As much as we all try to avoid them, spills and stains are sometimes unavoidable in the hubbub of daily life. Whether there’s a pet to blame, small children running around or even just eating in front of the TV, stains on furniture happen all the time. We know the struggle, which is why we’ve put together a guide on how to clean fabric sofa material without making the problem even worse!
With a variety of off the shelf solutions, home remedies and more, learning how to clean a fabric sofa is achievable for anyone - however naturally inclined you are to cleaning solutions!
How to Clean Fabric Sofa At Home
The first thing that’s important to know when it comes to cleaning sofa fabric is not to panic - making quick, rash decisions can actually be the first mistake when it comes to restoring your sofa to its former glory. Although it might seem like the natural solution, uninformed scrubbing can actually make sure your stain is set in the sofa forever more, so read on to find out the best way to clean a fabric sofa at home:
Read the manufacturer instructions or label. The best first step you can take towards cleaning your sofa is by reading what the experts have to say - the company who made your sofa! Often, there will be specific instructions as to how you should clean your sofa, whether that’s online or on the label. Normally there will be directions to say whether you should use a specialist cleaner, water, a vacuum cleaner or other cleaning methods; don’t stray from these instructions!
If you don’t require a specialist cleaner, make your own solution. It might sound scary to have to make your own cleaning solution, but we promise this is super easy. Simply mix 2 cups of warm distilled water, (to avoid unwanted residue left behind,) 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. You can optionally add 1 teaspoon of baking soda for extra cleaning power!
Test the solution on an unseen area of your sofa. Although it should be fine, it’s always important to test any solution on an area of your sofa you can’t see, to check if there’s any adverse reactions or additional staining left behind.
Using a microfibre cloth, apply solution to the affected area. Blot the solution onto the stained sofa, avoiding rubbing too hard as this can damage the sofa fabric - doing more harm than good.
Leave for about 10 minutes, or until dry. Use a brand new microfibre cloth to wipe away any remaining residue from the sofa. For particularly tough stains, you may need to repeat the procedure to see if multiple applications can help lift the stain.
In the worst case, consider reupholstery. If you’ve covered all the bases when it comes to cleaning your fabric sofa, it might be time for a reupholstery project. Calculate how much fabric you need, and buy the appropriate amount before undertaking the project yourself or getting an expert in to help!
