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The sofa is one of the most crowded areas in people's homes, and messy things are destined to happen. Stains are a direct threat, but over time, daily dust can cause dirtiness. In order to prolong the life of the sofa and make it look fresh, please vacuum it regularly and be prepared to quickly clean up the trash.

To prevent stains from getting deep and sticking to the fibers, clean up spills or stains as soon as possible. Most stains take about five minutes to clean (although using a portable upholstery cleaner may take five more minutes). However, more difficult stains may require more than one round of cleaning.

Regular maintenance-mainly vacuuming-only takes 10 minutes per week.

In addition to the daily maintenance of the sofa, all the professional cleaners we interviewed recommend that you professionally clean the interior decoration every six months to avoid dust accumulation. Crate & Barrel’s customer service representative recommends that you perform a professional cleaning once a year to "keep upholstery in top condition."

Every upholstery cleaning expert we’ve spoken to, as well as the Professional Upholstery Cleaning Standards and Reference Guide of the Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), emphasizes how to first determine the exact type of upholstery you are dealing with by looking up the cleaning code. Importance. Look at the cleaning codes on the furniture labels, which are usually affixed to the cushions or under the sofa. Some sofas may have multiple tags, which may suggest different cleaning methods for each part of the sofa.

The label (or multiple labels) will list one of four cleaning codes: W (water-based cleaners only), S (cleaning solvents or dry-cleaning products only), W/S (water or solvent-based products can be used), And X (can only be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush). If there is no label or the label is removed, you can find cleaning information on the manufacturer’s website or by contacting customer service.

Before applying the spot remover on the stain, place a few drops in an inconspicuous place, and then leave a white cloth on the fabric for 10 seconds for pre-testing. Gary Clipperton, President of National Pro Clean, said that if you see color shifts, color changes, or fabric damage, choose a different cleaning solution.

Even if your sofa has an X on the label, this may not mean that vacuuming is the only household cleaning option available. Stewart Emmons, owner of PristineGreen upholstery and carpet cleaning company in New York City, tells us that sometimes manufacturers will put the lowest risk code on upholstery to reduce customer complaints (usually, more expensive products will have this label). In other words, a professional upholstery cleaner is the best choice for you to determine the safest and most effective way to clean those sofas marked with X.

If you cannot find the label or cleaning code on the manufacturer's website, or if you have antique or antique furniture, it is best to have a professional check it to avoid damage to the upholstery.

Just like your bookshelf or TV shelf will accumulate dust, your sofa will also accumulate dust—but it’s not easy to see. Vacuuming can prevent dust from embedding in the fiber, and it has a great influence on the speed at which the sofa gets dirty. If there is hair, fur, lint, dust or other debris, the stain will also be more difficult to clean.

First remove all detachable cushions. Collect coins, hairpins, and any other large debris that might fall into the sofa. Then clean up the solids. If you have pets, lint rollers are especially helpful in removing fur. Use upholstery accessories and crevice tools to vacuum each cushion and the sofa itself, paying special attention to places where debris can settle, such as corners and seams. If you want to clean delicate fabrics such as silk, pay attention to the suction power of the vacuum and consider switching it to a lower setting if necessary.

If you can’t use a vacuum cleaner, a hard-bristled brush is a good alternative. Brush the upholstery gently in one direction to remove most of the debris. Whenever possible, use fabric fluff.

"The three factors that determine whether a stain will appear are: how long the stain is there, the fabric, and what spilled," Emmons said.

Once you get dirty or spilled something on the interior decoration, please remove as much liquid or dirt as possible as soon as possible. "If you can't remove all the residue, the cleaner may spread the stain further," Clipperton said. If stains are neglected, they will stick to the fibers and are more likely to produce permanent stains.

Use a dry white absorbent cloth or white paper towel to soak up the stain. Plastic spatulas can also be used for semi-solids. Alternatively, you can use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner or a portable upholstery cleaner to suck out the residue. However, be sure to clean the water tank or trash can as soon as possible, otherwise it will start to smell bad.

After removing all the residue, dab the stain with the cleaning fluid, and then gently wipe from the edge of the spill to the center to prevent the stain from spreading. However, please make sure you do not scrub. According to Clipperton, “scrubbing can cause pile deformation in the affected area.”

Then rinse the stained area with cold water and blot dry, removing as much cleaning solution as possible to prevent discoloration. If you have hard water or well water in your home, Emmons recommends using distilled water as a cleaning solution and rinse water. According to Ken Kaplan, the founder of Dirt Blasters Carpet Cleaning, tap water can leave mineral deposits that can cause unwanted shadows on upholstery.

To prevent mold and odor, please let the sofa dry thoroughly. If you have a wet and dry vacuum cleaner or a portable upholstery cleaner, such as Bissell Little Green, you can use it to suck out liquids. For larger wet stains, consider placing an absorbent towel between the fabric and the padding material to absorb excess moisture (if your pad allows this). Wait to put the cushion back on the sofa until all parts are completely dry. Extending the drying time increases the risk of discoloration. Opening the windows and turning on the fan will help speed up the process.

If you have stains, please ask a professional for help. They usually have stronger industrial cleaning products, which may be able to get the job done. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that professionals will be able to remove stains.

Cleaning methods involving household necessities such as baking soda and dish soap are popular on the Internet and social media, but are they effective?

Baking soda is called a deodorant. But if you don't use the proper vacuum cleaner, it will stay in the upholstery, says Lawrence Kendrick, owner of K&D Carpet and Cleaning Services.

Emmons tells us that as for detergent, there are risks in using detergents that are not designed for fabrics. "Sometimes they have dyes in them, and the dyes will leave marks on your upholstery."

Regarding dirty sofas, almost all the furniture manufacturers we talked to told us that they do not recommend deep cleaning themselves.

If you cannot identify the fabric, you are dealing with complex textiles (such as satin fabrics or fabrics with roving), or the sofa is really dirty, you may need to hire a professional.

Before starting any upholstery cleaning, professional cleaning requires many of the same things you do yourself. Professionals perform fabric inspections, test any products they might use in hidden spots, and remove dry dirt. Next-and most importantly-they use some combination of chemical products, heat, stirring, and/or time to separate the dirt from the upholstery, and this is how you do a deep cleaning.

They will extract suspended dirt by absorbing, wet vacuuming, rinsing, or vacuuming the fabric while it is dry. After completion, if necessary, professionals will modify and set the pile fabric. Then wait until the upholstery dries.

Even professional deep cleansing has limited effects. Clipperton told us, “Upholstery cannot be treated with disinfectants, and then all viruses and bacteria are expected to be removed.... The basic structure makes it impossible to penetrate the lower layers of the object and disinfect the fabric.”

Professional upholstery cleaners cannot remove bed bugs. This requires different types of cleaning professionals.

After talking with various upholstery cleaning experts and furniture manufacturers, we put together some simple tips to keep the sofa clean and maintain its appearance:

Ken Kaplan, owner and founder of Dirt Blasters Carpet Cleaning, telephone interview, June 9, 2021

Lawrence Kendrick, owner of K&D Carpet and Cleaning Services, telephone interview, June 9, 2021

Stuart Emmons, owner, PristineGreen upholstery and carpet cleaning, telephone interview, May 5, 2021

Gary Clipperton, President of National Pro Clean, email interview, June 17, 2021

Sarah Bogdan is a full-time writer at Wirecutter, covering electrical appliances. Previously, she tested cleaning products and appliances at Good Housekeeping. Her degree in mechanical engineering and product design helped her understand how products work and how people interact with them. When she is not dealing with the mess, she is dealing with opponents on the football field.

Gregory Han and Abigail Stone

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