How to clean a fabric sofa

The sofa is a symbol of cosiness and relaxation, so it is essential to take care of it and ensure that it can resist the test of time along with wear and tear. However, sofas can become breeding grounds for germs from food, hair and dust, and so it is important to know how to maintain them effectively.

The good news is that cleaning a fabric sofa is a lot easier than you might think.

The first tip for prolonging the appearance of your sofa is to try and avoid exposing the fabric to direct sunlight as this can cause discolouration. Also, when your sofa is in a dining area, it is important to ventilate the room to prevent cooking fumes from damaging the fabrics.

If your sofa is covered with a removable fabric, it is essential that you read the washing symbols indicated on the label sewn inside. Make sure you pay attention to the detergents used, since the presence of optical bleaches and corrosive or oxidising substances can fade the colours. Above everything though, the most important rules to follow are to make sure you thoroughly rinse your sofa cover and leave it to dry in a place that doesn’t catch direct sunlight.

Remember, if the label indicates that the fabric should be dry cleaned, it is important not to use water and other detergents to remove stains. Instead, you should use a specialist dry cleaning service.

With models that do not have a non-removable fabric cover, the sofa should be dusted or gently brushed weekly to remove dust and prevent dirt from settling between the fibres.

In case of stains, the first thing to do is to try and prevent the fabric from being irreparably damaged. To do this, remove the dirt immediately by using neutral products and a damp cloth.

To keep a fabric sofa clean, you don’t necessarily always need expensive cleaning products, even though there are detergents on the market that are specifically designed to take care of sofa hygiene. In reality, we very often already have everything we need at home. Here are some easy tips:

1. Baking soda is your first weapon against dirt. Just add a tablespoon of baking soda and half a glass of apple vinegar to a litre of hot water and then test its effectiveness on a hidden part of the sofa by applying the mixture with a cotton cloth or sponge. The bicarbonate acts immediately, removing stains, while the apple vinegar sanitises.
2. If the stains on your sofa are rather stubborn, prepare a solution of one litre of water and two tablespoons of ammonia. Apply and then rinse with a sponge soaked only in water. The colour should soon shine again.
3. A good solution for dust mites and dirt is a steam cleaner. Just make sure that you vacuum first and remove any dust or other residues.
4. If your sofa is upholstered in microfibre or alcantara, white vinegar is what you’ll need. One litre of warm water and one litre of white vinegar must be combined and applied with a well-wrung sponge and your sofa will be clean and disinfected.

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