Couch fabric holds crumbs, dust, and pet hair. Read the care tag before you add water or steam.
What you need
- The furniture care code (W, S, SW, X, or similar).
- A vacuum with a crevice tool and an upholstery brush.
- A reusable lint tool for pet hair on non-leather fabric. Not for knitted or delicate weaves.
- A clean sponge, warm water, and a drop of dish soap for spots the maker allows.
Steps
- Take off cushions if they lift out. Move small items out of the seams.
- Vacuum the base, back, arms, and the deck under the cushions.
- On velvet, microfiber, and most non-leather cloth, lift hair and lint in small sections with a lint tool before any wet cleaning.
- If covers unzip, follow the maker's wash notes. Use low heat if the label allows a machine wash.
- For a spot the label allows, blot with a barely damp soapy sponge. Rinse the sponge and blot again. Spot-check a hidden area first.
- If you use a steamer, test a hidden patch. Let the sofa dry fully before anyone sits on it.
Weekly upkeep is vacuum plus a lint pass. Keep food and muddy paws off the cloth when you can. Use a washable throw if pets nap on the sofa.