Do you remember the last time you cleaned your couch? Is it well overdue for a good scrub?
How to clean a fabric couch
Cleaning your couch may be last on your list of household chores, but when there’s a leftover food stain from the takeaway night or the pup has walked his muddy pawprints all over it, you’ve got no choice.
The first step to cleaning your fabric couch is to identify the fibres it’s made of.
While your lounge will not be made up of only natural fibres, but also synthetic ones, and working out which ones dominate its textile makeup is essential in knowing how to clean it.
Some common fabrics used for couches include:
- Linen
- Cotton
- Wool
- Polyester
- Velvet
- Rayon
When approaching cleaning your fabric couch for the first time, our best advice is to actually just read the manufacturers instructions. Your lounge will have a tag that lists both the textile make up, as well as any cleaning instructions that work best for it.
If your manufacturer’s instructions are unclear, missing or don’t work on the red wine stain that you’ve got, then try one of these three hacks instead:
Use a dishwashing tablet
Sure, there are many ways to clean your sofa, but if you don’t want to buy a shopping list of extra products, all you need is this one kitchen item you probably already have.
You will need:
- Boiling water
- A pair of rubber gloves
- 1 dishwashing tablet
- Microfibre cloth
- Saucepan lid
Method:
- Boil a kettle of water and carefully pour it into a large bowl.
- Dissolve one dishwasher tablet in the water.
- Pop on a pair of rubber gloves and soak a microfibre cloth in the water.
- Squeeze any excess water.
- Spread the cloth flat, then place the lid in the centre of the cloth. Tie the opposite corners together so you’ve made an instant scrubbing brush.
- Hold onto the saucepan’s lid and scrub the cloth vertically over the surface of your sofa, then go horizontally.
- Repeat the process until you are happy with the outcome.
- Let the couch dry first before placing your cushions back onto it.
Use some baking soda
Baking soda is, of course, the magic potion that seems to fix every stain or patch in your home. For fabric couches, you can use baking soda to get rid of numerous issues, including cleaning for stains and spots, as well as smells.
Coat the surface of the spot or stain with a layer of baking soda, and leave for half an hour.
Using a vacuum with a brush attachment, remove the baking soda and any dirt along with it! This method will also deodorise your couch of any bad or lingering smells.
Invest in a steam cleaner
While a steam cleaner is not the be all, end all solution to your fabric couch woes, it still does lend a mighty good helping hand.
Whether you prefer a spot cleaner, like the Kmart product that has recently gone viral, or a more industrial version, your fabric couch will definitely thank you.
Tips for cleaning your fabric couch:
- Before you start, remember to remove all cushions, throws and accessories.
- For best results, vacuum your couch before to remove any pet hair and dust.
- If it’s taking too long for your couch to dry, turn a fan on.
