How To Keep Your Couches Clean
We all have little tricks for keeping our couches looking good – whether it’s swapping the side you sit on to even out the cushions, or having a one-mile radius ban on coffee.
We’ve put together our own guide to keeping your couch clean through the four Ps: Pick, Protect, Preserve and Polish.
1. Pick Your Couch
Stage one of keeping your couch clean starts before you’ve even bought it. Think about what kind of couch will best fit your lifestyle, taking into account material, ease of care and colour.
If you have a toddler who loves blackcurrant squash, white furniture probably won’t last long. If you have a pet that sheds hair everywhere, you might not want suede.
Leather is easiest to wipe clean, and removable cushions and machine-washable covers will make maintenance easier. If you have young children, animals, or just a really clumsy partner, these options could save you a lot of unnecessary stress.
2. Couch Protection
Once you’ve got your couch in place, you can take a few measures to help prevent accidental damage. It’s up to you to decide how much protection your furniture needs: it can be anything from a spray-on stain protector to full-on plastic covers.
If you want a quick, easy solution that won’t spoil your décor, consider getting a few machine-washable throws. They’ll protect your couch from spillages (and cover up any that slip through) under the guise of stylish accessorising.
3. Preserving Your Couch
It’s important to pay your couch some TLC, even if it doesn’t look like it needs it, since damage from wear-and-tear builds up over time.
Whenever you’re vacuuming, try and remember to do the couch cushions and frame too. A quick lint roller run over the arms and a quick scrub with some fabric conditioner will keep your couch looking as good as new.
4. Polishing Up!
When it comes to deep cleaning or clearing up messes, know what your couch needs. Much like with clothes, your furniture should come with a tag that can tell you what the fabric is made of, and whether it can be dry-cleaned, steam-cleaned or needs professional shampooing.
There are usually cheap and easy at-home solutions. For example, baking soda can work wonders on fabric couches, while a water-and-vinegar mixture makes a great polish for leather.
We hope you’ve found our mini guide useful. Do you have your own tips and tricks for keeping your couch clean?