How to Deep Clean a Couch so Buyers Won’t Grouch

Couch potato chips, dog hair and stains on your upholstery will not impress anyone during an open house or showing. If you notice potential homebuyers slowly backing away from your couch, it’s time to remove that lived-in look and consider some deep cleaning.

In order to make your best first impression, we did extensive research and talked to award-winning real estate agent Deana Corrigan and upholstery expert Scott Johnston to explain all the ins and outs of couch cleaning. Not only will we explore the various methods of how you typically deep clean a couch but also explain why it’s important for attracting potential buyers. So, let’s dig in!

Why should you deep clean your couch?

You might look at your couch and think, it’s really not that bad. But from a buyer’s perspective – who will be spending thousands of dollars for your home – their initial impression could raise concerns about the rest of your house.

“Because when people walk in, they look at the cleanliness, of not just the overall house, but of everything you have,” says Corrigan “So, if you have a dirty couch, they’re like, hmm, what else are they not taking care of in the home? Are they even changing the filter on the HVAC system?”

When buyers notice your messy couch, they’ll often see it as a reflection of the seller’s attitude in not caring about their home. A dirty couch can also make them aware of dingy trim or other items that aren’t well-maintained. This can raise concerns for the buyer who calculates how expensive it will be to fix things when they clean it up.

What do the furniture fabric care codes mean?

But before you start your deep cleaning, you need to find out more about the material you have to clean. Typically, you’ll find your fabric care codes under the couch cushions or listed on another label that’s attached to your couch. Following your fabric care code will tell you what your upholstery can tolerate, and give you the best chance for not choosing the wrong cleaning method.

Fabric code definitions

“W” – Water-based products

“S” – Dry-cleaning solvents

“W-S” – Water-based/solvent products

“X” – Vacuum or light brushing only

If your furniture doesn’t have a fabric care label, you can research the manufacturer to try and determine the best cleaning method. Or, alternatively, contact an upholstery professional to help you in determining the type of fabric.

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Best tips for maintaining your furniture prior to a deep cleaning

Johnston, who has over 20 years of cleaning experience, says that regular maintenance of furniture saves both time and effort prior to doing your deep cleaning.

Routine vacuuming:  Vacuuming your upholstery on a regular basis is a good way to prevent dry soil from settling into a couch. As Johnston explains, the friction of someone repeatedly sitting on a couch with dry soil can cause premature wear to the furniture.

Clean spills right away: Johnston also notes that time is an important factor when someone spills something on their furniture. Because once things set into the fibers of your couch, it gets more difficult to clean them.

Don’t be too aggressive with cleaners: He also warns that it’s important to use very mild solutions, or just water to treat the area. Johnston further explains that being “too aggressive” with some of the over-the-counter products could cause additional problems.

“You could take the color out of something, could set the stain worse, you could smear and not get it out, there’s a lot of different things that you could do that could make the problem actually worse,” says Johnston.

Always find the right spot to do a spot test: After researching both the type of fabric and the recommended cleaner to use, then it’s always a good idea to do a spot test in a hidden area to test out your products. This can be the back of a couch skirt that faces the wall or the zippered side of a cushion that is never seen. Some couches even have a small piece of fabric underneath the cushion for this specific purpose so you can test the actual fabric.

Know the pros and cons of the different types of cleaners: The most common types of cleaners are baking soda, dry cleaning solvents and mixed solutions that contain vinegar, water, and soap. Each has its benefits, but also some drawbacks depending on how they are used and what you are cleaning.

Baking Soda

Pros: Typically used in small amounts to freshen up fabric

Cons: Can possibly lighten your upholstery and hard to remove if too much is applied

Dry cleaning solvents

Pros: Usually the safest to use on fabrics for a general cleaning

Cons: Typically, the least effective method to clean tough stains

Mild vinegar / soap / water (10% vinegar & soap combined with 90% water)

Pros: Good for pet stains and usually helpful to neutralize odor

Cons: Too much vinegar solution can leave behind a strong vinegar smell

What supplies will you need to deep clean your couch? (depending on your fabric code)

• Clean white cloth and/or white absorbent towel
• Cleaning solution (see different type of cleaners)
• Soft brush
• Spray bottle
• Vacuum with hose and additional attachments (crevice tool, etc.)

Considerations for pre-cleaning your couch before you start deep cleaning

According to Johnston, getting any dry materials out of your furniture is important because you don’t want to accidently add water to that soil and cause another problem. Cleaning everything as it sits in place and thoroughly vacuuming is the best way to pre-clean.

Should you use a rented machine to clean your upholstery?

Most rented machines you’ll find in the grocery store are typically used for carpet, with some that might have upholstery attachments. If you use a rented machine, it’s best to test the machine on a small unseen area before using it on a more visible part of your couch.

Also, Johnston says to be cautious of the power settings that will determine the amount of solution and water that goes through the machine. If too much liquid gets into your couch it will need to be extracted, and rented machines aren’t always powerful enough to remove all the water or cleaning solution left behind.

There also may be a learning curve to get the hang of the new machine. Starting with a smaller amount of solution to see how that it works before adding in extra soap is also helpful.

