We know how important regular cleaning is to maintain order and hygiene in the home.

But when it comes to furniture like the sofa, it's often forgotten or avoided. That's understandable, especially if you're unsure what cleaning products or appliances to use without damaging your sofa.

Fear not, though—cleaning the sofa isn't as difficult as it seems! We’re sharing with you some tips provided by a furniture expert.

Pip Grinter, Product Development Manager at the furniture brand Eva, answered some questions homeowners have about cleaning the sofa:

How often should a sofa be cleaned?

Pip's top advice was to run an upholstery-safe vacuum over the surface of your sofa every couple of weeks. That should be enough to pick up dirt, dust and pet hair.

Pip Grinter recommends homeowners vacuum their sofas every few weeks. Credit: Gustavo Fring/Pexels

But if you think your sofa needs extra help, you should deep clean it every 6-12 months.

This is especially important if a spillage has occurred or your sofa has stains—if you don't act quickly and blot it away immediately, that stain could be there to stay!

What products and supplies do I need for cleaning my couch?

It'll depend on what type of fabric your couch is made of, according to Pip. First, check the care label—this will tell you what kind of cleaning products you can (and can't!) use with it.

What should I do for weekly cleaning maintenance?

Although some sofas may require a specialised cleaner or detergent, for upholstery made from synthetic materials like Eva's Everyday Sofa, you can keep it clean with a regular vacuum.

Due to synthetic fibres' tendency to build up static, Pip suggested running a dryer sheet or spraying a static guard mixture (2 tablespoons fabric softener and 2 cups of water) onto the sofa daily.

Again, spills must be cleaned immediately with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.

What mistakes do people often make when cleaning the sofa?

Using too much soap or water, scrubbing too hard, and not testing products beforehand are mistakes Pip has seen people make.

Too much soapy water can lead to shrinkage, discolouration, and residue buildup, while scrubbing too hard can cause premature wear and tear.

Neglecting to test products is another common mistake, as this could lead to discolouration if the chemicals prove too harsh on the sofa’s material. To avoid this, Pip recommended homeowners test a new cleaning product on a hidden piece of fabric before applying it on the whole couch.

What else should I know about couch deep cleaning?

For sofas that require more than just a vacuum, or if the fabric isn't machine washable, you'll probably need to steam clean or dry clean it.

To steam clean a fabric, you can either do it yourself using a cleaning machine or hire a professional cleaner.

But if you have a removable cover, you can remove it and pop it in the washing machine for an easy, deep clean.

What do we need to know about upholstery cleaning appliances?

Upholstery cleaning appliances can be helpful for homeowners who don’t have a lot of time, and for those who have allergies or want to remove stubborn stains.

However, these appliances come at a cost, would require storage space, and would not be suitable for all fabric types. Pip recommended enlisting the service of a professional cleaner instead.

What's the verdict on that pot lid sofa cleaning trick?

A video of a woman demonstrating how to clean a sofa using a pot lid became viral on social media.

Pip said it could be a safe method to clean the sofa as long as you're gentle with it, but recommended using a damp microfibre cloth soaked in plain water or, if necessary, a mild detergent.

You can watch the video here:

​

Again, read your care label and conduct a patch test before trying this out!

So there you have it—now you know how easy it is to clean your sofa without the hassle.

If all else fails, you could always try calling a professional cleaner.

Key Takeaways

• Sofas should be given a surface clean with an upholstery-safe vacuum every few weeks and a deep clean every six to twelve months.
  
• A weekly maintenance clean for synthetic material sofas should involve regular vacuuming and the use of a static guard mixture to avoid dust or lint attaching to the fabric.
  
• Common mistakes people make when cleaning their sofas are using too much soap and water, scrubbing too hard, and not testing new cleaning products before application.
  
• Upholstery cleaning appliances can be helpful, yet not necessary for routine maintenance—
  and may not be suitable for all fabric types, suggesting it might be advantageous to seek a professional cleaner for deep cleaning.
  

Do you find these tips useful, members? Do you have other tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[SGH]

My sofas get done when my carpets are done, I don't understand that people miss cleaning their sofas and mattresses etc. They dust don't they, other items in the home require cleaning too. My pet love/hate cleaning job is our books and trinkets, although some are behind glass they still require cleaning, even if my husband says they don't.

