How To Clean Your Sofa

A comfy sofa suite is a staple of homes and businesses across the nation. Whether you’re settling down to watch some quality television, cuddling up with a furry pet, or stretching out for a quick nap on a sleepy Saturday afternoon, sofas are the default piece of furniture for many. Unfortunately, with such fixtures seeing heavy use over the course of a typical week, these soft settees will quickly become caked in dirt and grime.

One of the worst nightmares for sofas are crumbs and spillages, which seem to have an unfortunate habit of finding their way onto the material during a meal in front of the TV or a relaxing late-night glass of wine. There’s also the ever-present concern of dust and dirt, which will gradually accumulate on your furniture and create a layer of dirt that can be difficult to fully lift off.

Regardless, whether your sofa lives in a business premises or a household, a filthy sofa gives off a terrible impression to guests and clients, and may very well impact your own comfort and mental health. Even if you try to hide the dirt with cushions and blankets, people will soon take notice. As a result, tending to your sofa regularly is vital to keeping it clean and presentable – a surface level clean every two to three weeks is ideal, and a deep clean every four to six weeks will keep your sofa in the best possible condition.

In Vanguard’s latest cleaning blog, we’ll examine the most useful ways to clean your sofa. We’ll explore how to deal with a range of different settees and suites, making sure to get rid of problematic stains or marks that could impact how people perceive your home or business. Finally, we’ll outline how Vanguard Cleaning can bring an enhanced level of hygiene to your premises, and ensure a powerful perception inside and out.

5 Curious Facts About Sofa Cleanliness Across The UK

• Over half of UK residents clean their sofa less than once a month.
• One in ten respondents admitted to never cleaning their sofa.
• Three-quarters of homes had stained sofas, but some hid the marks with cushions or blankets.
• The most common spillages include tea (20%), coffee (20%), chocolate (13%), and wine (12%).
• More concerning substances found on sofas include mould (2%), urine (2%), and even faeces (1%).

What Products Should I Use When Cleaning My Sofa?

Before your start cleaning your sofa, you must first figure out what type of cleaning products are the most suitable for your upholstery. Manufacturers will typically label their products with one of several cleaning codes – W, S, WS, or X.

The cleaning code your product is labelled with will ultimately determine the necessary products and methods required to keep your sofa clean:

W (Wet) – This label indicates that only water and water-based solutions, such as soap or washing up liquid, should be used on this material. Harsh chemicals need to be avoided as much as possible, as these substances will only serve to damage the material and decrease the furniture’s lifespan. Over-use of water also needs to be avoided – aim to blot with a damp cloth instead of rubbing with a sopping wet one.

S (Solvent) – This label indicates that only solvent-based cleaner products should be used on this material. These solvents should be water-free and specifically designed as a cleaning product – key examples include rubbing alcohol and dry-cleaning solvent. Most natural textiles such as linen, cotton, silk, and wool come with an S cleaning code.

WS (Wet & Solvent) – This label indicates that the material can be cleaned with both water-based and dry solvent-based products. Accordingly, the best products to use include upholstery shampoo, gentle detergents, and some dry-cleaning solvents. Again, make sure not to over-use water when cleaning, as this will only seep into the fabric and damage it.

X (Vacuum) – This label indicates that neither wet nor dry solvent-based products can be used on this material. Only vacuuming or brushing can be employed to clean these fabrics, as using a specialist product will deal too much damage. Should your upholstery become stained and require more serious cleaning, you may need to bring the item to a nearby dry cleaners.

What Methods Should I Use To Clean My Sofa?

Now that you’ve established what you can and can’t use for your cleaning, the time has come to put your products to use. Remove any cushions, blankets, or sofa covers, and prepare your suite to be cleaned.

