gently pat the cushions to release trapped dust.
- Light Cleaning: When you’ve removed any dry soil from the cushions, you can now treat for bonded oils and/or light stains. Your goal here is to lift soil off the surface of the fabric and not saturate the internal foam or padding.
Stage 3: Just cleaning
Once you have removed all of the dry soil from the cushions, you will need to follow the steps listed below to complete step two.
- Mix a very mild detergent with lukewarm distilled water.
- Using a microfiber cloth, submerge the cloth, wring out most of the water (damp, not wet),
- Using circular motions, wipe the entire surface of the cushion and scrub stains until they fade away.
- Use a dry cloth to soak up excess moisture; allow the cushion to air dry or set a fan up to help speed drying.
Stage 4: Chemical neutralisation and deodorising
Instead of covering up bad smells with synthetic perfume and/or air fresheners, something like a dry absorbent will actually eradicate the smell on a molecular basis.
- If your sofa has a bad smell, sprinkle it with baking soda
- Let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes. The baking soda will remove the oils and odours from the sofa.
- Finally, vacuum or sweep away the powder.
