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If you’re an average American, you may spend a few hours on your living room sofa daily. And no judgment here! But knowing how to clean a couch should be somewhere on your to-do list, given how much of your time at home is passed lounging on one. After all, a stained, soiled, or generally unclean sofa is harder to truly unwind on—and it’s a lot tougher for your interior space to look its best with a dingy seating centerpiece.
We’re here to help you with expert tips on how to clean a couch, including actionable steps on couch cleaning for all different types of couch material. Whether you have a leather couch, a microfiber couch, or some other fabrication, we have upholstery cleaning advice, deep-clean ideas, and step-by-step cleaning instructions. With just a little bit of effort, that sofa of yours will be good as new—so you can stop worrying about if those cushion covers look run down and get back to worrying about what will happen during the next episode of Call the Midwife.
How to clean a couch
Before we get into the step-by-step instructions for both spot cleaning and deep cleaning couches with the most common couch upholstery types, take a moment to review some general need-to-know sofa cleaning info.
“Always start by vacuuming your couch first,” says Alicia Sokolowski, founder and CEO of AspenClean. Just about all the experts consulted for this piece urge you not to skip this crucial step—with one important exception to the vacuum-first approach: Leather couches. Ryan Knoll, owner of Phoenix-based company Tidy Casa, says that “the best way to clean a leather couch is by starting off with dusting it. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the surface of the leather to remove any dust or debris.”
What kind of couch requires the least cleaning maintenance?
If you’re not the biggest fan of cleaning in general, factor that in as you consider the type of couch you’ll purchase next. “Microfiber will honestly be one of the easiest materials to clean,” says Milly McEwan, product and design manager at RJ Living. Fabric couches can be the hardest to clean, McEwan adds, as they sometimes require deep cleaning approaches, like a steam cleaner.
What does the label on my couch mean?
Sokolowski notes that you should pay attention to your couch’s label, which typically offers some handy info on how to clean your specific kind of couch. She explains that the letter W on your label means you should use water-based cleaners, [while] S indicates you should use solvent-based cleaners. WS means both solvent- and water-based cleaners will work for your sofa.
How to clean a leather couch
Proper cleaning of a leather couch also involves proper conditioning of the leather from time to time. Thus, included in our list of leather cleaning supplies will be a leather conditioner, which should be simple to find in stores or on Amazon. (Important note: We are not talking about suede couches when we say “leather couch” here—these cleaning instructions could be a disaster for suede, in fact.)
Leather couch cleaning materials
Leather couch cleaning process
“Leather couches are like fancy friends who like to stay polished but hate getting wet,” says Forrest Webber, founder of Bear Brothers Cleaning. The faster you can get a liquid off your leather couch using a dry cloth or paper towel, the better. But assuming you’re going after more established stains, follow these steps.
Step one: Grab the vacuum cleaner
“Start by vacuuming with a soft brush attachment to get rid of crumbs,” says Webber. Once you have crumbs, pet hair, dust, and other dry bits removed from all the crevices, you can go after the stains.
Step two: Spot clean stains with mild dish soap and water
Lightly dampen a clean, lint-free cloth. Then apply a couple of drops of dish soap to the wet fabric. Then, working in small circles, wipe at the stain moving from one end to the other.
Step three: Try a leather cleaner
If the dish soap did not lift the stain effectively, you may need to try a dedicated leather cleaning product, using the same cleaning approach as outlined above.
Step four: Treat ink stains with rubbing alcohol
For stubborn stains, such as pen marks, you can try to lift them out using just a bit of isopropyl alcohol. You may need to apply it with a cotton swab instead of a rag.
Step five: Apply leather conditioner
Once the leather is cleaned and has been allowed to dry, gently apply leather conditioner all over the couch, closely following the directions as outlined on the product packaging.
How to clean a fabric couch
When we say “fabric couches,” we’re referring to a variety of different fabrics, and they are often a blend of several different materials. Common materials for fabric sofa upholstery include polyester, cotton, nylon, and linen, with poly-cotton blends. Most of these sofas can be cleaned by following the same approach—though note that all-synthetic fabric couches may be more sensitive to heat, so take care with the steam cleaning. To be certain that the fabric responds as expected, make sure to spot test any cleaning method on a small area of the sofa (do so on an inconspicuous part; that hidden area won’t mind either way).
Fabric couch cleaning materials
Fabric couch cleaning process
Step one: Vacuum
Webber advises you begin by vacuuming the cushions, removing them (if possible) and vacuuming all sides as well as the couch frame, arms, and everywhere else.
