It’s family movie night on the sofa. You have drinks and snacks, the dog is cuddled up on the couch watching too, and the whole family is having fun. However, what’s not fun is the mess on your couch after movie night is over. You need to demolish those snack stains, get rid of the pet odor, and get your couch presentable again. Use these tips for a clean couch after many family movie nights to come.
Remove Pet Hair
Removing pet hair from a sofa is easier than what some may think. All you need are rubber gloves. Put on the gloves and dampen them with water. Next, run your hands along the surface of the sofa. The gloves will attract the hair and remove it from the couch. Rinse the gloves when they stop collecting hair and repeat until your sofa is hair-free.
Prevent Dirt and Stains
The best way to prevent dirt and stains from getting on a beautiful sofa is by placing an upholstery cover on the cushions. A fashionable blanket will work as well. Place the cover or blanket over the cushion to protect it from accidental spills or food debris that could stain the fabric.
Pre-clean Couch Cushions
Pre-clean your cushions with a vacuum to get rid of loose dirt, dust, and hair. If you do not have a vacuum cleaner you can unzip the cushion cover and shake off the dirt outside.
Cleaning the Cushions
Some covers you can pop right into the washing machine. Read the tag on your cushion cover to see if the fabric allows machine washing or not.
If the tag says machine washing is not allowed, you still have options. Make a solution of dish detergent and water. Dampen a cloth or sponge with your soapy water and rub down the surface of the cushions. Speed up the drying process by placing a fan in front of the cushions. While the cushions are drying, vacuum the part of the couch where the cushions usually are.
NOTE: Do not wash the foam on the cushion. It will become ruined if you wash it in the washer or use water directly on the foam. If cleaning is needed, the best method is to vacuum the foam and let it air out in the sun.
Removing Stains from Upholstery
Of course, like many cleaning tips, how to remove stains depends on the material you are working with. Different materials will each need special care. Many couches will have a tag that says what cleaning products are okay to use:
W: OK to use water for cleaning.
S: Only use a solvent-based cleaner on fabric.
SW: Either water or a solvent cleaner is safe to use.
X: Only use a vacuum for cleaning.
We discuss the tags and appropriate cleaning methods more in-depth in a different article.
A general tip for removing stains from couches is to mix together a teaspoon of dish soap, a teaspoon of white vinegar, and a cup of warm water. Use the solution and a clean cloth to gently dab the stain. There will be bubbling! Continue until the stain is removed from the fabric. Use a damp clean cloth to wipe away any extra residue.
Again, this may not be right for your couch. Look at your label before using a cleaning product.
Your Newly Clean Couch
Family movie nights can now go ahead because filth and stains are no match for you after reading these tips. If you don’t have enough time to get a clean couch, but still want one, call your local house cleaning company and see if they can help.