Steps to deep clean and sanitize your couch

Method 1 –  works best for fabrics that can use water-based cleaners

Step 1: Thoroughly vacuum (one or two times). This should be done for a minimum of 15-20 minutes for a six-foot couch. Go over every part of the couch using your crevice tools and attachments to ensure all the dry soils are vacuumed off before applying any wet solution.

Step 2: Make a mild solution of the vinegar/soap/water solution (10% vinegar/soap combined with 90% water) and pour into your spray bottle. After doing a spot test in a hidden area on your couch, lightly spray onto the couch to help loosen up the dirt. Then use a soft brush and/or cloth to remove more dirt from the material. This is an important step, as you don’t want any residue left behind to become a magnet for attracting more dirt.

Step 3: Dry the couch with a ceiling fan and/or box fan. Make sure the couch is thoroughly dry before using it. Typically, a 6-foot couch will take up to two hours to dry if the amount of solution used hasn’t been too excessive.

Johnston says “less is best” when using solutions and water. Starting off with a cautious approach to cleaning will help ensure that too much liquid doesn’t soak into your cushions and stay there, acting similar to a sponge that can dry along the edges but still be wet in the middle.

Method 2 – works best for fabrics that can use dry-cleaning solvents

CAUTION: Make sure you are working in a well-ventilated room away from open flames and follow the safety measures indicated on the dry-cleaning solvent you are using. Protect your skin, eyes and lungs from irritants when using solvent products, especially those that contain carbon tetrachloride which is a toxic substance.

Step 1: Thoroughly vacuum (one or two times). This should be done for a minimum of 15-20 minutes for a 6-foot couch. Go over every part of the couch using your crevice tools and attachments to ensure all the dry soils are vacuumed off before applying dry-cleaning solvent.

Step 2: Carefully follow the instructions on the dry-cleaning solvent you are using. After doing a spot test in a hidden area on your couch, apply the solvent to the couch in the amount indicated on your product’s label. Usually, this is done with a white clean cloth.

Step 3: Remove the dry-cleaning solvent, also following the label instructions. Typically, this is done by using a wet clean white cloth to remove the solvent with blotting. Let the couch air dry.

Johnston notes that using caution is highly recommended when using strong solvents. He will occasionally use stronger solvents when trying to remove things such as grease, tar, or gum but tries to avoid them if there’s a better alternative.

What are some of the toughest stains?

Pet urine

Johnston explains that pet urine is one of the toughest stains to remove due to its acid state that can oxidize and cause possible color change to your fabric. This can cause permanent damage if not removed immediately. As a professional, Johnston will use an acidic rinse and an enzyme (that attacks the bacteria) to help with odor and prevent stains. Absorbing as much as you can and treating the area with a mild vinegar/soap/water solution will usually help to neutralize the area.

Coffee/blood

“Hydrogen peroxide, the little 69-cent bottle that you get at the grocery store, can be one of the most effective spot removers, especially for things like coffee and blood,” says Johnston. Prior to using hydrogen peroxide, Johnston recommends using a gentle cleaner and then treating the area with hydrogen peroxide. But Johnston says to be cautious with the amount you use, as hydrogen peroxide is mostly water and if you use too much water that can cause water stains.

Mold/mildew

Mold and mildew are often caused by excessive moisture. Johnston says that mildew typically  grows over several days and can be treated. However, it may be difficult to remove the black stain left behind, which is like a dye that usually requires a professional to work on it for the best results.

What about cleaning the couch pillows?

The couch pillows are typically made of the same material as the couch itself, but always test the fabric first, especially if there are added colors to the pillows. Then Johnston recommends — after you follow the same cleaning process as the couch — to dry the pillows in a T shape to ensure both sides are completely dry.

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Common mistakes people make when cleaning their couch

1. Using too much water – When too much water is used to clean, the problem is that it gets trapped and doesn’t fully dry, which can cause staining and mildew.
2. Using too much cleaning solution – Dousing your couch in cleaning solution doesn’t usually make the stain go away faster, even if it’s club soda or vinegar. Basically, you are compounding the problem by adding in additional liquid that you can’t remove and this could leave a vinegar smell in your couch.
3. Not using the right product – If you are using a water-based product and your couch is dry clean only, this could ruin the fabric since it’s not designed to tolerate the solution.
4. Not taking enough time to clean – A couch can take a minimum of 3.5 hours to finish in making sure everything is vacuumed, cleaned and dried properly.
5. Concentrating on the stain but not the rest – If only the spots are cleaned and the rest of the cushion is ignored, that can cause that one area to stand out.
6. Scrubbing the fabric too aggressively – When a spot is rubbed too aggressively with excessive scrubbing, it can damage your fabric or make the spot permanent.
7. Not having the right tools – Your rented machine might be too powerful or not have enough suction to take out all the solution or water. Typically, the machines you have access to won’t be as powerful as professional equipment.
8. Waiting too long – If that pet urine incident happened six months ago and the stain wasn’t treated properly, it would be difficult for even a professional to fix it now.