How to keep your sofa looking as new - the best 12 tips for sofa cleaning and maintenance

Many things in our homes make us feel comfortable, and upholstered furniture is one. Most of us spend a lot of time and energy looking for the most comfortable sofa, ottomans, armchairs, and other soft furnishings. The selection is challenging because they have to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Unlike other objects in our homes that don’t require specific maintenance, your sofa needs particular cleaning methods and products for cleaning. Additionally, there are plenty of things to do and not do to make it look its best. Professionals like those at Sil All Services Northampton can come for deep cleaning services such as end of tenancy cleaning, spring cleaning, one-off cleans, after builders cleaning, spring cleaning, move-in/out cleaning, etc. Upholstery cleaning is on their checklists with all of these services.

We recommend you take good care of your sofa to keep it looking as new for the longest time. From weekly vacuuming to regular professional cleaning, there are so many ways to have a lovely looking sofa for many years.

Read also: 10 Surprising tips for cleaning your sofa

1. Revive the colours with a brush

If your sofa seems to look a bit dull, don’t think you should throw it away. Sometimes, it’s the deeply set dirt in your sofa why the fabric looks flat and unattractive. Use a brush to dust off its surface. This way, you will loosen the threads and extract more dirt than usual when vacuuming. When you're done, the sofa/upholstered furniture will have fresher and brighter colours than before.

2. Vacuum it weekly

You need to vacuum your sofa the same way you do your carpets. Vacuuming it will remove debris, dirt, and crumbs that otherwise would set deeply into the fibres. You should remove the cushions and vacuum underneath them and around the frame. Use the upholstery attachment to clean the cushions as well.

3. Don’t expose it to pollutants

Everyday dirt and grime aren’t the only threats to your upholstered furniture. Indoor pollutants such as kitchen grease and cigarette smoke can also settle into the sofa. Install a hood over the cooking range to stop some of the oil and smoke. Try to smoke outside the house so that your sofa doesn’t wear out long before its time.

4. Use salt for the grease stains

A grease stain can ruin a sofa, but manage the issue the moment has occurred. When your sofa has an oily stain, you should soak the grease with some salt. Cover the stain with kitchen paper so that you remove excessive oil. Apply plenty of salt right onto the stain and let it sit for half an hour. Continue with vacuuming the sofa. The salt will absorb most of the grease, but you will still have to use the right stain removal product to clean the fabric.

5. Get rid of smells with baking soda

Baking soda is a fantastic ingredient to have in the house. Among many abilities, baking soda can also make unpleasant smells go away. Spread a generous amount of baking soda onto your sofa/upholstered furniture and let it work for 30 minutes. Vacuum it out afterwards. Keep this trick in mind because it also works with carpets and clothes.

6. Clean it from pet hair

Pet hair removal is a difficult task, especially when you don’t use the proper tools. If your furry friend has short and thick fur, cleaning your sofa will be a burden. Use paper tape to pull out as much pet hair as possible. You can wrap a piece of tape around your palm, with the sticky side out. Tap the sofa carefully. You can also use the trick to clean the sofa from grit and crumbles.

7. Don’t sit in the same spot every time

We’re creatures of habit, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if we like to sit on the same spot on the couch. However, sitting like this can cause uneven wear on your sofa. The upholstered piece could look saggy and worn on one end and pretty well on the other. You should alternate the spots for even wear. Sit on the left side one day, then on the right or in the middle. You have to distribute the weight over the whole sofa to reduce the risk of premature wearing in one area.

8. Fluff up the seats and cushions

It’s expected that furniture cushions begin losing their shape after some time. We lean on the sofa daily, so it’s natural for it to lose its initial shape. To prevent this effect, you can gather all the removable cushions of the furniture and fluff them. It's an excellent way to avoid the flattening of the filling and the stretching of the fabric. Flip the removable parts to prevent deformation and irregular wear.

9. Don’t sit on the armrests

Armrests are made for you to rest the arms and not the entire body. Since they cannot withstand the whole weight of the body, you mustn't ruin your sofa's shape by resting your body on the armrests.

10.  Don’t sleep on it

The sofa is made for sitting and not sleeping. When you lay on your sofa for a long time, you cause sagging and premature wear. It's OK to nap on your sofa, but don't sleep there every night.

11.  Cover it with a machine washable throw

If you have pets, you should never leave the house thinking that they will stay off the couch. Nine times out of ten, your pets will find a nice and cosy spot right on the sofa. We recommend you cover the sofa with a machine washable throw so that you protect it from stains and pet hair.

12.  Place it away from direct sunlight

When sitting under direct sunlight, the colours of the fabric will start to fade and look older than they should. Make sure not to place your sofa under direct sunlight. If you don’t have options, you should protect it with sun-blocking window blinds or curtains. Otherwise, your sofa will lose its bright colours a lot sooner than expected.

Call the professionals

Sil All Services Northampton is one of the most reliable companies to hire for deep-cleaning services like end of tenancy cleaning, spring cleaning, after builders cleaning, after party cleaning, etc. We clean upholstery and leave it brighter and cleaner than ever before, no matter the type and fabric are made of. Call us for further information and a quote for the cleaning job of your choice.