 

[Jennie W]

We know how important regular cleaning is to maintain order and hygiene in the home.

But when it comes to furniture like the sofa, it's often forgotten or avoided. That's understandable, especially if you're unsure what cleaning products or appliances to use without damaging your sofa.

Fear not, though—cleaning the sofa isn't as difficult as it seems! We’re sharing with you some tips provided by a furniture expert.

Pip Grinter, Product Development Manager at the furniture brand Eva, answered some questions homeowners have about cleaning the sofa:

How often should a sofa be cleaned?

Pip's top advice was to run an upholstery-safe vacuum over the surface of your sofa every couple of weeks. That should be enough to pick up dirt, dust and pet hair.

View attachment 30579

Pip Grinter recommends homeowners vacuum their sofas every few weeks. Credit: Gustavo Fring/Pexels

But if you think your sofa needs extra help, you should deep clean it every 6-12 months.

This is especially important if a spillage has occurred or your sofa has stains—if you don't act quickly and blot it away immediately, that stain could be there to stay!

What products and supplies do I need for cleaning my couch?

It'll depend on what type of fabric your couch is made of, according to Pip. First, check the care label—this will tell you what kind of cleaning products you can (and can't!) use with it.

What should I do for weekly cleaning maintenance?

Although some sofas may require a specialised cleaner or detergent, for upholstery made from synthetic materials like Eva's Everyday Sofa, you can keep it clean with a regular vacuum.

Due to synthetic fibres' tendency to build up static, Pip suggested running a dryer sheet or spraying a static guard mixture (2 tablespoons fabric softener and 2 cups of water) onto the sofa daily.

Again, spills must be cleaned immediately with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.

What mistakes do people often make when cleaning the sofa?

Using too much soap or water, scrubbing too hard, and not testing products beforehand are mistakes Pip has seen people make.

Too much soapy water can lead to shrinkage, discolouration, and residue buildup, while scrubbing too hard can cause premature wear and tear.

Neglecting to test products is another common mistake, as this could lead to discolouration if the chemicals prove too harsh on the sofa’s material. To avoid this, Pip recommended homeowners test a new cleaning product on a hidden piece of fabric before applying it on the whole couch.

What else should I know about couch deep cleaning?

For sofas that require more than just a vacuum, or if the fabric isn't machine washable, you'll probably need to steam clean or dry clean it.

To steam clean a fabric, you can either do it yourself using a cleaning machine or hire a professional cleaner.

But if you have a removable cover, you can remove it and pop it in the washing machine for an easy, deep clean.

What do we need to know about upholstery cleaning appliances?

Upholstery cleaning appliances can be helpful for homeowners who don’t have a lot of time, and for those who have allergies or want to remove stubborn stains.

However, these appliances come at a cost, would require storage space, and would not be suitable for all fabric types. Pip recommended enlisting the service of a professional cleaner instead.

What's the verdict on that pot lid sofa cleaning trick?

A video of a woman demonstrating how to clean a sofa using a pot lid became viral on social media.

Pip said it could be a safe method to clean the sofa as long as you're gentle with it, but recommended using a damp microfibre cloth soaked in plain water or, if necessary, a mild detergent.

You can watch the video here:

​

Again, read your care label and conduct a patch test before trying this out!

So there you have it—now you know how easy it is to clean your sofa without the hassle.

If all else fails, you could always try calling a professional cleaner.

Key Takeaways

• Sofas should be given a surface clean with an upholstery-safe vacuum every few weeks and a deep clean every six to twelve months.
• A weekly maintenance clean for synthetic material sofas should involve regular vacuuming and the use of a static guard mixture to avoid dust or lint attaching to the fabric.
• Common mistakes people make when cleaning their sofas are using too much soap and water, scrubbing too hard, and not testing new cleaning products before application.
• Upholstery cleaning appliances can be helpful, yet not necessary for routine maintenance—
  and may not be suitable for all fabric types, suggesting it might be advantageous to seek a professional cleaner for deep cleaning.

Do you find these tips useful, members? Do you have other tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!

I have a leather sofa set. Does anyone have a solution to cleaning leather suites. What is a good leather cleaner.