A couch is much more than a simple piece of furniture. It’s the natural focal point of the living room where all the family members flock to for watching TV, chatting, playing video games, or taking a quick nap.
Being one of the most frequently use furniture in the house, couches are extremely prone to wear and tear. Replacing it is not always an option (unless you’re loaded, of course), which is why it’s important to minimize damage to the frame, filler, and upholstery as much as possible.
Below I’ve gathered some tried and tested (and inexpensive) tips to prevent wear and tear and extend the life of your couch. Read on –
- Plump and Rotate the Cushions
The easiest way to prolong the life of a couch is to fluff up and rotate the cushions at least once every two days or so. Dr. Sheldon Cooper isn’t the only one who is too touchy about his favorite spot on the couch.
Sitting on the same spot repeatedly forces the cushion fillings into one corner. To even them out, take the cushions out and give them a good shake. Another way to minimize uneven wear and keep the cushions plump and comfy is to flip and rotate them frequently.
- Remove the Old Stuffing
It’s no secret that seat cushions lose their springiness and sag over time. We often unknowingly speed up the sagging process sitting on the same spot over and over again.
Thankfully, you can breathe a new lease of life into the cushions simply by restuffing the cushions with poly-fil. Don’t be stingy with filler. Alternatively, you can swap the floppy back cushions for brand new plush pillows. You can easily change covers anytime to switch up the look.
To restuff the seat cushions, lay a piece of foam and wrap a quilt batting around it. Finally, slide the newly stuffed, plumped-up cushions back into their respective covers.
Resist the Urge to Jump onto It
No matter how dark and twisty life gets, it’s never a good idea to recklessly throw your weight onto a couch. Even the best sofas for heavy people with heavy-duty wooden frames have their limitations. Too much abuse can cause moderate damage to the frame which can cause your sofa to squeak.
Unless you are happy to shell out big fat money on sofa repair, I’d suggest you treat your sofa gently and refrain yourself and others from throwing themselves on it or worse, jumping on it.
- Keep the Heat at Bay
Who would have thought couches get hot too? Dark colors and wool fabrics can absorb tremendous amounts of heat when left outside in the sun. This can lead to discoloration and severe damage to the fabric.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep your couch out of the sun if possible and choose a lighter color upholstery like gray as it will deflect most of the light.
If you are planning to buy a new couch, look for materials like polyester fiber or cotton as they don’t absorb too much heat and are easy to clean too. Speaking of cleaning –
- Vacuum Regularly
All those cookie crumbs, pizza sauce, coffee, wine spills, dust, and pet hair won’t go away by themselves, you know? That’s why vacuuming the couch every week is a must if you want it to last for years. Same goes for each and every piece of upholstered furniture in the house. Deep clean them at least once a week even if you can’t see any dust or dirt. Increase the frequency of cleaning if you have children or a furry pet in the house.
Vacuuming prevents dirt from seeping into the fiber and thus, making your couch look old and shabby. Use the crevice tool attachment of your vacuum cleaner to knock out the dirt and debris and invest in a quality lint roller to remove pet fur.
Vacuum each and every cushion separately. Be extra careful with corners and seams as the dirt can settle there easily. Pay attention to the suction strength when vacuuming delicate fabrics.
- Cover It Up
Ideally, you should avoid eating or drinking on the couch to avoid mess but let’s face it, we are all going to ignore this precious piece of advice anyway. But what we can do is throw a cover or at the very least, a blanket on the couch to protect the upholstery.
I’d also advise using a fabric protector spray to prevent dirt and spills from embedding in fibers.
- Stop Fabric Pilling
Sooner or later, you are going to notice fuzz balls on the couch. Thankful, fabric pilling is easy to treat. A cheap fabric defuzzer tool will do the trick. Removing those annoying pilling with a handheld device takes just a couple of minutes.
If you’re thinking of reupholstering your sofa, choose natural fabrics like cotton, hemp, silk as they are less likely to pill than man-made fabrics like polyester and rayon.
In Conclusion
Buying a couch is a big investment and therefore, it’s important to take care of it from time to time to prolong its life. I hope the tips mentioned above help you revive your old sofa, bring back its showroom shine, and make it last for years.
