Today I show you how to clean a non-removable fabric sofa easily.
Unless you protect your sofa with a plastic cover, your sofa fabric will get dirty very quickly.
It could be food stains, pet hair, or just dust.
So how do you clean and deodorize your fabric sofa if it's not removable?
Don't worry, it's a lot easier than you think!
Here is the foolproof method to clean your fabric sofa effortlessly . Watch:
- microfiber cleaning cloths
- hard bristle brush
- baking soda
- vacuum cleaner fitted with its special brush attachment for fabrics and sofa coverings
1. Use the stiff bristle brush to brush and loosen crumbs, dust and other residue from fabric fibers.
2. Sprinkle your sofa with baking soda and leave for 20 to 30 minutes. For an even deeper clean, you can mix baking soda with a dry carpet cleaner.
3. Use the special sofa brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to suck up all the baking soda (or the baking soda + dry cleaner mixture).
Still have a few stubborn stains left on your sofa?
Prepare the following mixture:
- 200 ml hot water
- 50 ml of white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of washing-up liquid
For synthetic fabrics (nylon, polyester, acrylic), use the following mix:
- 250 ml hot water
- 125 ml of white vinegar
- half a tablespoon of washing-up liquid
Mix the above ingredients in a spray bottle and spray it on the stains.
Then, sponge lightly with a clean cloth.
Before you even start cleaning your sofa fabric, you need to know how clean it.
Look under the cushions from the sofa and there you will find a label with the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.
Very often you will find codes on the labels. Here's what they mean.
-W: sofa upholstery can be cleaned with water
-WS: clean with special detergent and portable steam cleaner
-X: clean only by vacuum cleaner, do not use water
-S: clean only with special detergent, do not use water
And be careful: do not skip this step , because the washing instructions are super important!
Failure to follow washing instructions may void warranty. Or worse, ruin your sofa fabric.
For example, cleaning a sofa fabric with water may seem harmless.
But if you use water on a fabric that can only be cleaned with a special detergent, you are going to have a very unpleasant surprise.
Believe it or not, water can also leave stains and streaks on certain types of fabric.
When it comes to cleaning a fabric sofa, it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the labels.
They know what is best suited for your couch.
And remember to look carefully at both sides of the label !
Often, one side of the label gives instructions for cleaning the sofa cover, and the other for washing the cushions.
So be sure to check the correct side of the label before cleaning anything.
Experts advise to do regular cleaning and maintenance of sofas, namely once a week .
Why so often?
In the long term, this will limit wear and damage caused by spills and spilled drinks.
But rest assured, maintaining and cleaning your sofa regularly isn't difficult, and it's pretty quick.
To prolong the life of your sofa, just follow these 3 easy tips:
1. Run a brush over the fabric . This will loosen dirt and residue from the fibers of the fabric. Use a dry brush with hard (but still soft) bristles, such as those used for dry-brushing or dry brush.
2. Vacuum. Place the brush nozzle specially designed for fabrics and sofa coverings. Vacuum the residue, dust and other encrusted dirt that you could not remove in the previous step.
3. Flip the cushions. If your sofa has reversible cushions, turn them over to limit fabric wear.
For an even deeper clean , you can also use a portable steam cleaner on your couch.
But again, look at the cleaning instructions on your sofa label.
It is very important to check that this cleaning method will not damage the fabric.
If you have a sofa marked "W" or "WS", you can use a steam cleaner on your sofa.
Steam cleaners are safe to use on most sofa upholsteries except suede.
But even if the "W" and "WS" sofas are able to withstand water, they do not always withstand heat .
So you can try it on the back of the sofa or on the back of a cushion.
It is also advisable to choose a sunny day to steam clean your sofa.
This way you can open the windows and ventilate the room, in order to dry the fabric faster.
Take the following steps to steam clean your fabric sofa:
1. Vacuum. Again, use the brush attachment for sofa fabrics. Vacuum all the fabrics of the sofa to dislodge caked-on residue and dirt. Don't forget to vacuum the bottom and sides of the cushions.
2. Fill the steam cleaner tray. Generally, steam cleaners work with water and a cleaner suitable for the type of fabric on your sofa. It is best to refer to the manufacturer's instructions, supplied with the steam cleaner.
3. Clean the sofa with the steam cleaner. Start cleaning from one corner of the sofa. Then progress slowly to give the steam time to act. Proceed with straight, even movements. Follow the grain of your sofa's fabric, if that's the case.
4. Wait for complete drying of your sofa before putting the cushions back.
Your cushions are removable and the label indicates that the covers are machine washable ?
This is by far the easiest way to clean your couch cushions.
If your cushions are not removable, you can dislodge residue and dirt encrusted in the fibers with a carpet swatter.
To beat the cushions of your sofa, get outside .
And ideally, wait for a sunny day to do it. In fact, sunlight allows the fabric to be disinfected naturally.
