HOW TO CLEAN A SOFA

It is an inevitable fact of life--sofas get dirty. Chip crumbs find their ways into the cracks, drinks get spilled, and pets track mud all over the surface of these sturdy pieces of furniture. Luckily, cleaning a sofa is relatively easy--all you need is a bit of time and some great cleaning supplies.

Method 1 of 2: Pre-clean the Sofa

Before getting out the shampoo and cleaner, there is some prep work to do.

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   Vacuum the sofa, including the cushions and any pillows. Use the attachments on your vacuum to get in all of the crevices. Remember to clean the arm rests and the back and sides of the couch.
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   Dust any wood areas such as the legs and arms with a cloth.
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   Read the papers that came with the sofa. If it is still under warranty, find out what cleaning supplies are allowed to be used on the sofa. If the paperwork doesn’t say, call the company before you clean it.
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   Find out what fabric is on the sofa to determine the cleaning method. You should find the information either in the care guide you got when you bought the sofa or on a tag under the cushions.
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   Buy the cleaner recommended for your product.
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   Rent a carpet shampooer from a store.

Method 2 of 2: Clean the Sofa

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   Put the shampoo in the shampooer and clean a small area on the back of the sofa to make sure it doesn’t change the color.
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   Use the handheld attachment on the shampooer to clean the entire sofa.
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   If the shampooer has a suction attachment, use it to get the dirt and excess water. If it doesn’t have one, use your vacuum’s attachment.
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   Allow the sofa and cushions to dry before putting them back together.