Fabric upholstery is a very popular choice for indoor sofas, but it is becoming increasingly popular for garden sofas as well, as certain fabrics are highly resistant to water and sun, especially if they undergo specific treatments.
In fact, the sofa is one of the most important pieces of furniture in a room, whether in the living room or in the garden, and is often the centre of attention. It is therefore important to know how to clean a fabric sofa at home so that it retains its appearance for as long as possible.
Although many people believe that the fabric of a sofa needs to be cleaned by professionals, the truth is that you can do it yourself if you use the right products, even if the sofa does not have removable covers.
In this post, we show you how to clean sofa upholstery at home quickly and easily, from the most basic cleaning to solutions for tough stains.
First of all, let’s see what sofa cleaning products you will need:
Cleaning and removing stains from a fabric sofa does not have to be a difficult task. The first thing you need to do is to remove any cushions, pillows, blankets and other parts of the sofa that bother you when cleaning.
The next step is to vacuum the entire sofa to remove any dust and dirt that has accumulated on the fibres. Vacuum the entire surface of the sofa, including the back; if possible, separate the cushions and seats to vacuum them individually.
If you don’t have a hoover at home, you can start cleaning the sofa upholstery by using a soft-bristled brush to remove the dirt. In fact, even if you vacuum it first, it is a good idea to scrub it with the brush afterwards to remove any debris left behind by the hoover.
From here, the process of how to clean fabric sofas varies depending on whether they have removable covers or not.
If the furniture has removable covers – like all the ones we sell at Home Zentrum – cleaning the fabric sofa will be much easier.
All you have to do is remove the covers and wash them according to the manufacturer’s instructions, usually with cold water and a mild detergent. If the instructions do not specify this, it is best not to use fabric softener and to choose a gentle spin programme.
And here’s an additional tip: if the covers are very dirty or have stains that are difficult to remove, you can apply a mixture of white vinegar and warm water before washing and let it sit for a few minutes. This will help to remove deeper sofa stains, as well as bad odours.
On the other hand, if your sofa does not have removable covers, the options for cleaning it include both specific products and home remedies. The most common are:
If you’re looking for simplicity, there’s nothing like cleaning sofa fabric with water and a mild detergent.This mixture is perfect for light cleaning, with few stains. To do this, do the following:
White vinegar is ideal for removing stains and, as we will see below, also for neutralising odours.
If you want to know how to clean a fabric sofa with white vinegar, follow the steps below:
If you want to use an even stronger mixture, you can add a tablespoon of baking soda before applying it to the sofa.
Although baking soda works wonders when mixed with white vinegar, it can also be used on its own, especially to remove stubborn stains. Now let’s see how to clean a fabric sofa with baking soda, another perfect product to disinfect your sofa:
Finally, let’s see how to clean a sofa with ammonia. Of all the options, this is the most extreme, so use it with caution.
Ammonia is useful for removing stubborn stains, but being an abrasive product it can damage the fabric if not used carefully. To use:
Whenever you use ammonia to clean your sofa, remember to wear gloves and ventilate the room well.
If your question is how to clean a very dirty fabric sofa, which has accumulated stains and dirt for quite some time, you will need a deeper cleaning.
Here are some of the best options you can use:
On the other hand, if you want to know how to clean a smelly sofa, the best solution is to use the well-known mixture of white vinegar and baking soda. Don’t worry about the strong smell of vinegar, as it won’t stay on the sofa.
You know the steps: make the mixture of baking soda, water and white vinegar and spray it all over the sofa, especially those areas with the worst smell. Then let it sit for a few minutes and wipe off the residue with a clean cloth.
Now you know how to clean a fabric sofa, but do you know how often it should be cleaned? Although the frequency of cleaning will depend on how often you use the furniture, here are some general recommendations:
If you still have any doubts about how to clean a sofa thoroughly, or any other question related to your furniture, do not hesitate to contact us. At Home Zentrum we can help you find the best solutions so that your furniture is always perfect.
