Finding the perfect couch for your home isn’t easy. Maybe you want to find l-shaped couches for sale or are searching for a specific leather sectional. After you find the perfect sofa for your living room, you’ll love it and naturally want it to last for a long time—and the best way to do that is to take care of it. Unfortunately, many people neglect their sofas and couches, allowing them to fall into disrepair. However, if you take care of your furniture, your sofas can last up to fourteen years or more. Use the information below to learn how to clean and care for your sectional sofa.
Read Manufacturer’s Instructions
Before you attempt to clean your sofa, take some time to read the manufacturer’s instructions. You can usually find these instructions on the couch’s tags or the manufacturer’s website. These instructions will tell you how to clean your furniture safely. For example, you might not be able to machine wash and dry fabric sofa cushions without ruining them. The instructions or manufacturer’s manual will provide this information to ensure that you clean your sofa properly.
Flip and Rotate Your Cushions
When you sit on your sofa’s cushions, they can sometimes mold to the shape of your body over time. To keep your sofa cushions in excellent shape, flip and rotate them at least every three months. This will ensure that any wear is evenly distributed on your cushions, allowing them to remain comfortable and last longer.
Place Your Furniture Away From Sunlight
Sunlight is furniture’s number one enemy. The UV rays and the heat of direct sunlight can cause discoloration, fading, cracking, tearing, and warping. When you arrange your sofa, keep it away from direct sunlight as much as possible. If you must place it near a window or other source of direct sunlight, use window curtains or a sofa covering to prevent UV rays from ruining it.
Vacuum Your Sectional Regularly
Dirt, dust, crumbs, pet hair, dander, and other allergens can all accumulate quickly on your couch. If you want to keep your couch looking and feeling new, vacuum it weekly. This will prevent the allergens from becoming embedded into the material. Even if you have a leather sectional that doesn’t easily absorb allergens easily, you should still vacuum the sofa weekly.
Clean Spills Immediately
Accidents and spills happen to everyone. If you spill food or drink on your couch, clean it up immediately. The longer you allow a substance to soak into your couch, the more difficult it’s going to be to get it out. If you have leather furniture, the liquid will pool on top of the material, so all you need to do is grab a paper towel or cloth to wipe it up. A fabric sofa is a little trickier to clean than a leather one. The first thing you need to do is blot as much of the spill as possible. Then, mix one tablespoon of mild liquid dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water. Blot the spillage with this mixture until the stain is absorbed.
Avoid Using Chemicals
Some homeowners really enjoy using chemical cleaners while others don’t because they can’t stand the smell. Usually, people avoid chemical cleaners because certain chemicals can damage a couch’s material. If you can, avoid using chemicals on your sofa. However, if you really want to use them, make sure that they won’t damage your sofa’s material.
Steps To Clean Fabric Sofas
Cleaning your fabric sofa regularly is one of the best ways to maintain it. As stated above, remember to vacuum your sofa once a week to get rid of dust and dirt. After you vacuum your sofa, use the steps below to clean the fabric.
- Mix a cleaning solution with two cups of distilled water, one tablespoon of mild dishwashing liquid detergent, and one tablespoon of vinegar.
- Dip a soft cloth or paper towel into the cleaning mixture until it is damp.
- Blot away any dirt or stains, but be careful not to rub them, since doing so can damage the material of the sofa.
- After you’ve finished blotting the sofa with the cleaning mixture, dip a clean cloth into distilled water to blot the cleaning solution off your couch.
- Allow your couch to air-dry. You could also use a fan. Simply ensure that the material dries completely.
Ways To Clean Leather Sofas
Leather is a smooth, gorgeous material, but it does require some work to maintain. Keep this in mind if you are thinking about getting a leather sofa. To keep your leather furniture in tip-top shape, you’ll need to clean and condition it. (You can make your own leather conditioner if you’d like. Mix two cups of warm distilled water with a tablespoon of natural baby soap and a splash of vinegar.)
Use the steps listed below to clean and condition your leather sectional sofa.
Cleaning steps:
- Dust your sofa with a soft cloth.
- Mix a 50/50 vinegar and water solution.
- Dip a soft cloth into your cleaning solution until it’s damp.
- Rub the cloth in a circular motion on the leather to remove dirt and grime.
- Use a cloth dipped in water to remove the cleaning solution.
Conditioning steps:
- Place a small amount of leather conditioner onto the sofa.
- Rub the leather conditioner evenly into the material using circular motions.
- After you condition the material, allow it to air-dry before using your sofa.
The information above teaches you how to clean and care for your sectional sofa. After you visit our Sofas and Sectionals website and purchase a sofa, use these tips to care for and maintain your furniture. To recap: read the manufacturer’s instructions, flip your furniture cushions, place furniture away from sunlight, vacuum your sectional regularly, and clean spills immediately.
