The sofa in your living space is bliss when you seek comfort in your daily life. Your sofa sees it all. Whether you’re with family or binge-watching shows, it captures your happy moments. Also, your sofa often falls victim to spills and other accidents. As a result, regular sofa cleaning is a must, especially when the furniture gets a ton of use. The challenge might be that you perhaps don’t know how to clean your sofa the right way.
Thankfully, this guide shares how you can clean a sofa without much hassle and in the right way. While professional sofa cleaning services are usually necessary, you can also try cleaning it yourself.
Just a couple of considerations and the right approach matter for cleaning your sofa like a pro.
Identify Washing Codes from Labels
Are you ready to dive into sofa cleaning? Don’t forget to check out care label codes for your sofa. The specific label reveals how to clean your sofa and with what materials or cleaners. According to cleaning services in Dubai, here’s what you should know.
- A ‘W’ on the care label means that the sofa is comparatively easier to clean. Indeed, you can use water-based cleaners on it.
- If it says ‘W/S,’ then you can use water- or solvent-based sofa cleaners.
- An ‘S’ on the care label means you need solvent-based chemicals to clean your sofa.
- An X on the sofa care label means to use only a vacuum with a brush attachment.
After decoding the care label, it’s important to identify the type of couch, such as:
- Fabric or microfibre
- Leather
- Something else
Without this, you should not proceed with how to clean your sofa.
How to Clean Your Sofa: Fabric and Microfibre
Whatever type of sofa you own, you must test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area of the sofa. Thus, the damage is not visible. Also, you can make sure that the cleaning solution and technique are safe for your couch.
Now, let’s check out a fabric or microfiber sofa-cleaning process.
Vacuum Your Sofa
Does your sofa have an upholstery attachment or not? Regardless of that, you can vacuum your sofa all over with a specialized brush attachment. If the cushions have removable upholstery, you can take them off. Then, use the vacuum cleaner to clean underneath.
Use the crevice tool strategically to go deeper into your sofa. Ensure you go along the seams and trims of your sofa, along with any buttons around.
Give Your Sofa a Steaming
If you own a handheld garment steamer or iron, then you are lucky. You can use the equipment all over your sofa to penetrate the fabric and kill dust mites. Steaming makes removing dirt and dust easier in the next steps. But you can skip steaming if you don’t have the right equipment.
Try Spot Treatment
Check your sofa’s upholstery type and care label. Then, choose the right cleaner. The right type of cleaner will help you loosen dirt and remove stains from your couch.
But don’t pour the cleaner directly onto the sofa. Instead, here’s what sofa cleaning services recommend:
- Apply the sofa-cleaning chemical to a cloth.
- Then, use the damp cloth to blot the stain carefully.
- Ensure you work from the outside and move towards the inside slowly.
- After the stain is removed, consider dabbing the area with another damp cloth. This will rinse the stain completely.
- Blot the upholstery dry.
If it’s an S fabric, follow the instructions mentioned on the solvent-based cleaner you use.
Sanitise the Sofa
After sofa cleaning and drying, you can spray a suitable fabric sanitizer. Thus, your sofa will be free from bacteria and lingering odors.
How to Clean a Leather Sofa
Handling your privileged leather sofa might seem out of your league. However, it’s quite easy if your leather sofa has no tough stains. How do you clean your sofa if it has a leather finish? Here’s what you need to learn about leather sofa cleaning.
Wipe the Fabric
First, get a microfiber cloth and use it all over the sofa fabric to rid it of dirt and food crumbs. A nice wipe-down at the beginning will help you prepare the sofa for further cleaning.
Vacuum Your Leather Couch
Cleaning services in Dubai recommend vacuuming the leather sofa with a crevice tool. Make sure you don’t leave any part unattended.
Test the Leather Cleaner
Before you use the purchased leather sofa cleaner on your precious couch, test it on a smaller area. Use a soft cloth and dampen it with the solution. Then, wipe the sofa. Sofa cleaning services recommend a mild soap solution as an alternative.
Remove the Cleaner Off the Sofa
Use another damp cloth to rinse the cleaner you applied to the sofa. If required, repeat rinsing the arms and headrests many times.
Condition the Leather Sofa
Applying a protectant to leather couches maintains their shine and elegance. It also safeguards furniture from stubborn stains in the future. So, invest in a compatible protectant and condition the sofa.
Get Rid of Odours Out of Your Sofa
Often, sofa cleaning is not the only solution. No matter how high-end the cleaners you use are, if you don’t remove the stinky odor from your sofa, it’s still a mess. Here are some tips from sofa cleaning services in Dubai to remove bad smells from your couch.
Strip Cushion Covers
If your sofa smells musty, remove your cushion covers. Then, hang them in fresh air. Also, you can do the same with throw pillows. You can wash the cushions and their covers in the machine for a deep clean.
Neutralise Lingering Odour with Air Freshener
Even if you have identified and resolved the source of the smell, the odor can still linger. The smell can be strong if it’s caused by an animal. Use a fabric or laundry spray and spritz it over the sofa.
Also, you can make an air freshener in the following ways.
- Pour distilled water into a spray bottle.
- Then, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the same bottle.
- Also, you can add fresh lemon juice or a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
- To show antibacterial properties, add drops of rubbing alcohol to the solution.
Try with Baking Soda
Has your pet peed on your sofa? If you’ve cleaned the stained area but the smell lingers, try using baking soda. It can help absorb the bad odor. Here’s what you can do to deodorize your couch after sofa cleaning.
- Sprinkle baking soda in moderation over your sofa. You can concentrate on the problem area, sofa cushions, or whatever feels right to you.
- Allow the baking soda to sit for a while.
- Next, vacuum up the area.
Before you apply baking soda to your sofa, double-check your furniture’s upholstery. Baking soda might not be an ideal option for a couch with a higher pile, like velvet.
Use a Steam Cleaner
Steam cleaning helps remove odors. This is due to its antibacterial properties. So, use a steam cleaner on your sofa with a compatible upholstery attachment. But consider vacuuming your couch before giving it a steam clean.
Hire Sofa Cleaning Services!
Are you not sure about care labels or fabric types? Then, renowned sofa cleaning services in Dubai are your best bet. Professional cleaners know how to clean your sofa without causing damage. Additionally, their advanced techniques restore the shine and aesthetics.
