How to deep clean a fabric couch and remove tricky stains

• Couches should be deep cleaned every season, but vaccumming weekly helps with upkeep.
• Most household stains can be removed if treated immediately.
• Place dryer sheets in between cushion openings to maintain a fresh smell.

Next time you're washing your throw pillows, consider cleaning your couch as well. Not only because of the dirt, sweat, and germs making themselves at home in the cushions, but also for the sake of preserving its upholstery. Regular cleaning will ultimately increase your couch's lifespan by upholding its shape, structure, and original comfort.

Cleaning your couch may seem like a daunting task but cleaning experts Becky Rapinchuk of Clean Mama and Lois Chartrand of American Clean Queen break down the basics so you will be a couch cleaning pro in no time.

What you need

• Vacuum
• Lint roller
• Microfiber cloths
• Steam cleaner (optional but recommended)
• Rubbing alcohol (optional)
• Spray bottle (optional)
• Upholstery brush (optional)

Reading your couch's fabric care label

How to deep clean a fabric couch

Cleaning your couch isn't so intimidating when you know what you're doing. In general, cleaning a fabric couch is relatively straightforward if you follow these steps:

1. Check the care label. Always follow the instructions on the tag to ensure you aren't mistreating your couch in a way that could stain or damage it.
2. Vacuum and lint roll. Depending on the type of fabric you're cleaning, remove crumbs and dirt using the brush attachment on your vacuum. For excessive pet or human hair, use a lint roller.
3. Use a fabric shaver to depill the surface. Though optional, if you notice your furniture is pilling - forming small balls of fluff on the surface - you can depill the fabric to keep the pile and weave looking fresh and clean.
4. Remove and wash pillow and cushion covers. Any removable covers should be removed and washed as instructed on the care label. Hanging them to dry will help prevent shrinkage or misshaping.
5. Treat spills or stains. Be sure to spot test in an inconspicuous part of the couch, especially if you're working with new or homemade solutions. A gentle solution can be made from 2 teaspoons of castile soap and ¼ cup of warm water.
6. Use a cleaning solution. For most fabric couches, 4 to 8 ounces of rubbing alcohol will do, but be sure to check the care label and test in a small area first. Spray the couch in sections and scrub gently with a brush. Repeat this on the entire surface, paying close attention to the arms, inside of the arms, and the backrest. Once completely dry, scrub in circles with a dry brush to re-fluff the fibers.
7. Reassemble your couch. Once the cushion covers and couch fabric are fully dry, it's time to put everything back together.

Note: If you have a steam cleaner, skip step six and proceed with steam cleaning your couch. Full instructions are below.

How to steam clean your couch

After following steps one through five above, you're ready to steam clean. To do so, simply:

1. Prepare your steam cleaner. Read your furniture steam cleaner's manual and fill it with the appropriate amount of water and upholstery cleaning fluid.

2. Plug in your machine and turn it on. Depending on your machine you may need to wait for it to heat up.

3. Clean the cushions first. Once heated, use the handheld piece to steam clean the cushions first by spraying the water and cleaner mixture onto a small section and dragging the hose over a small area at a time to steam and suck up the dirt and dampness.

4. Clean the rest of the couch. Repeat this process over each section of the couch, being sure to steam small sections at a time so no area stays wet for an extended period of time.

5. Allow time for it to dry. This may vary depending on the air circulation in your space but opening windows or blowing a fan can help speed up this process.

Important: Before using a new solution on any furniture material, be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't cause discoloration or damage.

How to spot-treat couch stains

Spills and spots should be treated as soon as possible for the highest chance at preventing long-lasting stains.

For starters, if your couch has cushion and pillow covers, remove them immediately so the liquid doesn't soak through into the insert. Then, absorb as much of the spill from the cover as possible with a dry cloth. If your couch can get wet (again, check the label), you should then "blot [it] with cool water and add a little castile soap if needed," Rapinchuk instructs.

You'll need to follow a different cleaning method, depending on the stain. Here are some of the most common:

• Urine: To remove urine from your couch, gently dab (don't press too hard or you'll spread the stain) a homemade solution of 1 to 2 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of dish soap on the stain. Rinse and repeat as needed until the spot is completely removed. To treat the smell, follow this cleaning process with a spray solution consisting of 1 cup water, ½ cup dish soap, ¾ cup peroxide, and about 20 drops of your preferred essential oil(s) on the area. Finish by patting the spot completely dry with a clean cloth.
• Blood and grease: Treat blood and grease spots by soaking them up with cool water and massaging in a drop of soap. Unless your care instructions tell you not to, try an enzyme stain remover to help break down the proteins and a degreaser such as dish soap for grease stains. If all else fails and the blood and grease have seeped deeply into the couch fabric, try using a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide only on the stained area.
• Food, wine, and coffee: Cleaning up food and wine stains from a couch will require a very similar approach to blood or grease. Blot away the excess food or moisture with a dry cloth then soak up the remaining stain with cool water and a drop of soap. If approved of by the cleaning label, use an acidic stain remover to get stubborn coffee, wine, and food stains out - or, as a last resort, use the same cotton swab and hydrogen peroxide method outlined above.
• Pet hair: From one pet owner to another, Chartrand recommends using a fur-specific vacuum attachment or even a pet fur squeegee to remove pet hair from your furniture. Should neither of these be an option for you, though, a lint roller or even the sticky side of packing tape should do the trick.

How often do you need to clean a couch?

When it comes to deep cleaning your couch, Rapinchuk recommends vacuuming, spot cleaning, and rotating and flipping the cushions seasonally to keep it as fresh as can be. For couches and sofas used daily, you may want to consider two or more times per season.

Chartrand adds that if your couch has removable pillow cushion covers, they can be washed monthly or even every couple of weeks depending on their condition-just check the label to determine whether you need to hand wash, machine wash, or dry clean.

How to maintain your couch between cleanings

While thoroughly deep cleaning your couches seasonally will help them last longer, vacuuming, lint rolling, and/or wiping down your couches weekly will help with upkeep. Unless otherwise instructed on the care label, both Rapinchuk and Chartrand recommend using a steam cleaner on your couches to deep clean and sanitize them. It's worth the investment.

Quick tip: "One of my favorite tips is taking a couple of dryer sheets and adding them inside the couch cushion covers to keep everything smelling fresh," Chartrand says.

Insider's takeaway

Cleaning your couch may seem exhausting at first, but if you read the care label thoroughly, follow the instructions, and spot test any solutions you're unsure about before using, you'll do just fine. The easiest way to take care of your couch is to make upkeep a part of your weekly chores: vacuum it regularly, wash any covers as directed, and treat stains as they pop up (don't wait). This will make those seasonal deep cleans a whole lot easier - and less dreadful. When it comes to those deep cleans, steam cleaners are definitely the key to simplifying the process.

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