Staying Healthy This Spring with the Best Ways to Keep Your Furniture Clean

Spring cleaning is in full swing! It’s time to reassess your living space, clear the clutter, dust the nooks and crannies that are out-of-sight, out-of-mind in winter, and decide which of your furnishings stay and which you plan to replace with new furniture. Sometimes the best way to make a decision between keeping a piece of furniture or upgrading is to thoroughly clean the old furnishing in order to get a sense of its true condition.

With that in mind, we here at Furniture Fair have put together a couple of guides on how to best clean your sofas, depending on the type of fabric. We’ve also paired each style with a potential sofa upgrade should you decide after cleaning that the old couch just has to go!

How to Clean Synthetic Leather Sofas

Whether you call it faux leather, pleather, or fake leather, this synthetic is classy and comfortable. Knowing how to keep it clean is a crucial step toward keeping your living space clean as well. Here are the steps to take:

Always start with a spot clean before taking on the entire project. Prepare your cleaning solution and find an inconspicuous place on your couch (e.g., the back of the couch) to ensure the solution doesn’t damage or discolor your furniture.

The cleaning solution doesn’t have to be something elaborate. Instead, mix your own by adding a few squirts of dish soap to water. Dish soap is mild on surfaces, yet disinfects powerfully. You can also add a touch of laundry detergent to water in a spray bottle and use a clean rag to apply it.

You’ll want to have your tested cleaning solution on hand before a stain occurs, because it’s best to react quickly once a stain has been discovered. Moisten your clean white cloth with the solution and scrub gently and thoroughly. Using a white cloth helps you identify when the cloth itself has become soiled. You don’t want to be rubbing in dirt to your just-cleaned surface! Colorful rags make it a lot harder to tell when dirt has become caked on. For smaller stains, you can also use baby wipes.

After you’ve cleaned your faux leather couch, you may consider using a conditioner to keep it in great shape. Buy a conditioner designed for faux leather specifically and apply gently after the couch has dried from cleaning.

If after cleaning you decide you want to upgrade to a new sofa, Furniture Fair has a fantastic selection of faux leather sofas and 4 safe and easy ways to shop: online, by in-Store Appointment, chatting with a specialist online, or shopping by Phone. Check out the Erlangen power reclining sofa, with its top-of-the-line faux leather providing comfort and style. With push-bottom adjustability, relaxation is easy. Plus the extended ottomans offer added length so you can stretch out in style. Preview it online here: https://furniturefair.net/products/erlangen-power-sofa

How to Clean Fabric Sofas

When cleaning your sofa’s upholstery, it’s best to start by checking the manufacturer’s recommendations, which are usually listed on the sofa’s tag. It’s important to follow their guidelines so as to not permanently damage your couch. This tag will show cleaning codes. Here’s a quick breakdown of what they mean:

• W: Stands for water-based cleaner. If you see a “W,” only use a cleaning solution primarily made of water.
• S/W: Stands for solvents and water-based cleaners. You can use both solvents and water-based cleaners on this type of fabric.
• S: Stands for solvent. If you see this “S,” only use a cleaning solution in which a solvent is the primary ingredient.

Now that you know the codes, start by taking a stiff brush to the entire sofa to remove loose particles such as hair, dirt, and dust. From there, take a dust-buster or small hand-held vacuum to the couch. This will get rid of crumbs and other particles the brush may have missed and make it easier for you to identify troublesome spots where stains may have set in.

Next, clean the couch with baking soda. Prepare a mix of water and baking soda in equal parts in a bowl, then apply it to the targeted stain and let it stand for 15–20 minutes. Once time has elapsed, use your vacuum’s brush attachment to suck up the baking soda. (Note: Though baking soda is generally safe, feel free to test beforehand to ensure you won’t be harming the fabric.)

Any other dirty spots can be cleaned with the recommended cleaner. Whether you use a water-based cleaner or a solvent (or both), follow the instructions on the packaging and always start with a test spot to double-check everything is working. If the instructions say it is safe to do so, use a soft cloth to wipe away the solution. Afterward, let the sofa air-dry. In the morning, you should have a clean, fresh-smelling sofa to enjoy!

If your sofa has any wood elements, you’ll want to remember to pick up a rapid remedy touch-up marker for small stains and blemishes. These convenient pens come in 3 shades and are useful all over the home, on any furnished wood surface. Likewise, Anytime Clean & Polish is what the professionals use to keep the wood surfaces of your furniture cleans and protected. The Guardsman brand Furniture Fair carries is recommended, as it does not use harmful silicone to maintain that like-new luster of your polished furniture.

If it turns out the time has come to replace your fabric sofa or any other furniture that doesn’t pass the muster spring cleaning check out Furniture Fair’s selection of both custom and factory options. In fabric sofas, there are over 100 fabrics to choose from at no additional cost! We’re digging the Philip Sofa this spring: made in the USA, this timeless sofa is both comfy and durable. With subtle accents, exposed tapered legs, and contrasting throw pillows, the Philip Sofa says it all without saying too much. It can be delivered in as fast as 14 days. Take a look here: https://furniturefair.net/products/philip-sofa

As always, Furniture Fair is excited to address your spring cleaning needs, whether that means cleaning tips or advice on brand-new furniture. They also practice what they preach. Furniture Fair is dedicated to keeping their showrooms clean through rigorous sanitizing and frequent sterilization. If you do decide to come in person to the showroom, you can have the peace of mind knowing Social Distancing is implemented and employees have their temperature taken daily. Your health and safety are taken as seriously as your furniture needs, which Furniture Fair has been offering furniture at fair prices throughout the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Louisville areas for nearly 60 years. Shop online or come into the store for a free consultation today!