When investing in a key piece of household furniture such as the sofa, naturally, we want to prolong the life as long as possible.
As you’re here, we’re guessing your sofa is beginning to look a bit sorry for itself. The good news is you may not have to replace your sofa covers just yet (well good for you, not for us). Here are some eco-friendly sofa cleaning tips, tricks and hacks for you to try over the bank holiday weekend that might just revive your sofa for another year.
Take a look at your sofa cushion labels to determine the recommended cleaning method for your sofa. We would never recommend swaying from manufacturer instructions however eco-friendly alternatives are available for most chemical cleaners.
W – means you can wash the sofa with water
X – you can only use a vacuum cleaner
SW – you can use water or dry cleaner if you prefer
S – the sofa can only be cleaned with dry cleaner
Before even attempting to clean marks and stains out of the fabric, HOOVER. Before beginning your sofa deep clean, remove any crumbs or large particles using the vacuum. Use the long thin attachment to get right up (or down) into the crevices and if your cushions are removable, take them off and hoover the base too.
If you have a pet, or know anyone with a pet you have surely noticed their fur sticks to EVERYTHING. Your sofa is no exception. The hoover is not always powerful enough to get it all up so use sticky tape or a lint roller to remove that stubborn stuck fur.
Caked in dirt or dust
Fear not, that patch of melted chocolate can be gone! Before attempting to remove grub with a solution, brush it with a hard bristled brush to flake off the cake. Rub vigorously to break up the patch and then hoover up the debris.
If your sofa has any hard surfaces, for example wooden feet or arm details, these will also need cleaning. Mix a weak eco-friendly detergent or soap solution and wet a microfiber cloth, ring it out until the cloth is just damp, wipe the surface and dry immediately.
Sprinkle baking soda on your sofa, leave it to sit for an hour or two and then hoover up it up. Baking soda absorbs odours to get your sofa smelling fresh once again.
For particularly pungent smells or further odour elimination try getting an empty spray bottle and filling it with ¼ of a cup of baking soda, 10 drops of your favourite essential oil and topping it off with water. Shake well until the baking soda has dissolved and then spritz all over your sofa. Viola! A cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to Febreze.
Get another empty spray bottle and mix ¼ cup of white vinegar, ¾ cup of warm water and ½ tablespoon of an eco-friendly dish soap. Spray the solution directly onto marks or stains and scrub with a non-dyed microfiber cloth or sponge in a circular motion. Repeat until the stains are gone. Rinse cloth with warm water and use to remove any excess solution. Allow to dry and air.
Heads up – white vinegar has quite a strong smell so give it plenty of time to air. You may want to give it another spritz with your homemade fabric refresher (above) after.
So there you have it, something for you to try over the bank holiday weekend.
Didn’t work? Maybe it’s time to replace your sofa covers after all, contact My Sofa Covers for your quote and free fabric samples.
Worked? Great! Remember us for when the time comes… Let us know how you get on!
NB: Use at your own risk. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions, never use product on a water clean only sofa, never use liquid on a dry clean only sofa.