How to Clean a Sofa

The sofa is the first place we sink into at the end of the day, when we want to relax, watch some TV or have a chat. Households gather on the sofa for movie nights with popcorn and snacks, and sometimes we snuggle with our pets on the sofa. Sitting or lounging on our sofa daily means it needs cleaning more often than we think. Of course, crumbs and the odd spill is part of everyday life, so try to spot clean the sofa and vacuum whenever there are crumbs or a stain, to help keep it looking pristine.  

Types of Sofas & Where to Position Them  

Here at Laura James, we have an extensive collection of sofas, corner sofas and sofa beds. Discover, velvet sofas, leather styles, boucle finishes as well as different coloured upholstered designs. Depending on your space we have 2-seater sofas and 3-seater options as well as modular designs, chaise sofas and double and single sofa beds.  

When investing in a sofa, there’s a lot to consider, like the sofa size, style and fabric; you can read our tips on the best way to choose a sofa in our sofa buying guide. Sofas need replacing around every 7 to 10 years so it’s a good idea to try and keep your couch looking new for as long as possible.  

For longevity, consider where the sofa will fit in the room. For instance, do you have the space for a corner sofa or would you prefer a sofa and an armchair in your living room? Ensure you have space for other items of furniture such as a coffee table and make sure your sofa isn’t blocking any walkways. Try to avoid positioning your sofa in direct sunlight, as the fabric may fade over time.  

Prepare Your Sofa for Cleaning  

Firstly, remove all the decorative cushions and large sofa cushions before cleaning, check the sofa label for cleaning guidelines. Fabrics such as leather or velvet may require different cleaning techniques. The sofa label may have symbols to provide you with cleaning guidelines. 

• X means vacuum or brush only.
• W means the sofa fabric can be cleaned with water-based solutions. 
• S means only solvent cleaners can be used.
• W/S means either water or solvent based cleaners can be used.  

Vacuum Debris  

Once you have discovered what you can use to clean the sofa start by vacuuming all the weird and wonderful bits of debris that may have slipped down the sofa sides. The likely suspects will include food crumbs, wrappers or small toys and loose change if you’re lucky. Once you have removed anything worth keeping then vacuum the sofa and the cushions ensuring to get in all tiny nooks and corners, with an upholstery vacuum attachment.  

Leather Sofas 

Leather is a natural material and if you use anything too harsh or abrasive then it can strip the natural oils from the fabric. For any marks you can blot with a damp cloth, being careful not to scrub the leather too hard. Alternatively, consider using a specialist leather cleaner.  

Velvet Sofas 

Velvet is a sensitive material, to tackle any stains start by brushing the area or vacuum to collect any dust and debris. Try and blot the stain carefully with a clean cloth or use a specialist velvet cleaner. Once you have cleaned the area allow it to air dry before sitting on the space. If your velvet sofa needs a deep clean, then try using a steam cleaner. When cleaning use the lowest setting and run the steamer in the opposite direction to the fabric to help smooth out creases. Remember to test the steam cleaner on a small area of the sofa and let it dry to check that it is ok to use on the sofa.  

Fabric Sofas 

For fabric sofas begin by vacuuming the sofa, before tackling any stains. Once you have checked the label for cleaning guidelines, test your cleaning product on a small area of the sofa before you begin cleaning. Once the area is ok, then use warm water mixed with mild detergent or cleaning solution and dab it gently on the stained area. You can apply the upholstery cleaner to the entire sofa if you want to give it a deep clean and then clean it off with a cloth or a sofa brush. Allow the sofa to air dry fully. Over time you might find some bobbling on a fabric sofa, but using a fabric shaver will help get rid of any bobbling. 

What to do with Your Old Sofa