Clean your Couch
Freshen up seating, ready for winter snuggling and festive guests
1 CLEAN OFF SURFACE DIRT Start by removing throws and cushions and checking down the sides and back for any loose change, sweetie wrappers and so on. For fabric sofas, fix the upholstery attachment to your vacuum cleaner. Use the brush attachment on leather upholstery to avoid scratching it. Slowly suck up all the crumbs and dirt that have accumulated on the surface, using a slow sweeping movement. Switch over to the crevice tool to get anything from the edges your fingers couldn’t reach, as well as cleaning the seams. Repeat on the cushions.
2 CHECK THE LABEL If your upholstery still has its label or a sticker attached to the underside, check it first before using any cleaning products. W means you can only use a water-based cleaner. S or P means it can only be cleaned with solvents (dry-clean only). SW or WS means that you can use either a water-based detergent or solvent cleaner. A steam cleaner will be fine to use, too. Finally, X means that you can’t use any water or detergent on the surface – get it professionally cleaned instead.
3 SPOT CLEAN STAINS White vinegar is a great natural stain remover for most types of upholstery. Start by blotting the stain with an equal parts water and vinegar solution, then wipe the stain away gently using a microfibre cloth (only use a new cloth or make sure it’s completely clean). Follow this up with a mixture of mild detergent and tepid water to remove any lingering vinegar smell. Leave it to dry naturally. As a rule, you should always tackle stains as soon as they happen.
4 REMOVE ANY NASTY WHIFFS From the dog’s secret naps on the sofa to Nan puffing away on her ciggies, your upholstery may look good on the outside, but it could still be harbouring a host of odours. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda all over the surface and leave it overnight to let the powder absorb the smells. Vacuum it all off in the morning.
USING a NEW UPHOLSTERY CLEANER? ALWAYS SPOT TEST a HIDDEN area OF THE FURNITURE FIRST BEFORE USING IT ON SOMEWHERE VISIBLE