clean your upholstery
Revive your sofa and get it looking great again in time for Christmas
Spruce up your sofa, ready for guests
TO GET RID OF PET HAIR ON YOUR SOFA, WEAR A DAMPENED RUBBER GLOVE AND RUB YOUR HAND OVER THE SURFACE
1 GET THE VACUUM OUT
Using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum, give the sofa a thorough going over, starting on the seat and back cushions, then concentrating on the arms, sides and base where crumbs and fluff accumulate – switch to the nozzle attachment so you can get into crevices at the back and edges. If it’s a leather sofa, use the softer brush attachment.
2 CHECK THE LABEL
Before using cleaning products on upholstery, check if it still has its care label attached. W means you can use a water-based cleaner; S or P means no water, use solvents or dry-clean; SW or WS means you can use either a water-based or solvent cleaner or a steam cleaner; X means you shouldn’t use water or detergent as it may damage the fabric – get it professionally cleaned instead.
3 SPOT CLEAN STAINS
Before tackling stains, spot test on a hidden area first to make sure it doesn’t discolour fabric. Try a solution of two cups of warm water with a tablespoon each of washing up liquid and white vinegar. Use a white cloth and blot the area without rubbing, working from the outside in until the stain has gone. Use a fresh cloth and warm water to blot the area afterwards to remove traces of soap.
4 BANISH NASTY NIFFS
Rid the fabric of stale smells or lingering pet odours by sprinkling the sofa with bicarbonate of soda or dry carpet cleaner and leaving it for a couple of hours, or overnight if possible, before vacuuming it off. It will absorb any bad odours and leave the sofa smelling fresh.
5 TRY A STEAM CLEAN
For a deep, all-over clean, try a steam cleaner. High-temperature steam will loosen and dissolve surface dirt and brighten the fabric’s colours, as well as deodorising and sanitising the sofa without using any harsh chemicals. Vacuum first and leave the sofa to air-dry for a couple of hours afterwards.