Your couch, like everything else in your home, requires regular cleaning. This entails vacuuming your couch. Even though you will be vacuuming your couch, the cleaning dynamics will be different than when vacuuming the floor or carpet.
Your couch needs to be vacuumed because it collects dust and debris just like other surfaces in your home. If you have pets or children, be assured that pets and children will contribute to the dirt that accumulates on your couch, hence the need to vacuum.
It is not, however, a herculean task because you can vacuum your couch at home without the assistance of a professional. The article provides a comprehensive guide on how frequently you should vacuum your couch. Continue reading to find out more.
In this post we will cover:
- Why Vacuum Your Couch?
- How Often Should You Vacuum Your Couch?
- How to Clean Your Couch
- How to Properly Clean the Couch
- Tips for Cleaning a Couch
- What should I look for in a vacuum cleaner for the couch?
- How should I keep my couch clean and stain-free?
Why Vacuum Your Couch?
Your couch accumulates debris and dirt, just like the floors, carpets, and rugs in your home. The couch in many houses is usually dirtier than most floors because people are more in contact with the couch than the floor and the couch is not cleaned as often as it should be.
The things that most people come in contact with can end up on the couch making it dirtier if they are not cleaned regularly. Also, things such as human and pet hair get trapped on the couch too. Dust mites also collect on the furniture depending on the fabric.
Things like crumbs on the couch attract bugs that may also poop on the couch, adding more dirt to it. If you or any member of your family suffers from allergies, your couch can act as a significant trigger for allergies.
When you vacuum the couch, it will prevent the mentioned dirt, dust, and debris from collecting on it and causing allergic reactions for those who suffer from allergies. Vacuuming will help the upholstery last longer because it will slow down the wear and tear.
You should vacuum your couch to make it look clean and fresh, get rid of allergens, and all unwanted smells that may be caused by lack of vacuuming.
How Often Should You Vacuum Your Couch? Complete Guide
It is generally recommended to vacuum your couch once a week or whenever you vacuum your floor. Deep cleaning should be done once or twice every year, depending on how often the couch is used and how much dirt has accumulated on it.
If your furniture is not used often, then regular vacuuming of your couch is not required. However, if the furniture in your house is regularly used, then you should vacuum your couch once a week or you can go a few months without vacuuming it.
If you have little kids or pets, you should vacuum your couch more often, even up to three times a week. The cleaning frequency will help you to stay on top of any spills and messes created by children and pets on the couch.
The material of your couch will also determine how often you vacuum your couch. That is because some materials accumulate a lot of dirt over a short time, such as couches made of fabric since dirt clings to them easily.
Other materials, such as leather, do not absorb dirt easily because they can be dusted or wiped off with a dry duster or moist cloth respectively. A leather couch should be vacuumed once or twice a week. A fabric couch should be cleaned every three to four months.
Spot cleaning of the couch should be done immediately after a stain occurs. Therefore, if a drink or food is spilled on your couch, it should be wiped off immediately. If vacuuming is required, it should be vacuumed immediately.
Professional cleaning should be done by a certified cleaning technician every one to two years or more frequently in homes with pets and small children.
How to Clean Your Couch
Before you begin any cleaning, check the care tag of your couch for some letters written on it. The letters stand for different things and they include:
W: this is an indication that water can be used when cleaning the couch.
S: this means that the material should be cleaned with dry detergent.
X: stands for no water but vacuum only.
WS: means that a mild detergent or dry cleaning detergent and a steam vacuum can be used.
If you are not sure of how to clean your couch, there is no need to worry, but it is essential to vacuum your couch depending on the material type. That is because not all couches have to be vacuumed the same way, as different couches are made of different materials.
The complete guide to how they should be cleaned is as follows:
1. Leather couch
If your couch is made of leather, do not go crazy with the vacuum. Just vacuum your couch to remove any loose material deposited beneath the cushion. However, the best way to clean leather couches is with specialized cleaning wipes.
Disinfect the surface of the couch using the wipes gently. During the cleaning, your couch will be protected by a specialized leather cleaning solution. You can also use a microfiber cloth to dust the couch. Just ensure that you use the correct protectant and leather upholstery cleaner.
2. Fabric couch
The couch requires you to utilize a fabric cleaner such as Febreze or Lysol to help in disinfecting and refreshing the cushions of the couch.
After that, lift the cushions and then vacuum your couch to remove any loose material that has fallen beneath the cushion. Lastly, follow up the vacuuming with a spray of your choosing and leave the cushions to air dry.
3. Velvet couch
Velvet couches need additional care and before you vacuum such a couch, brush the velvet surface using a sturdy bristle brush to loosen any debris. However, if you are removing unwanted stains or doing a deeper clean, use a gentle dish soap and a wet cloth.
