Whether you share your home with pets, roommates or children, or have the space to yourself, an upholstered sofa requires — at the very least — a gentle cleaning from time to time. Cleaning the couch even when it doesn’t appear dusty or dirty prevents fine particles and residue from sticking to the fabric; above time such debris gets more difficult to remove as it appears to meld with the fabric.
The Power of Suction
Vacuuming provides an effective and easy means to give that couch a routine cleaning each month or so. Remove throw pillows and cushions and smack them a few times outdoors to release loose dust. Vacuum the whole sofa using the upholstery brush attachment. The crevice tool is useful for all those spaces along the rear and sides of the seat area where crumbs have a tendency to fall and collect. Vacuum those seat cushions and throw pillows also, in addition to the armrests and back of the couch.
Spot-Cleaning Solutions
If a fluid spills on the couch, blot up as much as possible using dry paper towels or a soft white cloth — without rubbing — to remove as much fluid as possible. Just a little dish soap on a wax or wax cloth dabbed over the stain, rubbing in the outer edges of the place in, removes more of the insulation. A one-to-three mixture of vinegar to water dabbed over the area cleans it completely.
Fabric Freshener
Upholstered sofa material, especially the cushions, may smell a bit less than fresh occasionally. Sprinkle baking soda over the pillow surface, enabling it to set for half an hour or so. Vacuum the baking soda away. You can use the baking soda on all upholstered areas of the couch, or even beneath the cushions.
Lint and Pet Hair Issues
Some couch fabrics seem to attract lint, fuzz from blankets or hair. Rather than looking at a jungle of mystery fibers as you break on the couch, pick up those stray bits with a lint roller. A lint roller has a roll of sticky paper which catches all types of loose debris because it’s rolled over material. If you don’t have a lint roller, then wrap packing tape around your hand with the sticky side facing out and dab away. Replace the tape when it’s no longer picks up stray bits.