The Ultimate Guide To Cleaning Fabric And Leather Sofas

Your sofa is the regular spot for family movie nights, your laid-back work-from-home office, and a place to put your feet up after a long day at work. So, you want it to always be a cozy, comfortable, and clean place to relax. With so much use, crumbs, lollies, and hairs inevitably get trapped between cushions, not to mention accidental juice spills or ink stains from sitting on your pen.

While an occasional vacuum removes surface dirt, a deep clean every six months will eliminate lingering pet smells and surface marks and extend the life of your much-loved furniture. With these steps in mind, regardless of your sofa or armchair’s material, a preliminary vacuum is a great place to start, especially if you’ve noticed a build-up of unidentifiable crumbs. Next, check if your sofa is labelled with an upholstery cleaning code.

• W – The easiest to clean. Water-based cleaners are safe to use.
• W/S – Either water- or solvent-based cleaners are safe.
• S – Only use solvent-based cleaning chemicals.
• X – Do nothing more than vacuum or brush the fabric. You may consider calling in a professional cleaner

Fabric couches

1. How to clean a fabric sofa with a steam cleaner — Let the steam just touch the fabric to kill dust mites. If you don’t have a steamer or steam iron, skip this and go straight to step two.

2. Add your upholstery attachment to lift hair and stubborn dirt with your vacuum. Prepare your sofa by removing the cushion covers and cleaning the fabric underneath. Get into all the creases, over zips, and into material folds where crumbs could hide.

3. Find a hidden spot on your sofa to test any cleaning product before starting your deep clean. This ensures you can use it with confidence that there will be no color loss or further staining.

4. Mix half a bowl of warm water with 3 tbsp of white vinegar and 1 tbsp of mild dish cleaning liquid for an easy fabric cleaner for sofas. If cleaning a small stain, dampen a clean cloth and lightly dab the area. Wipe again with a fresh cloth and allow it to air dry.

5. For cleaning large surfaces of your modular, combine one cup of warm water, half a cup of white vinegar, and 1 tbsp of dish soap to make a sofa cleaner spray. Shake well and spray from a 30cm distance. Wipe the surface down with a clean cloth. If your store-bought fabric cleaner for sofas passed the hidden spot test, simply use the same method as above. Just make sure to check the upholstery cleaning code first!

6. Allow it to air dry. The vinegary smell of your sofa cleaner spray will vanish as the material dries, leaving you with a fresh lounge set.

Leather couches

1. Wipe with a microfiber cloth to remove dirt.

2. Vacuum (if you haven’t already completed this step)..

3. The best leather cleaners for sofas come from the kitchen cupboard. Mix a 50/50 vinegar and water solution in a bowl or reach for your store-bought cleaning product.

4. Using a microfiber cloth and your chosen cleaning product, start rubbing the leather in a circular motion. You’ll start to see the stain lifting off. Rinse and repeat until the stain is removed. Never soak the leather — the best leather cleaners for sofas just need a damp cloth and a bit of patience to do the job.

5. Leave to air dry.

Maintaining your newly cleaned sofa

Now your sofa is looking good as new, you’ll want to keep it that way (at least until the kids decide on popcorn for movie night again!) Here are some ongoing care tips:

1. A lint roller is handy for removing pet hair and crumbs when you don’t have time for a full vacuum.

2. Keep your furry friends off the couch. Give them a fluffy, irresistible place to sit next to you instead.

3. Decorate your sofa bed or futon with a blanket. It will be close by if your friends decide to sleep on the couch.

4. Place your sofa in a shady spot. Avoid direct sunlight from windows as this will fade the material faster.

5. Be quick with spills. Try to apply these cleaning tips as soon as you see a mark appear to avoid it becoming a stubborn stain.

6. Invest in a freshening sofa cleaner spray for pet smells. A light sprinkle of baking powder also does the trick to not just mask smells but lift them from the fabric.