A clean couch makes a comfortable home
Carpet and Upholstery
Old and worn or new, a clean couch makes your home happy.
As holidays approach and weather changes, you may be spending more time inside. Guests, children, pets, and even you (gasp!) may leave crumbs or a little debris on your furniture.
Whether you have a few crumbs or the toughest of stains, cleaning your couch can brighten up your home.
Everyone loves to be a couch potato from time to time. It's much more fun and rewarding when your couch is clean. Follow these simple couch cleaning tips, so you can enjoy a nice cup of tea, piece of pie and a movie.
Do you have a good vacuum?
Couch Cleaning tips
1. Remove all blankets and pillows, and shake them outside. Throw blankets in the washing machine. Gently ask your pets to relax elsewhere while you clean the couch.
2. Vacuum: Use a hand vacuum or brush or furniture attachment on your vacuum. Vacuum all cushions and pillows. If the cushions can be removed, vacuum both sides and all 4 edges. If the couch can be flipped up on its side, vacuum the bottom.
Make sure to get in all of the crevices to remove crumbs and debris.
Make your cleaning solution from soap and water
Sturdy Dust Cloth
3. Get out your mop bucket, and fill it with a gallon of warm water. Add a small amount of full strength Instant Liquid Soap. Dilute instructions are below
4. With a linen (or any tightly woven fabric) dust cloth, submerge it in your mop bucket soap solution and squeeze it out so it's damp. Wipe down all wood and metal parts of the furniture. No need to rinse this solution off, since it will evaporate. Make sure your dust cloth is barely damp.
Note: do not add vinegar to this solution. It will separate the soap into small, goopy particles and neutralize any cleaning properties.
You'll be surprised at the dust and debris
Clean Your Dust Cloth
5. Remove any dust and debris from your linen cloth in your mop bucket, and squeeze out again.
Wipe down the upholstery fabric. If there are any stains, the best carpet and upholstery cleaner ,is the Instant Liquid Soap, diluted to the 2 gallon ratio, (dilute 1 bag of Instant Liquid soap to 2 gallons - read the instructions by clicking this link.) in a spray bottle. Spray the soap directly on the stains, gently scrub, and let it sit for a minute or so, while you wipe down the rest of the couch with the soap solution in your mop bucket.
6. If the soap in the mop bucket gets too dirty and cloudy, dump it in your toilet (minus any large particles that you will throw in your compost, recycling, garbage), flush, and make a new soap solution in your bucket.
Cats and Dogs leave stains
Melted Candy Stains
7. With clean warm water, and a clean linen cloth, go over the stained area and scrub gently to remove the stain and soap. I have done this on my lovely wool Turkish rugs, to remove cat puke stains. They clean and brighten up beautifully. For leather, lightly oil afterwards by putting a few drops of olive oil or any oil recommended for leather, on a dry dust rag and buffing it in.
8. If your couch tag says use a steam cleaner, use a clothes iron on the steam setting. Slowly hold it 2 inches above the fabric and slowly move it over your couch while it gently steams the fabric.
9. Let the couch air dry before putting the cushions, pillows, and any blankets back on it. If necessary, set up a fan to help dry the fabric.