To clean one’s custom sofa at home feels like a real nightmare of a job. It can eat your entire Sunday, but it is still a job that you must do. However, you can make this job easier if you know effective ways to clean sofas at home. Lucky for you, we are here with some effective ways to help you answer the question, ‘’how to clean your sofa’’. We will tell you in detail about the sofa types, the cleaning techniques for all of them and how to prevent future mishaps for them. So, stay with us, and your Sunday cleaning might just become easier.
Know Your Sofa Type
The cleaning process is only as good if you know what your sofa upholstery material is. Custom Sofas in Abu Dhabi come in a variety of upholstery materials, and each one has its own specific cleaning method. In general, most homeowners choose their sofa upholstery to be of these 4 types:
- Fabrics such as linen, microfiber, and cotton
- Leather Or Faux Leather
- Velvet
- Suede
Every sofa upholstery material comes with its individual care and maintenance instructions. These instructions are generally on the side, in the form of a small label or tag. Please check them before starting to clean your sofas at home.
Key Preparations Before Sofa Cleaning
Certain cleaning preparations are required before the deep cleaning of the sofa, regardless of the upholstery. The steps to this general cleaning are as follows.
Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment. You can use it to remove any dirt, dust, or debris trapped within the furniture upholstery fabric. Be sure to vacuum the sofa seams, crevices, and the underside of cushions.
Before you start the cleaning, it is always better to remove the sofa cushions if they are removable. This will allow you to do a deeper and more thorough cleaning of the cushions on either side.
Take note of the sofa fabric tag on the underside of the cushion. The label has cleaning codes for any fabric type.
- W: It’s for water-based solutions.
- S: It’s for solvent-based cleaners.
- WS: It’s for both water & solvent cleaners.
- X: No need for cleaners; only vacuum cleaning
How to Clean your Sofas Of Different Types
Now you know what is the type of sofa upholstery and how each of them has its own cleaning instructions. With this out of the way, let’s start with the actual cleaning process.
1. Cleaning Techniques For Fabric Sofas
Fabric upholstery for sofas is the most common among homeowners, and it is also very easy to clean at home. There are 3 techniques for it, which are as follows:
Spot Cleaning For Fabric Sofa
- Fabric custom sofas are the most susceptible to the stains but the spot cleaning is the simplest and most effective method for cleaning it.
- Take a dish soap solution and add in 2 cups of lukewarm water.
- Take a clean cloth, dip it in this solution, and blot the stain on the sofa. Do not rub, or the stain will spread, instead, work your way inwards the stain.
- Use a dry cloth to blot away excess moisture and let the sofa air dry.
Deep Cleaning for Fabric Sofa
(i). Use a water-based stain cleaner for the sofa upholstery that is suitable for your fabric sofa. (ii). Another method is to steam clean the sofa. However, use this method only if it is on the care tag or label. Steam cleaning will sanitize your sofa fabric and remove any deeply etched dirt.
Baking Soda For Fabric Sofa Cleaning
Baking soda has strong anti-odor properties, especially in the case of fabric upholstery of sofas. Sprinkle some baking soda on the affected area in case of a lingering smell from a stain or spill. Let the powder sit there for 20 minutes, and use the vacuum cleaner to remove it.
2. Cleaning Techniques For Leather Sofas
Leather sofas are generally much harder to care for than any other sofa upholstery material. It is really essential to do the leather sofa cleaning periodically to keep its texture and appeal well-maintained. There are two steps to leather sofa upholstery cleaning and maintenance, which are as follows.
Step 1: Cleaning Leather
Start by vacuuming the sofa upholstery to remove any visible dust and debris.
Take a clean cloth and dip it in water. Use this damp cloth to wipe the entire sofa surface but do not over soak it. Excessive water causes damage to the leather.
Use a good-quality leather cleaner or a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Use either of these cleaners to clean the leather gently by wiping the entire surface.
Step 2: Conditioning Leather
This is a must-do step after cleaning the leather every time. Conditioning the leather helps it remain soft and reduces the risk of cracking. After you clean the custom sofa, follow these steps.
Take a leather conditioner and gently rub it with a soft microfiber all over the leather upholstery in circular motions.
Let this conditioner be absorbed by the leather for the night. Following that, buff the sofa leather upholstery with a clean dry cloth.
Leather cleaning and conditioning are highly recommended once every 4 months.
3. Cleaning Techniques For Velvet Sofas
Velvet sofa upholstery exudes luxury and sophisticated elegance, making it a perfect addition to any living space. This is how you can clean your velvet upholstery, and it also has two general cleaning steps.
Step 1: Cleaning the Velvet Fabric
Use the vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment. This will help remove any lingering debris and dust. Do not stress while vacuuming, or the velvet fibers will be crushed.
Take dish soap and mix it in water. Dab a clean cloth in it and do a spot cleaning of the stained area. Use a clean, dry cloth to remove any excess moisture.
For a deeper cleaning of the upholstery, use the steamer on low heat settings. Remember to hold the steamer a few inches above the fabric to prevent oversoaking.
Step 2: Brush The Velvet Pile
If you wish to maintain the signature look of velvet, we recommend using a soft-bristle brush. This will help lift the pile once you have done the steam cleaning.
4. Cleaning Techniques For Suede Sofas
Suede is a luxury fabric for custom sofa upholstery, and as such, it is sensitive when related to its cleaning.
Take a vacuum with the soft brush attachment for the removal of dust and debris.
There are some suede-only cleaners to remove stains from it. Rub the cleaner on the affected parts in a circular motion.
There are specialized suede brushes that are helpful in restoring this material’s natural texture.
How To Prevent Future Sofa Stains?
These are some of the preventive measures for sofa stains.
(i). Use the slipcovers to prevent the custom sofa from staining and spilling damage by pets and kids.
(ii). Use the sofa protector spray to form a barrier against spills and stains.
(iii). Try to stop anyone from eating and drinking on sofas to limit the risk of spills and stains.
Conclusion
If you have the right knowledge on how to clean your sofas at home, you can keep it fresh and comfortable for a long time. Identify your custom sofa upholstery type, look at the right cleaning instructions from the #1 home improvement services provider, and utilize our effective cleaning techniques.
