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How to clean and sanitize a used couch?
Whether it be chilling out with your friends, enjoying a good afternoon nap, binge-watching your favourite shows on Netflix, or working on your office papers, your couch serves as an essential piece of furniture next to your bed.
But its prolonged daily use also makes it vulnerable to unfavourable smells, germs, and allergens.
Because of this, we can’t help but wonder how we can sanitize our used sofas at home without damaging its upholstery.
But don’t worry because we will look at the basics and essentials needed to ensure that your seats are germ-free.
How to Clean and Sanitize a Used Couch
Although vacuuming your couch removes the stains, dust, and dirt on its surface, this technique may not be enough to remove all the unwanted germs living on your furniture.
Furthermore, spraying your sofa with a bleach solution might be a tempting technique to do, but it may cause a lot of damage to your upholstery.
To properly cleanse and sanitize your sofa, there are additional measures you must take than just vacuuming its cushion seats clean.
Let us look at the essential steps for cleaning and sanitizing a couch below:
Step 1 – Vacuum Your Sofa
Before you apply any form of solution to your furniture, always make sure to keep its surfaces clean using a vacuum cleaner.
Ensure that its armrests, backside, and backrest are free from loose dust, debris, and dirt.
If you have detachable cushion seats, we suggest removing them from your couch and placing them aside.
Afterwards, vacuum the bottom portion of your furniture, as well as the surfaces of your cushions.
Step 2 – Sanitize Your Upholstery
Several DIY sanitizer sprays are effective in eliminating germs and removing food stains on your couch.
For this method, we will show you the most affordable yet powerful sanitizing solution. It uses simple ingredients that you can easily find at home, such as the following:
- Dish soap
- Water
- Bottle sprayer
Here, all you need to do is put enough water and dish soap into your bottle sprayer. Afterwards, shake the container gently for a few seconds.
Next, spray the solution over your cushion seats, as well as every section on your sofa.
Once you have dampened your upholstery, make sure to wipe it using a sponge or cloth to remove all the grime on it.
Let your furniture air-dry while you sanitize your cushion seats.
Step 3 – Spray Disinfectant Over Your Sofa
The next step in cleaning a used couch is spraying another disinfectant on it. This homemade solution is best applied to prevent the spread of any virus from one family member to another.
For this method, you need to fill up your spray bottle with enough alcohol and water. Afterwards, shake the container gently and allow the solution to mix thoroughly.
Next, spray the disinfectant at least seven inches away from your couch and allow your furniture to air-dry for a few hours.
Know Your DIY Disinfectant Spray
If you have food stains on your couch, spray a small amount of the disinfectant on the area and wipe it down using a clean cloth.
But aside from this alcohol-water solution, there are other DIY disinfectant sprays that you can prepare depending on your sofa’s material.
At the later part of the article, we will discuss a few of the most used solutions for selected couch fabrics.
Step 4 – Steam Clean Your Upholstery
After spraying any form of disinfectant on your couch, you then need to apply steam.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agency, steam sterilization is among the most efficient, affordable, and non-toxic techniques for killing bacteria.
Not only does the heat from steam remove dirt, but it can also kill pathogens, allergens, and viruses.
For this method, all you need to do is fill up your steam cleaner’s water tank with enough water and disinfectant.
Afterwards, move it over your upholstery several times, ensuring that every section of your sofa is clean.
Make sure to pass the steam cleaner on the sides of your cushion seats and repeat this step a couple of times before placing them back to their proper place on the couch.
Another trick we suggest is using a mix of shampoo and water for couches that have a musty smell from food stains or pet urine.
Allow the upholstery to dry for several minutes before applying a scented disinfectant over your furniture.
Step 5 – Disinfect Your Slipcovers
The last step in cleaning a used couch is disinfecting its slipcovers. These slipcovers are a piece of fabric placed on your sofas to protect them from germs and accidental spills.
So, if your couch does not have one yet, then we highly suggest getting a slipcover to ensure your couch’s cleanliness.
Aside from being a trusty protector for your upholstery, it also needs regular cleaning to remove all the unwanted dirt and bacteria accumulation on it.
But before you wash it, make sure to check its tag for special instructions.
Most slipcovers would require a cold-water wash with low-temperature drying. But this technique does not guarantee the elimination of germs.
So, after washing it with your favourite laundry detergent, make sure to hang it directly under the sun’s rays for at least two hours to remove any bacteria left on the surface.
How to Clean A Used Couch Fabric Material
For couches with fabric upholstery, the best disinfectant solution that you can use is white vinegar.
This household solution has strong disinfectant properties and is also an anti-allergic and non-toxic alternative for eliminating germs on your sofa.
To sanitize a fabric couch, place equal amounts of white vinegar and water into a bottle sprayer and shake the mixture gently.
Afterwards, spray the solution at least one foot away from the upholstery. Make sure to repeat this step until you have misted all the corners and crevices of your sofa.
Leather Material
Aside from fabric couches, you can also apply your vinegar-water disinfectant solution over your leather sofas.
For this method, mix equal amounts of water and white vinegar and place it in a container.
Afterwards, pour a small part of the disinfectant solution onto a white cloth and wipe it down your sofa. Lastly, use an absorbent towel to dry out the dampened areas.
Microfiber Suede Material
Compared to leather and fabric upholstery, microfiber suede fabric uses synthetic materials sensitive to many cleaning and sanitizing techniques.
So, if you have a microfiber suede couch at home, here is what you can do:
The first step you need to do is check whether it is safe to apply this DIY solution to your couch.
Make sure to read your sofa’s cleaning tag to avoid unwanted damages to your upholstery.
If your label has the W character placed on it, add a few drops of dish soap and baking soda in water. Mix the spray bottle gently and apply it on your couch.
However, if your tag has the S label on it, use the alcohol-water disinfectant solution and spray it over your couch’s surfaces and crevices.
Afterwards, wipe the dampened areas using a cloth or soft sponge.
Polyester Material
Lastly, most homeowners might have couches with polyester upholstery.
Because this material consists of natural chemicals and synthetic fibres, we highly suggest checking your sofa’s cleaning tag first for special instructions.
But if you have this type of couch at home, the best disinfectant spray you can use is the white vinegar-water solution.
Similar to leather and fabric couches, using this disinfectant eliminates germs and bacteria living in the hard-to-reach areas of your couch.
You can also add a few drops of dish soap or laundry detergent to remove dirt and dust on your sofa’s surface.
Additionally, make sure to wipe down the dampened areas using a soft cloth to prevent the solution’s saturation over the polyester material.
Once air-dried, you can use a soft brush to free up any stiff fibre on your sofa.
Wrapping It Up!
There is more to cleaning your couch than just by the usual vacuum cleaner.
With the emergence of new viruses and bacteria, as well as the accidental spills and food crumbs on your sofa, having a regular and proper cleaning routine is essential in ensuring that your couch is germ-free.
We hope that this ultimate guide on “how to clean and sanitize a used couch”, shows you all the inexpensive yet effective techniques of deodorizing your sofa and eliminating allergens, dust mites, and bacteria.
Remember, having a regular cleaning routine allows you and your family to relax and enjoy staying in your living room.
Read Next: Know the best material for a couch!