What’s the Best Way to Clean the Sofa Without Damaging It?

What’s the Best Way to Clean the Sofa Without Damaging It?

Any Singaporean in their right mind knows how important it is to make the most of the investments you’ve made for your home. One of those investments is your sofa. As one of the main attractions in your living room, this piece of furniture deserves all the care it can get. That means dealing with the spills, stains, and signs of wear and tear that make it unsightly or even uncomfortable to use. 

But you can’t just go and start scrubbing away at the first spot you see. If you use the wrong method or cleaning solution on it, you could end up damaging the upholstery instead. 

Short of hiring upholstery cleaning services in Singapore, how do you clean a sofa without risking any damage to it? Let’s check out these quick cleaning tips to get you started. 

Identify the Fabric and Cleaning Code

The first and most important step before you actually start cleaning is to find out the type of material the sofa is made of. This determines the best approach to cleaning the upholstery. 

However, you’ll also want to check if your furniture still has its care tag. This is a label that has a cleaning code that specifies what kind of cleaning solution to use. Some common codes include: 

• W: This is for fabrics that are safe with water-based cleaners.

• S: Don’t use water-based solutions for this, only solvents. 

• W/S: These sofas can take both water-based and solvent-based products. 

• X: This material can’t be cleaned with any solution at all, only vacuumed or brushed. 

Vacuum First to Remove Dirt

Before you apply any cleaner, be sure to thoroughly vacuum the sofa – preferably with a soft brush attachment. This removes most of the loose dust, crumbs, and other kinds of dirt on the surface. By doing so, you’ll avoid creating a mess that seeps into the material when you use the cleaning solution later. You’ll also want to pay attention to the seams and crevices, as debris could hide in them. 

Use a Gentle Cleaning Solution

Make sure you’re using a gentle cleaning solution while still following the cleaning code. For instance, if the sofa has the W code, a few drops of mild dish soap and distilled water will do. But why distilled water? Distilled water works better for your DIY cleaner because it’s been purified to remove any contaminants and minerals. This helps prevent marks from forming in certain fabrics.

Never Scrub Harshly

When treating sofa stains, never scrub or rub aggressively on the fabric. This will only end up pushing the stain deeper into the upholstery. Instead, dab gently with a cloth to absorb the liquid. 

If you’re trying to remove dried spots of dirt, you can use a soft-bristle brush on it. Remember to use light motions so you don’t damage the fibres. 

Let the Upholstery Dry Completely

Finished cleaning the sofa? Don’t use it yet if there are any wet spots. Let it dry properly so it doesn’t grow mould and bacteria, which would cause bad odours. You can use fans and open the windows to improve the air flow around the furniture, but avoid exposing the sofa to direct sunlight. This can make the colours fade and the fabric shrink. 

For Deep Cleans, Book an Upholstery Cleaning Service

Tasks like removing a small stain or vacuuming the sofa can easily be done at home by yourself. But if your furniture needs a more thorough cleaning that you don’t have the skills or tools to achieve, then go ahead and contact a professional upholstery cleaning service in Singapore. They study the different kinds of sofa materials and how to clean them properly — which is valuable knowledge to have when your furniture doesn’t have its cleaning code anymore. This saves you precious time and energy that you can use for other matters in life. 

It’s always worth investing in your furniture’s maintenance needs. After all, who wouldn’t want to come home at the end of the day and relax on a clean, cosy, and fresh-smelling sofa?