How to clean your fabric sofa
A sofa is the most popular place for families and friends to gather after a busy day. It’s where they relax and put their feet up, enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit or a glass of wine and essentially unwind. Research has shown that on average, brits spend an incredible 1,060 hours (which equates to 44 days) sat on the sofa each year – yes each year(!), which is why it’s all the more important to maintain a regular cleaning schedule for your sofa – the more you look after it, the longer it will last. Different upholsteries require different cleaning regimes – in this blog we’ll look at how to clean your fabric sofa to ensure it stands the test of time and looks as good as new!
A sofa is a long-term investment, and it makes sense to look after that investment – having a clean fabric sofa will not only prolong the life of your sofa and contribute to the style and aesthetic of your home, it will also contribute to a healthier environment. Over time, dust can accumulate on the surface and down the sides of your sofa cushions – regular cleaning can help prevent a build-up easily and efficiently.
And it’s not just dust. The fabric on your sofa can absorb everything from food crumbs to drink spillages, body oils, cigarette smoke, pet hair and more – and if left over time, it can start to create something of a musty smell. Not only that, if left untreated, this can cause potential deterioration of your fabric which impacts the longevity of your sofa. The good news is that this can be easily avoided! A lot of people worry that by cleaning their fabric sofa they may do more harm than good but with the right knowledge and care, you can avoid any issues and leave your sofa looking pristine.
How to get started
So when it comes to cleaning your fabric sofa, where do you start? The first and most important step is to check the care label for each sofa. Given that there are a wide variety of materials that can be used to create a fabric sofa, ranging from velvet to wool and linen to cotton, there may be different care instructions for each so never assume that what is right for one fabric sofa is right for another. Some sofas may require a professional cleaner (when dealing with spills/stains) – if you’re considering buying a fabric sofa and want to check this before you press add to cart, make sure to get in touch with store/designer if the information isn’t available online.
Cleaning methods for a fabric sofa
The most common and easiest method of cleaning your fabric sofa is to vacuum. This will pick up any dust, dirt and crumbs and can be used without damaging the fabric. Make sure to lift the seat cushions and hoover down the sides and underneath them to stop any crumbs or dirt building up and causing long term damage to the upholstery. The beauty of vacuuming is that it’s incredibly quick and effective and is always a good place to start.
If there are spills or stains of any kind, that will require more than a vacuum and needs a little more attention to detail. For spot cleaning stains, you don’t need specialist cleaning products – simply mix baking soda with a small amount of water, forming a paste and then apply it to the affected area on your upholstery. Leave the paste on for up to 20 minutes and then gently wipe it away with a damp cloth, before blotting with a clean towel.
Alternatively, you can use baking soda by sprinkling it onto the stain, leaving it to work its magic and then vacuuming it up.
Before trying any of this, there’s a few key points to remember. Firstly, always test anything you’re planning to use on a more inconspicuous part of your sofa. Don’t use too much water, it only needs a very small amount. And finally, blotting and wiping are two different actions – wiping could cause more harm than good! Blotting is a very gentle action which will absorb any moisture on the fabric.
If you have removable or loose sofa covers, you can either remove them and wash them yourself, or take them to a cleaners. As stated before, always make sure to check the label before doing anything significant. It’s also important to note that some slight shrinkage may occur, even with dry cleaning, so when you put your loose covers back onto your sofa, pull the fabric to stretch it back to its original size.
Prevention is better than cure
While it’s difficult to avoid occasional spills, there are lots of things you can do to ensure your sofa stays in excellent condition. Depending on the material, some fabrics will fade in direct sunlight, and once that happens, there is no way to remedy it. Where possible, try to keep your sofas out of direct sun, particularly if the upholstery is cotton, linen, or velvet.
If stains do occur, the key to success is to act straight away. The quicker you blot, the less time there is for whatever accidentally made contact with your sofa to absorb into the fabric. And if you’ve heard that white wine is the best way to remove red wine – that’s not the case on a fabric sofa! Instead, try using a small amount of white vinegar, baking soda and liquid soap to neutralise the stain.
As equally as important as keeping your sofa clean is keeping the cushions as plump and inviting as the day you got them. To see how to fluff your cushions, check out our tutorial here!
Cleaning your fabric sofa isn’t a timely or complicated task, but it will ensure your sofa stands the test of time and continues to look the part in your space.