Blot the stain with a soft, circular motion with the cloth. Give the solution time to rest on the stain and leave it for an hour to dry. Once it is dry, use a brush and a vacuum to clean up the remaining debris.
4. Chenille couch
Chenille is a material that can be tricky to maintain and if you have a couch made of this material, you should vacuum it regularly to keep hair and dirt to a minimum.
Spot clean as required using a soft bristle brush and low moisturizer cleanser. Hire a professional for deep cleaning every few years.
5. A pleather couch
A pleather couch is easy to clean because of its material makeup. Vacuum the couch to remove any dirt and debris, and then clean the cushions using a wipe or any disinfectant spray.
However, if you decide to make your own formula spray, a mixture of rubbing alcohol, gentle dish soap, essential oils, and water can go a long way as a fresh scent.
6. Denim couch
You can remove stains on your denim couch as a natural way of removing odors and stains. Make a paste by sprinkling baking soda on the couch and rub it with a wet cloth.
Once the couch is dry, vacuum the residue away. The vacuuming should be done a couple of times a year.
How to Properly Clean the Couch: Step by Step Guide
1. Remove the cushions and place them on a clean and fresh surface. Avoid throwing them on the floor to prevent the cushions from attracting more dirt.
2. Pick any big debris around the couch’s interior and discard them to make your work easier.
3. Vacuum the inside corners of the couch at the place where the seat’s bottom meets the inner side using the crevice attachment. Press the attachment down firmly onto the surface to get the most suction strength.
4. Vacuum the sides, back, and the areas under the cushions of the couch. Vacuum the areas in a grid pattern using the upholstery attachment. You may also need to use the brush during this step if you end up collecting a lot of debris.
5. Vacuum the cushions of the couch, including the sides, bottom, and top in a grid pattern. Use a clean and dry cloth to loosen the dirt on the cushions before vacuuming using the upholstery attachment.
6. Vacuum the pillows of your couch if you have any in a grid pattern. Any wooden surfaces should be polished and rough surfaces wiped off. Check the legs of your cushion to ensure that they are in good condition.
7. If you have wooden floors, look underneath the legs of your couch for any scratching and replace any screws and felt pads that have fallen loose. Then sweep the area to finish.
Tips for Cleaning a Couch
Fully remove your cushion from the couch frame to ensure that everything is properly vacuumed and sanitized.
If you are deep cleaning remove the couch from its normal position so that you can sweep or vacuum up dust or dirt that has accumulated underneath.
If your couch cushion has furniture with a zipper it is for fluffing and not washing the cover. Avoid washing the cushion covers because they may shrink making it hard to put them back on.
Wash any blankets and pillows on your couch and dry them according to the instruction tags. This will ensure that the entire area smells and feels fresh, as well as being dust-free.
Avoid using fabric protector sprays on new furniture as they may void some warranties. Do not use different soaps as they will not help the fabric.
Do not leave your couch where it may be exposed to water since too much water exposure will ruin the couch and some will never dry out fully.
Conclusion
Vacuum your couch as often as possible depending on the usage, and fabric. However, if you have children and pets, you should vacuum your couch up to three times a week. When you vacuum your couch, you eliminate all the dirt that has accumulated there.
Vacuuming also has health benefits for those suffering from allergies, since they will not be affected when using a clean couch. Since there are different kinds of couches based on the material, they need to be cleaned differently.
Vacuuming your couch is easy and attainable without any professional help, and you can do so by following the guide provided above.
FAQs
What should I look for in a vacuum cleaner for the couch?
Surface type: a vacuum cleaner should be compatible with various surfaces, including upholstery such as couches. Various vacuum types, such as handheld, canister, and backpack units, work perfectly on upholstery. Ensure that the vacuum can handle upholstery.
Lightweight: the vacuum should be easy to move around, especially when cleaning the couch so that each nook and cranny of your couch can be vacuumed, using the appropriate accessories that come with the machine.
Attachments: a good vacuum cleaner for vacuuming your couch should be accompanied by attachments such as the upholstery and crevice tools, which are crucial when you have to vacuum your couch.
Suction power: the machine should have a suction that is powerful enough to suck up all the dust and dirt hiding in various places on the couch, leaving your couch clean and fresh.
How should I keep my couch clean and stain-free?
Vacuum and dust: vacuuming and dusting your couch often will keep dust and dirt at bay and will get rid of the dirt that was transferred to the couch from the floor through the socks. It prevents dirt from being deeply embedded in the couch.
Rotate cushions and spot clean: flip the base cushions and rotate the back or throw pillows on the couch to prevent uneven wear. Clean marks as soon as they form and spills as soon as they occur.
Apply a fabric protector: treating your fabric and adhering to a maintenance routine will ensure that your couch holds up to clumsy spills and general wear and tear. Check the guidelines provided by manufacturers since some products may damage velvet and silk materials.
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