Many of us will spend a great deal of our “downtime” relaxing in our living rooms. After a long, hard day at work, most of us gravitate towards the sofa in order to put our feet up. Whether they’re recliners, corner units, or modular couches, it doesn’t matter, we just require a comfy space to sink our bodies into. So, it should come as no surprise to learn that because of regular, everyday use, sofas are one of the only items of furniture that need regular cleaning and maintenance. Of course, this is heavily dependent on the material in question, but nonetheless, dirt and grime will build up over time regardless of how careful you are in its presence. In this EZ Living Furniture blog, we’ll outline the simple ways to freshen up your couch. Keep reading below to learn it all!
1. Establish The Material Type
This is a very important step and one that should not be missed. Knowing what material your sofa is upholstered in is the first step in effectively cleaning it. Skipping this step can mean that you end up damaging the fabric of your sofa either by removing the colour from it or even worse, ripping it. The best way to learn what material your sofa has is by referring to the manual that comes with your item. This manufacturer booklet will identify what material you have and oftentimes, there will also be a care guide included with tips on how to look after it from day to day and some even list ways to tackle stains.
2. Vacuum Your Sofa
Every sofa requires regular vacuuming. Even if you are one of those strange individuals who doesn’t eat snacks on their sofa in the evening, a combination of dirt and dust will still gather and likely come from a build-up of dead skin cells and hair. When vacuuming any sofa, remember to use the brush attachment as this will be less abrasive on your sofa’s material. If your particular couch has detachable seat cushions, don’t forget to remove them and hoover underneath them as this is where most of your everyday dirt and grime will gather. If you have fixed back and seat cushions, this will obviously be harder to clean, but you should still be able to get down into the grooves using a narrow vacuum attachment.
P.S. Don’t forget to hoover your armchairs too!
It’s also worth mentioning that this step specifically relates to fabric upholstered sofas. Genuine leather sofas require their own unique cleaning techniques and because it’s made from skin, it can be delicate in nature. While you can vacuum a leather sofa using the brush attachment, it’s not really necessary as dust tends to sit on top of its surface, and this can be easily wiped off using a leather cleaning wipe.
3. Use Care Kits Whenever Possible
We know, we know, you’ve just purchased your brand new sofa and you’ve likely spent a fortune in the process. You might have even had to sell a vital organ just to be able to afford that electric reclining feature. So, we’re sure the last thing you’ll want to do is spend even more on a sofa care kit, but we promise you it’s absolutely necessary and you must purchase this together with your new sofa.
A typical fabric care kit, like the one we have here from Guardsman, features a fabric cleaner, fabric deodoriser, and fabric stain remover. Any issues you might encounter from daily wear and tear on your sofa can be easily rectified using this kit and clear instructions are also included to help you use the products to the best of their ability.
EZ TIP:As previously mentioned, genuine leather requires a unique cleaning/care technique. In place of the step above, invest in a leather cleaning kit to maintain the appearance of your leather sofas, armchairs, footstools, and dining chairs.
4. Avoid Home Remedies
A lot of research online will tell you to use things like baking soda to deodorise your sofas and while this particular tip might be safe and gentle on many sofa types, other cleaning tips might not be, and they could end up doing more harm than good. This is why we suggest sticking with fabric and leather care kits.
Now that you have all of the necessary information needed to look after your sofa from day to day, there’s no stopping you from keeping your seating looking its best. You should also expect to hear comments such as “How do you keep your sofa so clean?” or “I wish my sofa was as clean as yours” from your visitors very shortly.
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