Fabric sofas are available in many different styles and colours as well as a mixture of different materials and finishes. Some fabrics such as microfibers are easier to clean and much more resilient to stains and spillages than other types such as cotton or chenille. Many people will avoid buying a fabric sofa opting for leather sofas instead which can be easily wiped and do not absorb liquids, however if you care for your fabric sofas and have the right cleaning and care products to hand there is no reason why you should not buy them on the basis they are difficult to clean.
Basic cleaning
To remove a build up of dust and any loose crumbs / dirt vacuuming your sofas is an effective method, make sure you are gentle and use an attachment that has no sharp edges that could catch and pull the fabric.
For light stains and spillages a very weak solution of water and detergent can lift most marks, it is important to act quickly if you do spill any liquids on your fabric sofa, this will prevent the spillage seeping into the material which can make it harder to deal with. Start by dabbing the spillage with a soft dry cloth to lift as much of the liquid as possible from the surface of the sofa, you can then repeat the process dabbing the stain or mark with a damp cloth. Repeat this procedure as many times as needed or until the stain does not seem to be getting any lighter or reducing in size. Failing this there are other products available to deal with tougher stains that are harder to shift.
Use the correct products
With so many different types of fabrics available it is important to use the correct cleaning solutions. You can usually determine which cleaning products are best for your fabric suite by asking at the point of sale which type is most suitable, failing this always read the directions on any cleaning solutions, these should highlight which types of fabric the product can be used on and which types it can’t. It is also good practice to test any cleaning products on a small inconspicuous area of the sofa before apply to the whole suite.
Professional cleaning
For even tougher stains or to give your fabric sofa an all over deep clean you can enlist the help of a professional. One of the most popular and effective methods used by professional sofa cleaners is steam, steam will lift most stains, failing this professionals will have an array of stronger cleaners and the knowledge to tackle most stains.
With a little knowledge and the correct products you can keep your fabric sofa looking new for many years and tackle most household stains with ease.