How to Clean Couch Cushions

Common accidents might happen on couches, like stains on spilled drinks, pet oils/ urine, or other stains. These will often happen if you have guests who come over frequently, young children who run and play around with colors or food, or if you have any pets. 

A couch with a pillow and a blanket, which are all white

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Some couches have removable cushions, but some couches have non-removable cushions. And some cushions can be spot-clean only.

Couch cushion covers can generally be cleaned in cold water on a delicate cycle in the washing machine or by hand. Some spills can be removed with dye-free laundry detergent, which can eliminate most stains, and some other spills can be removed with homemade solutions or commercial spot removers.

Always remember that deep or old spills must require a professional steam cleaner. So leave it up to them and prevent ruining your favorite cushions.

How to clean couch cushions that are non-removal

Cleaning can be a bit more challenging because some couch cushions are not removable. If you have a non-removable couch cushion, there are several things that you can do to clean it.

A person with a pink glove holding a yellow spray bottle

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What You Will Need:

Equipment

  • Vacuum and its upholstery attachments
  • Rubber gloves
  • Microfiber cloth
  • A bucket
  • Upholstery brush

Materials

  • Warm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dye-free, gentle dish soap
  • Upholstery stain remover

1- Use Rubber Gloves To Remove Hair and Dust

To loosen any hair (whether they’ll be human or pet) or dust, put on rubber gloves and run them over the Upholstery. This way, it will be easier to vacuum.

2-Vacuum the Upholstery

Move from left to right the upholstery on your vacuum by overlapping lines. After changing the crevice nozzle, you must vacuum between the seams and under the cushions.

3-Treat Any Stains

Treat the stains with a solvent-based cleaner or water, depending on your cushions fabric’s care instructions. The solution must sink in, and then blot the stain with a microfiber cloth. You must be careful not to scrub the stain because it can push it further into the upholstery, or in the worst-case scenario, it might damage the fabric.

The number of applications you need to clean is determined by the type of stain you are dealing with. For example, the stains like blood, ink, or grease might need more rounds of cleaning.

And for stains like urine, you should use an enzymatic cleaner which you can make by mixing 1 cup vinegar, two teaspoons of dish soap, and 1 cup of water.

4-Wash the Upholstery

Combine warm water and a half teaspoon of dye-free dish soap, and create suds to froth the mixture up. Take an upholstery brush, dip it into the suds, and then run it gently across the Upholstery. Take care not to soak the fabric. In the end, wipe the fabric with a clean damp cloth and let it dry completely.

It is possible to keep a looking fresh and clean couch cushion even though it may take a bit more effort to clean a non-removable one.

A living room with brown chairs and grey couches

Credits: Unsplash

When It’s Best To Call a Professional?

If you have tried these cleaning methods mentioned previously and the stain remains that it’s your sign to call for a couch cleaning professional. Specific stains like old, deep, or large ones may need the expertise of a certified cleaning specialist who knows how to use special cleaning fluids.

Additional Tips for Cleaning Couch Cushions

Dab the spill with club soda if you’re having a stain persist because, as some may say, the carbonation in water helps lifts stains. Your most effective way for a stain situation is diluting the stain and dabbing the spill quickly. You can mope or dab with baby wipes in small spills.

Sprinkle baking soda onto the cushion if the fabric starts to smell. After 15 to 20 minutes, vacuum up the baking soda. 

If you want to help to shield the fabric from some staining, treat your clean upholstery with a stain-guard spray.

In Conclusion

Couch cushions are usually one of the dirtiest places in a home, and they can be problematic to clean. Unfortunately, not many people know how to properly clean couch cushions. 

We have provided you with easy tips on how to clean your couch cushions quickly. 

If you want your couch cushions to keep looking new for longer, clean them regularly. And you can also help protect your furniture from dirt and dust buildup. 

For any questions about how to clean your couch cushions, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything. Thanks for reading!

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