There’s a sure-fire way to keep your sofa clean at all times: Never use it. If people and pets never sit on the sofa, it’ll stay damage-free for decades. Of course, that’s really no way to live.
So, how do you keep your sofa clean while still living a normal life? Here are five easy steps to keeping your fabric sofa clean.
Number 1
About once a week, you should vacuum the couch. The crevice tool on your up-right vacuum is usually the best tool for the job. If the cushions are removable, you should remove them and really get after all the food, dirt and whatever else is hiding under there. If the cushions aren’t removable, try your best to get into all the cracks and crevices.
Getting into a weekly routine can seem unnecessary, but just doing a little bit of vacuuming can greatly reduce the overall dirt build-up. We’ve all had the experience of lifting up a couch cushion only to be shocked at what lies beneath. Regular vacuuming can dramatically reduce this horror.
Number 2
About once every two weeks, you should rotate your sofa cushions. Most sofas have symmetrical cushions in some fashion. Rotating the cushions prevents indents in the cushion, and reduces overall wear-and-tear as time goes on.
If the couch has a feather or other looser-type filling, you might want to gently fluff the cushions with your fist. Don’t beat on them wildly, of course, but do try to have the stuffing evenly distributed throughout the cushion.
Number 3
Sometimes the low-tech methods are the best. Lint brushes designed specifically for upholstery usually work very well. They’re especially effective in households with pets. A few times a week, run a brush over your sofa. Remember: pet hair gets everywhere. So remove the couch cushions and run the lint brush over the entire cushion. This helps prevent pet hair build-up.
Number 4
Don’t forget your throw pillows. Like with regular cushions, lint rollers are also an effective way to clean a throw pillow. Another way to clean a throw pillow is to put them in the dryer on the fluff setting. This will freshen the pillow. Throw a few tennis balls in the dryer with them, too. The fuzz on the balls will pick up dust from the pillows. There might be some banging, but your dryer shouldn’t be damaged.
Number 5
How you clean your couch depends on what type of material it’s made of. For leather, you generally want to stick to a damp cloth and plain soap. For fabric, you can also use a damp cloth. You can also use upholstery cleaning products which can be found in the grocery store.
The trick is to research the type of material the sofa is made of, and how to treat specific types of stains on that material. There should be a tag on your sofa to provide more specific information. Plus, the manufacturer’s website can also have tips.
It’s easy to forget to take care of your sofa. A few simple actions can keep your sofa in great cheap, and with very little effort. So vacuum under the cushions, fluff the pillow and treat stains right away. If you do, your sofa will be in great shape for a long time