Step two: Try vinegar first
Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and spot clean stained areas, blotting at them gently. “Blot, don’t scrub—unless you want that stain to spread out,” Webber warns.
Step three: Use dish soap or carpet cleaner
If the vinegar is proving to be too mild to lift any stains, you can apply a bit of dish soap to a damp cloth and blot with that, or try a carpet cleaner to spot clean the fabric couch.
Step four: Apply baking soda
Sprinkling a generous layer of baking soda over stubborn stains and then wetting it with a spray bottle can help lift out stubborn stains, just let it air dry and then vacuum it up.
Step five: Steam clean
You can use a steamer, the same as you would use on wrinkled clothing, to break up some stains on this variety of sofa. Follow up with detergent or a white vinegar solution.
And of course, go ahead and remove the couch cushion covers and machine wash them if the tags on your sofa indicate that they are indeed machine washable. If your washing machine can’t clean things up, it may be time to consider replacing the fabric or sofa (or living with the stain). If you’re struggling with a stubborn stain but concerned about damaging the sofa’s fabric, you can always consider dry cleaning the covers, which ensures better results than DIY cleaning (albeit at a cost).
How to clean a microfiber couch
“Microfiber is often water-sensitive, and too much water can stain or ruin a microfiber couch,” says Dionne Livingstone, cleaning expert with Home Spritz. The good news is that microfiber couches are pretty good at shedding liquids and resisting stains, especially if you dab their cause up right away. Assuming it’s too late for that kind of swift action, read on for our tips on how to clean up your microfiber sofa.
Microfiber couch cleaning materials
- Clean microfiber cloth
- Rubbing alcohol
- Mild detergent
- Upholstery wipes
Microfiber couch cleaning process
Step one: Vacuum the couch
Run a vacuum over the cushions. Then use the vacuum’s brush or narrow attachment to get down into the crevices of the sofa.
Step two: Use a lint roller
Use a lint roller (or packing tape) to pick up any stubborn pet hair, crumbs, or other debris.
Step three: Use a diluted detergent and hot water
“Use warm water and a mild soap mixture,” says Livingstone, adding that you should “never soak stains with water directly,; rather, use a damp microfiber rag to gently wipe and clean soiled areas.”
Step four: Apply rubbing alcohol to tough stains
Dab rubbing alcohol onto tough stains on microfiber couches.
Couch cleaning tips 101
After spot treating and deep cleaning your soda, consider this general couch maintenance info to keep your couch clean.
Resist the urge to attack a stain
Even though it may feel natural to put in some elbow grease and scrub, doing so may just push that staining substance further into the fabric, all but sealing it into the couch. And even if you get the stain out, rubbing too hard may also damage the couch upholstery’s texture, leaving a different kind of unappealing mark. “No matter what the material, the more you push it into the layers, the harder it is to lift it off,” says Mallory Micetich of Angi. “Patting, laying [a cloth] on it, and letting it absorb naturally are all ways to help ensure that it’s not going to sink in and affect as many layers as possible.”
Dry it as fast as possible
“Your immediate goal, if you’re trying to do a quick fix for an immediate stain that just happened: Think dry,” Micetich explains. “You want to get up as much of that substance as possible, whether that’s with a dry washcloth, a dry towel, or a dry paper towel.”
Consider whether to sanitize
Life happens on the couch, but not every memory should leave a lasting imprint. While many staining substances don’t have a strong odor, others—like milk—linger long after you’ve handled any potential discoloration or markings. And while not all bodily fluids leave a visible stain, it’s critical from a health standpoint to eradicate them from high-touch areas. While there are different strategies and commercial products available for disinfecting furniture, one fairly easy, low-chemical way to do so is simply by using hot steam.
“I think steam-cleaning is a great sanitizer,” Micetich says, adding that it’s a “sometimes more gentle method that works with a lot of types of couches.” Ideally, however, she suggests purchasing couches where the cushion covers can be unzipped and immediately tossed in the washing machine for a disinfecting cycle. Also, be careful using products like hydrogen peroxide, which can discolor the fabric.
Think about how to prevent future damage
Some sofas just aren’t suitable for pets or high-traffic, so choose fabrics and colors that are heavy-duty and will hide stains if you know the furniture will be put to the test by your household. If you can’t stand the thought of kicking your kids and canines off the couch, use blankets, towels, or custom covers to protect the furniture both when it’s in use and when you aren’t around to keep an eye out for trouble. Also, if you’re spill-prone, consider a chemical fabric protectant that repels liquids long enough for you to wipe them up before anything sets in.