An Easiest Tutorial on How to Clean Couch All by Yourself

From fun TV time to relaxing naps, your couch provides a cozy spot for a lot of activities which makes it really important to clean regularly. If you haven’t cleaned the couch in a long time, it’s time to get the job done.

No worries. you can actually do the job all by yourself without costing you a lot. Just check out our easy guide on how to clean couch below.

How to Clean Couch

How to Clean Couch
Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash

Prepare these supplies:

  • Baking soda
  • Dishwashing detergent
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Paper towels
  • Dry brush
  • Vacuum
  • Enzyme-based cleaner
  • Steam cleaner

Choose one of the cleaning methods below.

Cleaning with Soapy Water

Check the label of the couch

First thing first, you really have to check out the manufacturer’s label of your very own couch. Not all of the materials can be touched with water since it can lead to water damage.

Learn what kind of cleaning solutions are suitable for use on your couch’s main material. There are some popular symbols that you may find such as:

  • – The couch with this symbol is safe to get cleaned up with a water-based cleaning solution.
  • – The couch with this symbol is safe to get cleaned up with a solvent-based cleaning solution.
  • W/S – The couch with this symbol is safe to get cleaned with both water-based and solvent-based cleaning solutions.
  • – The couch with this symbol is made of delicate material which can only get vacuumed to clean.

Once you have learned the proper way to clean your beloved couch, you can continue to the next step.

Vacuum the couch

Before using any cleaning solution, you need to remove the loose debris, dust, dirt, crumbs, and pet hair with a vacuum cleaner. You can use either use a handheld vacuum or a vacuum’s upholstery tool.

If possible, you can disassemble your cushion to reach the hidden spots of your couch during the vacuuming process. Don’t skip the buttons, embellishments, and seems as those areas are prone to debris build-up.

Treat the stains

Now, it’s time to grab some paper towels and dish soap to treat the stains. The liquid accidents can be inevitable if you often have some drinks on your couch and pets running around.

If you are lucky enough to notice the stairs as soon as they touch your couch, follow the steps below:

  • Soak the excess liquid immediately as much as you can with a paper towel.
  • Mix a few drops of dish soap and some water in a bowl thoroughly.
  • Blot the cleaning solution onto the liquid stains, avoid saturating the fabric.
  • You may need to repeat the steps if necessary.

If you are dealing with old stains, a solvent-based cleaner is always the best solution. However, you still have to check the label whether the couch is safe to get cleaned with this type of cleaner. You can always follow the manufacturer’s instructions but it would be best to test the product in hidden spots to check whether it’s good for your couch or not.

Cleaning with baking soda

You can really rely on baking soda to clean up your couch as it also helps to clean a lot of things around your house. Baking soda works really well to kill mildew, bacteria, and unpleasant smells that may linger around your couch over time.

Dry up the fabric

If you choose to use baking soda to clean your couch, you have to make sure that the fabric is completely dry. You can use a hairdryer in the coolest setup to dry up your couch if it’s quite damp. Never use the hot air over a couch with stains as it can worsen the problem.

Sprinkle some baking soda

Sprinkle baking soda all over your couch and leave it for around 30 minutes. The powder will work to soak the bacteria and odor in the fabric of the couch.

Remove the baking soda

To remove the baking soda, you can use your vacuum’s attachment. Don’t skip the crevices of the couch as the powder may get trapped there.

Cleaning with Handheld Steamer

Prepare the device

Fill your steam cleaner with recommended cleaning solution. You can use an enzyme-based cleaning agent if your couch smells really bad since can handle the job much better.

Run the steam

Clean the cushion, back, and arms of your couch with the steam cleaner. Give more focus on the stained area. Once you’re done, let the couch air dry or repeat the step if necessary.

Always dry your couch

If you choose a wet cleaning method, you have to make sure that everything is dry before you use the couch. For a couch that allows you to disassemble some parts, you can bring them outside and put them under sun exposure to speed up the drying process. A wet or damp sofa will attract mold and mildew growth in no time.

(Read also: How to Clean Rust on Silverware Effectively | DIY Kitchen Care)

How to remove bad odor on the couch

If after the cleaning steps above you find that your couch smells bad, you can use white vinegar to handle it. Just follow these steps. Just simply mix three parts of clean water and one part of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Then, coat the fabric of the couch and let it dry completely.

When do you need to deep-clean your couch?

The deep-clean methods above are good for seasonal cleaning that you can execute every six months or so. Consider adding deep-cleaning your couch to your spring and fall cleaning list.

A regular vacuum is a necessary regular cleaning to keep your couch clean longer. It becomes really important if you have pets and children running around in which weekly vacuum is a great idea.

Tips to keep your couch clean

For you who regularly clean your couch, you might be able to reduce the frequency of the deep cleaning. Weekly vacuuming is highly recommended to keep the couch clean longer.

Also, always clean up the stains as soon as they happen to avoid the more difficult problem. If the couch is safe for water-based cleaner, you can use soapy water to treat the stains and solvent-based cleaner for a dry-only couch.

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