If you wonder how to clean your sofa and remove stains from the upholstery, this article is precisely what you are looking for.

Stains can penetrate deep into upholstered furniture and get into the fibres. You don’t even see the dirt, but it’s probably there, so keeping it clean is very important. However, no one says cleaning sofas and chairs should be complex and challenging.

If your upholstered furniture has removable upholstery, it will be much easier to clean it – check the label on how to treat the fabric.

Cleaning sofas and chairs with removable upholstery

If your sofas and chairs have covers that you can change, cleaning the upholstery will be easy: wash them in the washing machine or dry-clean them according to the instructions on the label.

Using a mild detergent, you can usually wash the removable upholstery directly in the washing machine. And if there is more stubborn dirt on the upholstery of your sofas and chairs, you can also use a stain remover before or during washing.

However, check the label with the recommendations for washing – you may need to give the upholstery dry cleaning not to damage the fabric.

Critical steps in cleaning sofas and chairs

1) When cleaning the upholstery of sofas and chairs, use only a little water so as not to soak your upholstered furniture.
2) Remember that you must first test the approach to cleaning an inconspicuous part of the sofas or chairs.
3) Baby wipes are a quick solution for absorbing spilt liquids and removing fresh stains without containing too much water.
4) Allow sofas or chairs you have already cleaned to dry on their own whenever possible.

Cleaning sofas and chairs with non-removable upholstery

If you cannot remove the upholstery, you may need a suitable upholstery cleaner and some easy methods to clean stains and dirt. Here’s how to clean upholstery at home quickly and efficiently so you have time for more enjoyable activities.

Cleaning sofas and chairs is relatively easy, but some crucial rules exist.

Before using any products to clean the upholstery of sofas or chairs, clean your upholstered furniture with a vacuum cleaner to remove the maximum amount of surface dirt, dust or possibly larger particles such as crumbs or other debris. Make sure you use the right tip to prevent damage to the material of your sofas or chairs. For this purpose, a soft brush is an ideal solution.

Local cleaning of stains from sofas and chairs

Use baby wipes or a sturdy microfibre cloth soaked in vinegar. Try cleaning visible stains by rubbing the fabric with light pressure. Be sure to test all upholstery cleaners in an invisible place to avoid irreparable damage to your sofas or chairs.

Complete cleaning of sofas and chairs

Gently scrub your sofas or chairs using soapy water and a microfibre cloth. Allow the moisture to soak into the fabric and rub the dirt on the surface. Use a small amount of water, because otherwise your sofas and chairs will get wet and mould, mildew and rotten smell may appear.

Drying of sofas and chairs

Some people use a hairdryer to dry their sofas and chairs after cleaning them. But the better option is to let them dry on their own, open the windows, and let the wind help you.

Cleaning of leather sofas and chairs

If your sofas and chairs are made of leather, you will need to use a different approach to cleaning them.
If possible, do not use water, as it can leave blemishes on the leather. It is best to use a steam cleaner.
Try cleaning leather sofas and chairs with cleaning products containing oils and waxes, such as glycerin soaps. These products clean and, at the same time, moisturise leather upholstered furniture, preventing it from drying out and cracking and from retaining stains and dust.

Daily cleaning and maintenance of sofas and chairs

Good maintenance of sofas and chairs means that serious cleaning of your upholstered furniture will be necessary less often. Below we will tell you how to protect upholstered furniture from dust and dirt.
Clean surface stains as quickly as possible. New stains always come out easier. Regular cleaning of sofas will reduce your time for intensive and deep cleaning, with a lot of rubbing.

Once a week, you should vacuum your sofas, so that dust and dirt are kept to a minimum, which will prevent dirt from penetrating deeper into the fabric with constant use of the upholstered furniture.
It will be helpful to put the covers on while they are slightly damp to dry according to the shape of the sofas and chairs. Cleaning upholstered furniture is relatively straightforward: it can be quick and easy. You will find that you have sofas and chairs shining with purity and freshness with a little effort.

Useful advice

Upholstered sofas and armchairs are essential for comfort and integral interior design elements in our homes. Knowing how to take care of them properly to look aesthetically pleasing and attractive throughout their lives is good.

The simplest solutions are the most effective when we need the means to remove stains from upholstered furniture. In this case, the same methods we use for clothes work, but it is important to be careful. Do not use strong substances such as solvents, stain removers or bleaches, as they may damage or discolour the fabric.

If you want to find out more useful tips on how to clean your curtains and caprets, read here!