Keep your couch cushions appear and smell fresh with these mundane and deep cleaning tips .

Grant Webster

We spend more clock time on our couches than almost any other piece of furniture , make it one of thedirtiest spots in the dwelling house . From wasteweir and grime to the buildup of environmental and physical structure soils like debris , pollen , dander , and fuzz — both pet and human — couch cushion are a magnet for messes , so learning how to scavenge couch cushions is a chore everyone should know . sofa cushions should be cleaned regularly using a vacuumfitted with an upholstery brush attachment . Vacuum couch cushions at least once a week , more in households with pets , children , orhigh dust levels . Additionally , every six calendar month , couch cushions should be deeply cleaned .

Vacuuming couch cushions

Credit:Grant Webster

This guide offers instructions on both routine and deep cleaning , as well as the information you need to protect cushions fromdamage due to improper cleanup .

Understanding Couch Cushion Types

Upholstered article of furniture has a universal clean code or legend on the care ticket that is sequester to a hidden spot of the lounge ( usually the underside of the seat ) . It ’s crucial to look for this computer code , which appears as one of four missive symbols , for instruction on how to houseclean sofa cushions before getting take up . Here ’s what the alphabetic character are and what they mean :

extra particular care instructions are also let in on the charge tag . Before try any of the cleaning techniques outlined in this article , execute a spot run on an invisible surface area to control the products wo n’t cause damage to your couch shock .

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

How to Clean Couch Cushions on a Routine Basis

Regular maintenance using a vacuum cleaner is the good method for how to strip couch shock and continue them look and smelling fresh . When vacuuming , take note of any stains or unclean area and use a technique calledspot - treatingto murder them .

Vacuum Cushions

Using avacuumfitted with an upholstery brush attachment , vacuum the cushions to remove crumbs , hair’s-breadth , dust , dander , and other environmental and organic structure soil . Work in the direction of the fiber , and apply a light touch to avoid abrading the fabric . If the cushions are removable , flip them over and vacuum the side of meat and bottoms .

Use a Crevice Tool on Seams

interchange to the vacuity ’s crevice tool and vacuum along the cushion ' seams , where crumbs , tomentum , and detritus collect .

Spot-Treat Small Stains

Dilute a small amount of dish grievous bodily harm or gentle liquid washing detergent in water , and agitate the solution to produce soapsuds . Dip a light - colored cloth in the suds and , working in the direction of the fiber , apply the detergent to the stained or soiled area . After remove the grime , rinse the cloth with clean piss and go over the area to remove any sudsy balance .

How to Deep-Clean Removable Couch Cushions

Even with steady cleanup , sofa cushions will need to be deep cleaned every six months ; households with pets or children may demand to cryptical - clean couch cushion more often .

Vacuum Sofa Cushions

Before mystifying - cleaning couch cushions , take them off the lounge and hoover all sides using a vacuum cleaner fitted with an upholstery brushwood attachment . If the cushions have obliterable slipcovers , take them off and either machine - wash them individually in frigid water orwash them by handalong with the cushions .

Fill Tub with Water and Detergent

Fill the bath about one - third of the way up with nerveless water , so that there is enough way to submerge the shock absorber and for your hands to move through the water . Add 1–2 Tbsp.liquid detergent , using your hand to adulterate and distribute it in the water .

Submerge Cushions in Detergent Solution

localise the cushion in the detergent result , using your workforce to fully submerge them ; add more water if necessary . Because of their size of it , it may be necessary to launder only 1 to 2 cushions at a time .

Agitate and Soak Cushions

Making a pumping motion with your hands , agitate the cushions so that the water and detergent diffuse their fibers , releasing grease and dirt . Allow the shock absorber to soak in the detergent solution for 10–15 minutes , then reiterate the pumping apparent movement .

Rinse Cushions

After soaking , drain the detergent solution . Using your hands , press down on the cushion to extrude sudsy pee . Then , fill the tub with clear piddle and advertise out more of the suds with the same pumping motion . Repeat this process , draining and replenish the water as necessary until the soapsuds are locomote and the H2O run clear .

Extrude Excess Water

While still in the tub , adjure down steadfastly on the cushions to extrude as much weewee as potential . Use the pumping motion and lightly squeeze the cushion to push out excess piddle , but do n’t wring or wrick them to avoid tearing orbreaking up the filling . Then , remove the cushions from the vat and envelop them in uninfected , dry towels . conjure down again so that the towel can soak up more supernumerary water .

Allow Cushions to Air Dry

Allow the shock absorber toair wry completelybefore return them to the couch . To promote even drying clock time , use a 2-dimensional mesh dry out rack or pitch the cushions over at regular intervals . lay up a dehumidifierand / or fan nearby can also help to hasten up drying time .

How to Deep-Clean Non-Removable Couch Cushions

Carpet and upholstery cleaning machinesforce a cleanup solution deeply into fibers , using suction to extract the solution , along with filth , pollutants , and stains , from the textile . They ’re the skilful way to clean non - removable couch cushions and are an excellent option to handwash removable cushion , which is a time- and get-up-and-go - consuming task .

Vacuum Couch Cushions

Before recondite cleaning with an upholstery cleanup machine , vacuumsofa cushions using the upholstery brush attachment to move out environmental and organic structure stain like dust , pollen , and hair .

Prepare the Machine

Consult the manufacturer ’s instructions for guidelines on the proper use of your upholstery cleaning machine . Fill the H2O tank and add the upholstery cleaning solvent per the manufacturer ’s instructions .

Perform a Spot Test

Even if the care ticket says it is safe to use an upholstery cleaning machine on the cushion , perform a spot test in an invisible area to ensure it wo n’t cause damage to the fabric .

Work in Sections

work in section and move the schnoz in straight lines , clean the entire surface of the cushions with the upholstery cleansing auto . Cushions that have not been cleaned on a regular basis may ask more than one pass ; you ’ll know the cushions are clean when the solution extracted from them runs clear .

Allow Cushions to Dry

Let the couch cushions air ironic completely before using the couch . To advertise even drying time , considersetting up a fanand / or dehumidifier nearby to assist speed up dry time .

How to Protect Your Cushions to Keep them Cleaner

There are a couple wanton things you may do to protect your couch and its cushions so you do n’t have to clean them as often . The first is to rotate the cushions regularly . flip out them and move them to a unlike spot on the couch ( if the design of the furniture allows for it ) every duet weeks . This helps even out wear and prevents shite from make up in one smear . The 2d is to continue the cushion . This is an especially dependable estimation if you have pets . you may either purchase a readymadecouch coveror habituate a bombastic material that adds to the decor of your outer space . That could be a piece of fabric you know , a tablecloth , pall panel , or even a shower drapery ( provided the material is well-heeled enough to sit around on ) . For a pulled - together look , tuck the fabric around and under all the seat cushions rather than just draping it over the entire sofa .

Vacuum individual couch cushions

Credit:Grant Webster

Vacuum couch with crevice tool

Credit:Grant Webster

Spot-treat small couch cushion stains

Credit:Grant Webster

Vacuum sofa cushions

Credit:Grant Webster

Fill water tank in upholstery cleaning machine

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submerge couch cushions in detergent

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Use upholstery cleaning machine nozzle in sections

Credit:Grant Webster

Extrude excess water by pressing on cushions

Credit:Grant Webster