The first step in how to disinfect a fabric sofa is to create a cleaning solution. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bowl. Alternatively add a few drops of mild detergent to warm water and create a soapy solution.
Mix 2 parts rubbing alcohol with 1 part water to create our homemade disinfectant. Then pour the mixture into your spray bottle. Hold the bottle 6 inches away from your furniture and lightly mist your sofas, loveseats, chairs, etc. Allow your furniture to dry before you sit.
Mix 2 cups of rubbing alcohol and 1 cup of water into a spray bottle. Test out the spray bottle on another piece of fabric or in the sink to make sure your spray bottle is in the mist setting. If you haven't already, remove the seat and back cushions from the sofa.
A half cup of white vinegar can act as a disinfectant and a deodorizer—removing those pesky germs and working to soften your fabrics. Vinegar is also effective at cleaning both whites and colored items, so your clothes will come out bright, soft, and smelling good every time.
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.
To prevent germs and bacteria, here's how to disinfect a leather couch. Mix a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. Dip a clean, soft cloth into the mix and use it to wipe down the leather.
Yes, baking soda is safe for most couches. It helps remove odors and can be used to clean stains when mixed with water. Can I machine wash couch cushion covers? Many couch cushion covers are machine washable, but always check the care label for instructions before washing.
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most powerful natural cleaning and disinfecting agents. Health professionals trust it against harmful bacteria, antigens, and viruses. It's used for a variety of disinfecting jobs, including cleaning cuts, removing earwax, and promoting dental hygiene.
Distilled White Vinegar – White vinegar is key for homemade cleaners. It's a great disinfectant and deodorizer. Because of its acid, it fights bacteria well.
Vinegar is not an effective disinfectant. It only works on a few strains of bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that a disinfectant should kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses that cause diseases, therefore vinegar is not recommended for disinfecting.
Our Lysol® Disinfectant Spray kills 99.9% of the germs that are hanging around on your homes' soft furnishings. Its unique cap completely covers large areas without over wetting, making it great for soft surfaces such as your decorative cushions, mattress, sofa etc. To use, simply spray and then allow to 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.
Household disinfectants — vinegar and baking soda used on their own — were highly effective against potential bacterial pathogens but less effective than commercial household disinfectants.
Disinfect and Wipe Down
Just make sure to test a small patch of fabric first. Next, wipe down any non-upholstery sections with a reliable disinfectant. Make sure the wipes or spray you choose doesn't have bleach as an ingredient because this can damage the wood or other non-fabric parts of your sofa.
To effectively disinfect, add 1 capful of your favourite Zoflora Concentrated Multipurpose Disinfectant for every 400ml of water in a trigger spray bottle and spray over, wipe with a cloth to ensure full coverage and allow a contact time of 5 minutes.
If you're in the habit of using Lysol to deodorize and/or disinfect, you'll love vodka as an alternative! Since alcohol qualifies as an EPA registered disinfectant if it is 70% (140 proof) drinkable grain alcohol or 70% isopropyl alcohol, vodka makes a great non-toxic, fragrance free, natural disinfectant.
For the most part, you can get away with just sanitizing your soft surfaces. But if you need to disinfect them, be sure to use a disinfectant thats safe on fabric, like the Lysol fabric Disinfectant.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful, fragrance-free, non-toxic bleaching, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting agent.* 6. Here's how it works. Hydrogen peroxide is very similar to water (H2o) in its composition, except it has an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2).
The best natural disinfectants include alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, hot water, and some essential oils. Evidence suggests that in some cases, many of these natural disinfectants can be as effective at killing germs as chemical cleaners like bleach.
Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are natural germ killers and, when combined with elbow grease, can help you ditch the bleach for good. Mix one part vinegar with one part warm water and 4 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda in a spray bottle and shake to mix.
A mix of bleach and water or a bleach-based cleaner are your best bets. Also good are hydrogen peroxide and wipes made with a different type of alcohol called ethyl alcohol.
Cleaning couches and upholstery with vinegar
But if you're looking for a quick refresh, vinegar can tackle that mild, stale sofa smell. As always, check the label on your couch first – some upholstery is not compatible with water-based cleaning solutions (steer clear if the label has a S or X on it).
Take a teaspoon of washing-up liquid, white vinegar, baking soda and warm water and mix together into a lather (the mixture should froth up as the baking soda and vinegar react with one another). Then, apply directly to any stains or smudges that you can spot on your fabric sofa. Leave to dry out for around 10 minutes.
A sprinkle of baking soda
Before you go to bed, just sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the sofa. Then, in the morning, once the powder has had time to work its magic, you simply vacuum up the residue. The baking soda will neutralise the smell, leaving your sofa fresh and odour-free.