Effectiveness. While DIY methods can be effective for minor stains and regular maintenance, they may not be as thorough as professional cleaning. Professional upholstery cleaners have specialized equipment and knowledge to deep clean your furniture, removing embedded dirt, allergens, and tough stains effectively.
A regular clean with baking soda can also help to remove odors from your sofa. Vinegar is another natural product that can be used on your sofa to remove stains. Make a solution that is equal parts water and white wine vinegar. Use a clean white cloth that is slightly damp and rub away the stain.
Accidental spills and pet messes are a part of life, but an upholstery cleaner can go a long way to lift stains and remove odors. "Anyone who has issues with spills, pets, kids, allergies, or light-colored furniture should consider purchasing and using an upholstery cleaner," says Marla Mock.
Try a DIY Cleaner
For fabric upholstery: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 3/4 warm water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap or Castile soap. Put in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area. Scrub with a soft cloth until the stain lifts.
Most professional upholstery cleaning services use a process called hot water extraction. Their machine injects hot water and cleaning solution into the fibers of your upholstery to dislodge particles hiding there. Then it all gets sucked up with a powerful vacuum.
To prevent mold or mildew growth during drying, ensure proper ventilation by opening windows and using fans to promote airflow. Avoid drying your couch in a humid environment; if necessary, use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air.
For fabric upholstery, use ¼ cup of vinegar + ¾ cup of warm water. For synthetic upholstery, use ¾ cup of warm water + 1 tablespoon of gentle dish soap, like Dawn.
You'll need 1/4 cup of vinegar, 1/2 tablespoon of castile soap (I prefer Dr. Bronners), and 1/8 cup of baking soda. I run a bit of hot water and then mix this solution together. This eliminates the baking soda and vinegar reaction.
Don't Rub or Scrub: Rubbing or vigorous scrubbing forces the stain further into the upholstery fibers and can even result in wearing away the material. If you rub or scrub hard enough, it can create heat which will result in the stain chemically bonding to the material.
While DIY methods can be effective for minor stains and regular maintenance, they may not be as thorough as professional cleaning. Professional upholstery cleaners have specialized equipment and knowledge to deep clean your furniture, removing embedded dirt, allergens, and tough stains effectively.
To help remove odors and brighten the fabric, sprinkle the upholstery with dry baking soda. Use a soft-bristled brush to gently work it into the fabric. Allow the baking soda to work for at least one hour or up to overnight. Then, vacuum away the baking soda and the soil it has collected.
Also, our upholstery cleaning expert says he would never use Pine-Sol to clean upholstery.
Vacuum your couch so you're not rubbing in dirt or debris while cleaning. In the bucket, mix about 2 cups of distilled water with 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Dampen a microfiber cloth with your cleaning solution. Gently blot any stained areas with the cloth.
We suggest mixing it in a spray bottle for easy application. Mix 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and about 1 cup of water. Make sure to give it a good shake before applying it to your upholstery. If you're dealing with tough stains, you can add a little less water to your mixture.
A: Pine Sol® products were not designed to be used in steam cleaners.
A: You can use any kind of non-foaming, good quality rug cleaning solution made for hot water extraction: Simple Green, Rug Doctor, generic, etc. The machine really doesn't "know" what you are using.
Store-bought fabric upholstery cleaner is a good choice to use on a sofa, but you can also make a solution of 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of gentle laundry detergent and 2 cups of warm water. Use a rag or microfiber cleaning cloth to rub the cleaner into the upholstery. Then, air-dry.
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda evenly over the entire couch surface. Allow the baking soda to sit for 15 to 30 minutes. This time frame allows the baking soda to absorb and neutralize odors effectively.
If after you rinse the couch you find it is still stiff then try getting a clean textured towel and rubbing it all over your couch. It should loosen up those stiffened flat fibers and start feeling soft again. If you have a bristled brush that's kind of soft but not hard then that will likely help to.
Use the upholstery attachment and crevice tool to vacuum away loose dust and soil, like the Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go Canister, one of our favorite vacuums for pet hair. Start at the top of the furniture and work down slowly. Don't forget to clean the back and sides of the piece and under the cushions.
Airflow! Open up all your windows and doors to get a nice level of airflow throughout your home, and in particular the room with the wet furniture. You can further aid this drying process with the use of fans or dehumidifiers, but make sure to avoid any heat or sunlight as this can cause the fabric to shrink and fade.
How long will it take to clean my carpet or sofa? An average size lounge/diner carpet (12 x 20') will take just over an hour to clean. Upholstery and leather cleaning is based on the seated area; an approximate time for a 3-seater sofa is around 1-2 hours.