How to clean upholstery without ruining the fabric

To clean upholstery, check the cleaning code on the tag first, then vacuum the whole piece with a brush attachment. Treat spills by blotting from the outside in with a cleaner the code allows, using as little liquid as possible, and let the fabric dry completely before anyone sits on it.

What do the cleaning codes on a couch mean?

Look under a seat cushion or on the underside of the frame for a tag with a letter on it.

• W: water-based cleaners are fine. Mild soap and water works.
• S: solvent only. No water. Use a dry-cleaning solvent made for upholstery, with the windows open.
• W/S: either one.
• X: vacuum only. Anything wet can stain or shrink it. Spots on X fabric are a job for an upholstery specialist.

No tag? Treat it as S until you've tested a hidden spot, like the back of the skirt or the underside of a cushion.

How do you clean a fabric couch step by step?

1. Take the cushions off. Vacuum the deck, the crevices and the back with the crevice tool. This is where crumbs, coins and grit live.
2. Vacuum every surface with the upholstery brush, top to bottom, working in the direction of the nap.
3. Test your cleaner on a hidden spot. Wait until it's dry. If the color moved or a ring formed, stop.
4. Mix a mild solution for W fabric: a few drops of clear dish soap in a cup of warm water.
5. Dampen a white cloth, not the couch. Blot the spot from the outside edge toward the middle so it doesn't spread.
6. Rinse by blotting with a second cloth dampened in plain water. Leftover soap attracts dirt and leaves a darker patch.
7. Dry it fast. Press with a dry towel, then point a fan at it. Don't sit on it until it's dry all the way through.

A full vacuum takes 15 minutes. A few spots add another 15 or 20, plus drying time.

What works on common sofa stains?

• Coffee, juice, soda: blot up all you can, then the soap and water method above. Older stains may need two rounds.
• Grease and food: sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda, leave it 20 minutes to soak up the oil, vacuum it off, then treat what's left with the soap solution.
• Ink: rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab, dabbed, not scrubbed. Test first. It can lift dye along with the ink.
• Mud: let it dry completely, then brush it off and vacuum. Wet mud just smears deeper.
• Pet accidents: an enzyme cleaner made for pet urine, used per the label. Plain soap won't break down the odor.

How do you clean a leather couch?

Leather is a different job. Dust it with a dry microfiber cloth, wipe it with a cloth barely dampened in water, and dry it right away. Spills come up with a quick blot. Skip vinegar, all-purpose sprays and baby wipes, which dry the leather out and can strip the finish. A leather conditioner a couple of times a year keeps it from cracking, especially near a sunny window. There's more in our post on keeping leather furniture looking new.

What should you never do to upholstery?

• Don't soak it. Water that reaches the foam takes days to dry and can leave a brown ring or a musty smell.
• Don't scrub. Scrubbing frays the fibers and pushes the stain wider.
• Don't use a hair dryer on high. Heat can set a stain and shrink some fabrics.
• Don't put cushion covers in the washer unless the tag says they're washable. Many shrink and won't zip back on.
• Don't steam clean without checking the code. Steam is water. It's off limits on S and X fabric.

How do you keep upholstery clean longer?

• Vacuum weekly in a house with kids or pets.
• Flip and rotate the seat cushions every week or two so wear is even.
• Keep the couch out of direct afternoon sun, or close the blinds then. Sun fades fabric and dries leather.
• A washable throw on the spot where the dog sleeps saves the cushion under it.
• Snacks at the table, not on the sofa, if the fabric is light.

For spills that reach the rug, see how to remove stubborn stains from carpet.

What does a house cleaning do in the living room?

On a Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, reachable surfaces and furniture are dusted, mirrors and glass surfaces are cleaned, and the floors are vacuumed and mopped. Deep Cleaning, PureRenewal, adds décor and picture frames, hand-wiped baseboards, and the floor under and behind furniture that moves easily.

If you have pets, the Pets add-on accounts for the extra time pet hair takes and removes pet hair and dander. It doesn't cover pet waste cleanup.

See what's covered at House Cleaning or Deep Cleaning.

FAQ

What do the cleaning codes on a couch mean? W means water-based cleaners are fine, S means solvent only with no water, W/S means either, and X means vacuum only. The tag is usually under a seat cushion or on the bottom of the frame.

Can I use dish soap on my couch? On a W or W/S fabric, a few drops of clear dish soap in a cup of warm water works for many food and drink spills. Use as little liquid as you can and blot out the soap with plain water afterward, or it will leave a ring.

How do I get a water ring out of a fabric sofa? Lightly dampen the whole cushion panel from seam to seam with distilled water, blot, and let it dry with a fan on it. Rings form when only a small spot gets wet and dries with a hard edge.

How often should a sofa be vacuumed? Once a week in a house with kids or pets, every couple of weeks otherwise. Pull the cushions and get the crevices, because crumbs and grit there wear the fabric from underneath.

Book a cleaning

We clean homes across South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455.