Do you want to learn how to deep clean a couch?
The shared surfaces in your living room are some of the dirtiest spots in your home. We’re all aware that items people often touch like knobs and controllers can house bacteria. Yet, we often forget about the places where we often sit.
You won’t always touch your couch with your hands when you use it. However, deep cleaning your couch is still a vital step in sanitizing and cleaning your home. Below are the steps on giving your couch a deep clean.
How to Deep Clean a Couch: Vacuum
The first step to cleaning a couch is to remove all the loose dirt, crumbs, and fur from the upholstery. Take your vacuum and run it over the couch. Don’t forget to clean the crevices where dirt often accumulates.
If they’re detachable, remove the cushions and vacuum both sides. If pet hair remains stuck on the fabric of the couch, use a lint roller to remove them. You can also use a brush attachment of your vacuum to loosen pet hair.
Use a Handheld Steamer
If you have a handheld garment steamer or steam iron, use it on the couch. Go over the whole couch with it. Give the iron or steamer enough time to penetrate the fabric of the couch, but not too much that it damages it.
Doing this will kill the dust mites in the piece of furniture. This step needs to go first before you vacuum the couch. If you don’t have a handheld steamer or iron, you can skip this step.
You can apply baking soda on the couch and let it sit for a while before you disinfect it. For an even deeper clean, you can mix the baking soda with a dry carpet cleaner. Brush and vacuum the baking soda after 20-30 minutes.
Determine the Fabric of the Couch
The next step on how to deep clean a couch is to check the type of fabric. Look for the care tag and check what types of cleaners you can use on it. Also, make sure you also know what dangerous chemicals to avoid when cleaning your home.
The tag may present the letters W, W/S, S, and X. The letter W stands for water-based cleaners. This is the easiest sofa fabric to clean as it allows for more flexible options.
W/S means you can use water-based or solvent-based cleaners on the fabric. If you see an S, only solvent-based chemicals are appropriate for the couch.
An X means you can’t use any chemicals on it. Only brushing or vacuuming is ideal to prevent yourself from damaging the couch.
Disinfect and Apply Bug Spray
Once you know which cleaners to use for your couch, you can pick the proper disinfectants. Use the cleaners that are safe for your couch to wipe it down. Again, if you’re unsure, test a small spot on the fabric first.
You can shampoo the couch using a steam or carpet cleaner. Fill the steam or carpet cleaner with the proper solution. Use it brush back in an even and straight movement that goes with the grain of the couch material.
Do the same with the cushions. Let everything dry before you put it all back together in the living room.
Spray Pest Killers
An optional step is to apply bug spray. This step is best applied if you bought a couch second-hand and are cleaning it before you bring it in the house. This way, you ensure that you don’t have tiny and unwanted guests moving into your home.
Get an all-purpose bug spray and apply it to all the nooks and crannies of the sofa. General bug sprays can kill bedbugs, fleas, ticks, and mites. If you have a pet, make sure that the bug spray you get is one that won’t harm it.
When cleaning a sofa and applying bug spray, leave it outside in a ventilated area. Wait at least 24 hours before you bring it back into your home.
Wipe Down the Wood or Metal Parts
The next step is to wipe the non-fabric areas down. You can use a solution of warm water and liquid dish soap to clean it. You can also use disinfectant wipes or spray to sanitize the feet of the sofa.
If the non-fabric parts are wooden, make sure the disinfectants you use don’t have bleach. This chemical can damage the wood and other non-fabric parts. If you’re unsure, do a small spot test with the disinfectant before you use it on the rest of the sofa’s non-fabric parts.
Things to Consider When Deep Cleaning a Couch
The average lifespan of a sofa or couch bought today is between 7 and 15 years. It can still endure many deep-cleaning sessions and thousands of sitting hours. However, the case is different if your couch is second-hand.
If you bought a used couch, ask the seller how long ago they bought it brand new. This way, you know how many more years it can last with you. If the seller got the couch used, you’re looking at a third-hand couch and should reconsider buying it at all.
How Often Should You Clean a Couch?
Even though you only sit on your living room couch, it still needs frequent cleaning. By frequent, we mean that deep cleaning your couch 1-2 times a year is best. No matter how well you ensure that nothing gets spilled onto your couch, deep cleaning is still a must.
If you want to be extra safe, deep clean and remove stains from your couch every 3-4 months. If you do your deep cleaning more often, take extra care with the cleaners and materials you use. Deep cleaning too often can damage the upholstery and cause it to age faster.
Deep Clean Your Couch Correctly
Those are the various steps on how to deep clean a couch. When you clean a couch, working on the visible parts is passable. However, in deep cleaning, you’re ensuring that every crevice and crack gets cleaned as well.
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