• Begin by lightly brushing away any surface-level dust or dirt on your sofa. This will catch most of the loose particle and hairs, especially useful if you have a pet that sheds. However, make sure to keep pressure to a minimum as you brush, because raking the bristles across the fabric could cause significant damage to your upholstery.
• Then, break out the vacuum and start running the nozzle over your sofa in strips. This will help pick up any crumbs, hairs, or other small bits that the brush might have missed.
• If you own a steam cleaner, now is the perfect time to put the device to use. Beforehand, always check your sofa’s cleaning code to make sure it can be cleaned with water. If unsure, test the steam cleaner on a small part of the upholstery to determine if any damage will be done. From there, work your way across the entire sofa, dislodging any grime and ensuring the next few steps go far more smoothly.
• If you want to target a particular stain on your sofa, sprinkle some baking soda over the affected area. Wait for ten to fifteen minutes for the baking soda to complete its work, then gently blot the stain away – do not scrub vigorously, as this could push the stain further into the material. For our full article on how baking soda can assist with cleaning, click here.
• Apply a suitable cleaning product to your sofa. This is where the cleaning code of the product becomes so important – wet or dry products could make or break your cleaning method depending on product specification. If you’re using a specialist cleaning product, the packaging will often instruct you on how to apply the substance. If using water or water-based solutions, remember not to overdo it – the aim is to dampen, not to flood. As always, test your cleaning product on a small section of the sofa before expanding out – this prevents further damage from occurring should something go wrong.
• The penultimate step to cleaning your sofa is to let the furniture dry in its entirety. This is essential, as a damp sofa will begin to smell and could provide the perfect conditions for mould to grow, which would risk permanent damage to the upholstery. To prevent this, gently dry the surface by dabbing it with a towel or a dry cloth – if needed, you could also increase ventilation by opening nearby windows or turning on a room fan. Avoid allowing anyone to sit on the sofa or placing anything on top, as this could lengthen the time taken to fully dry.
• Finally, give your sofa one final vacuum to remove any lingering bits and pieces, and your sofa clean will be complete.

How To Clean Different Types Of Sofas

While the general step-by-step method will remain the same no matter which sofa you own, it’s only natural that different sofas will require different modifications to your process (especially with step 5, applying a suitable cleaning product).

Cloth Sofas

For cloth sofas, sprinkle baking soda across the entire surface, and wait for the powder to set in and work its magic. If a more rigorous clean is required, combine 1 tbsp of warm water with 1tbsp dishwashing liquid, 1 tbsp white vinegar, and 1 tbsp baking soda in a spray bottle, and use this solution in tandem with a cloth to gently dab and rub away stains.

Fabric Sofas

For fabric sofas like wool, always check the cleaning code and spot test before committing to the clean. In most cases, dampening a microfibre cloth and running it across the sofa in a circular motion will help to pick up the vast majority of the dust and dirt.

Leather Sofas

For leather sofas, mild cleaning solutions such as dish soap & water or white vinegar & water can prove surprisingly effective. Pour your chosen solution into a spray bottle, and lightly spray it over the surface. A microfibre cloth can then be used to rub the solution in, again, in a circular motion. Use a dry towel to dab and dry the sofa afterwards.

Microfibre Sofas

For microfibre sofas, spray some rubbing alcohol over the surface, and scrub with a light-coloured sponge to prevent any colours rubbing off on your sofa. With any luck, the material will dry quickly due to the alcohol evaporating quickly.

Silk Sofas

For silk sofas, take extra care to check the cleaning code on the product, as silk is easily damaged. What usually works is mixing 1 tbsp mild laundry detergent in a bowl with some cold water. Then, wet a cloth in the solution and use it to dab at any stains or marks, making sure not to drench the material, which may result in discolouration.

Suede Sofas

For suede sofas, avoid using water as much as possible, as this could damage the material. Instead, use a product designed specifically to clean suede (or distilled white vinegar). Apply your chosen product to the surface, making sure to dab any stains carefully. Should the area get too damp, use a hair dryer to quickly evaporate any moisture.

Velvet Sofas

For velvet sofas, some special attention will be needed. For any liquid spillages, soak up as much moisture as possible with paper towels. Following this, add some dishwasher detergent to warm water and very gently dab the stain, making sure not to rub the affected area. Steam cleaners also work well, and can even remove creases or wrinkles from the sofa.

How Vanguard Can Enhance The Presentation Of Your Premises

Sofas and settees are hardly the only feature of your premises that needs careful and constant attention. Floors, carpets, desks, chairs, meeting rooms, receptions, and kitchens are just some of the areas that can quickly collect grime, and for visitors and potential clients, a messy interior will imply a messy business. This is no doubt off-putting for important business partners, possibly prompting them to look elsewhere. Therefore, an investment in the cleanliness of your premises is an investment in the overall success of your business.

Vanguard offers the ideal solution, being established as an expert cleaning provider across the UK with well over two decades of experience and expertise. Our training procedures are industry-leading, being accredited by the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), giving each of our cleaning operatives the skills and techniques needed to clean a wide array of areas, including sofas and various furniture and fixtures. In each case, we tailor our services extensively to craft a suitable cleaning schedule for your office or corporate premises.

To learn more about how we can provide exceptional cleaning solutions for your site, reach out to our expert team for a quick, FREE quote.