While you might have rules about the dog sitting on the couch, the cat lounging on the back of the sofa or your child eating popsicles on the loveseat, be honest—how many times have you found a suspicious stain that could only be the result of one of those? If you’re looking for the best ways to clean a couch at your home, here’s what you need to know.

Ready to Clean a Couch?

First, you should always treat spills or stains as quickly as you notice them. If you wait too long to treat stains, the stain can set and be even more difficult to get out in the future. You should also always start by checking the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning the sofa. You can search for these online if you know what your sofa is called or made of, or you can check the tags on the couch. Cleaning tags typically use codes to dictate how to best clean a couch.

• W: Use only water-based cleaner to clean the couch. Water-based cleaners are solutions that have water as the first and main ingredient.
• S: Do not use water. Instead, use a specialized solvent-based cleaning solution.
• S/W: You can use either solvents or water-based cleaners to clean this type of sofa.
• X: Do not attempt to use any liquid cleaners on the couch. Instead, you should only use a vacuum.

While it might be tempting to stray away from manufacturer instructions, seemingly minor things like using a water-based cleaner instead of a solvent can cause permanent damage to a couch. Before you use a cleanser on a sofa that is marked with an S, W or S/W, you should always start by vacuuming up any loose particles on the surface.

Cleaning a Leather Couch

If you don’t have an upholstered or fabric couch, don’t fret! You can still clean a couch with relative ease. You should use gentle cleaners on leather or a leather cleaner that is recommended by the manufacturer. Vacuum out crumbs and dust and make a solution from equal parts white vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth that is lightly wet with the solution and wipe down the sofa. Dry it with a clean microfiber towel and condition the leather with a mixture of two parts flaxseed oil and one part white vinegar. Leave the conditioning mixture applied overnight and buff it out to restore shine the next day.

Keep Your Home Tidy with Park Avenue Cleaning

Park Avenue Cleaning provides high-class service for everyday space to homeowners and business owners throughout the greater Baltimore area, during the holiday season and beyond. Experience a truly remarkable clean with our services! To learn more and schedule your home appraisal cleaning, call us today at (877) 546-9837.