Learning how to clean a sofa may seem a simple task but be careful! There are different cleaning techniques and factors that must be taken into account to achieve a good result and extend the life of your sofa without causing any damage.
The sofa is one of the places where we spend most of our time and although sometimes, at first appearance it seems clean, it is not! Sofas harbor a lot of dust, dirt, and germs, apart from the possible stains that may suffer from time to time, such as pee or pet hair, coffee, wine, chewing gum, and ink … Therefore, in this post, we will provide you with 5 tips to learn how to clean a sofa.
1. What material is your sofa made of? The key to a successful cleaning!
Knowing what material your sofa is made of is essential to be able to proceed to proper cleaning, if you have ever worked with us you will know that it is one of the first questions we ask!
Why is it important? Depending on the material it is made of, the technique used will be different since, for example, cotton sofas absorb much more than leather sofas which are more impermeable. If we make a mistake and use the same method and products for different materials and/or stains, we could damage the sofa. To find out what material your home or office sofa is made of, you can look at the manufacturer’s specifications or consult with a professional if you are unsure.
Most common sofa materials:
- Leather Sofas
- Cotton Sofas
- Polyester Sofas
- Acrylic Sofas
- Linen Sofas
- Velvet Sofas
- Woolen Sofas
Each has its cleaning method, and all have its pros and cons, but based on our more than 46 years of experience, we recommend special caution with wool and velvet sofas, as it is more difficult not to cause any irreversible damage if you don’t know how to clean a sofa.
2. Sofa manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations
Apart from making sure what material your sofa is made of, it is always recommendable to look at each manufacturer’s instructions and see if there are any special notes before you start cleaning your sofa at home or office.
If you can’t find the manufacturer’s specifications, you can look at the sofa’s tags, which usually have certain instructions on how to clean it.
What do the cleaning codes on the label of your sofa mean:
- W: You can use water to clean your sofa.
- S: Do not use water, you will need a special solvent-based cleaner.
- WS or WR: You can use either water or a special solvent-based cleaner.
- X: Vacuum only.
3. Identify stains and clean your sofa as soon as possible
If it is a general cleaning it will be easier to clean and get a good and fast result, if there is a specific stain on your sofa it is important to know that the speed with which you act is crucial. This is because in most cases if we do not act quickly the stain can remain permanently in the fabrics of your sofa.
Even so, be careful, and before using any product, test it on a hidden part of the sofa to see what the reaction is and if it is effective on your material and with the corresponding stain.
Use a Protector for your Sofa
Prevent stains and the accumulation of germs, dust, and dirt using a protector. Plus, you’ll make your regular cleanings easier by only having to wash the protector in the washing machine. If you smoke or have pets, the use of a sofa cover is especially recommended since your sofa will suffer from more dirt and will be exposed to a higher risk of being stained.
4. Clean your sofa frequently
Take care of your sofa as you take care of the rest of your home or office! Vacuum your sofa at least once a week and do it thoroughly by covering all the gaps, lifting the seats, and vacuuming the cushions.
After vacuuming, we recommend using a brush to remove any hair and lint that may remain on your sofa. Once everything is vacuumed, remove all the washable fabrics from your sofa and put them in the washing machine for deeper cleaning.
5. Hire the help of a professional cleaner for your sofa
Once a year it is recommended to give your sofa a professional cleaning where the best techniques, products, and equipment will be used to help revitalize your sofa and save your time.
If you would like us to help you revitalize your sofa, don’t hesitate to ask us for a free, no-obligation quote here! And if you want to know all the tips and tricks about this industry, go now and check out our social media profiles (Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin) where you will find more content related to upholstery, area rugs, carpet and tile & grout cleaning.
Before and After Aero Carpet Cleaning
At Aero Carpet Services LTD we have over 46 years of experience in Greater Vancouver and the Lower Mainland and we proudly offer quality carpet, upholstery, and rug cleaning.