Our top tips for keeping your sofa squeaky clean
We’ve all been there – the kids are eating chocolate or you’re enjoying a glass of wine on your brand new sofa when suddenly an accident happens. It can feel like the end of the world when something stains your sofa, but in most cases acting fast can save it from any long lasting damage. If you want to know how to keep your sofa clean, then follow our tips below.
How to clean my fabric sofa
Stains are significantly more likely to happen on fabric sofas, because most fabrics are made up of individual fibres woven together. Liquid or sticky food spillages stain when these fibres absorb liquid or oils and then dry out, which makes them tough to remove. We offer fabric options that are more hardwearing and resistant to staining, like our lifestyle and pet friendly fabrics, but we recommend always quickly cleaning the stain to avoid any lasting damage.
Our fabric care kit is the best way to keep your sofa clean. It comes with all the products we recommend to remove unwanted stains and keep your sofa looking great.
How to clean my leather sofa
If you’ve spilt something on your leather sofa be sure to act fast to effectively remove the stain. As with any upholstery, you should always quickly blot up any spillages with a clean, dry cloth first, then blot any stain with a wet cloth to loosen it from the material.
Our trusty and relaxed leather sofas are treated with a protective layer, and are thus less likely to stain, whereas our character leather sofas don’t have this protection, making them much easier to stain. No matter what leather you have, it’s important that you move quickly to prevent a stain from forming.
We offer two specialised care kits, depending on the type of leather: our standard leather care kit, designed for trusty and relaxed leather, and our brushed aniline care kit which is formulated for use on character and character vintage leather.
The care kit instructions explain how to use each item included. You shouldn’t need any other tools or specialist equipment, and we only recommend using our specially formulated care kit products to clean your Sofology sofa.
How to use the your care kit
- Move quickly to blot the spillage with a clean, dry colourfast cloth.
- Once the excess has been removed, wet a colourfast cloth and blot at the stain. Don’t rub, as this is likely to spread the stain rather than remove it.
- Apply a generous amount of your care kit fabric or leather cleaner. Using a clean, dry cloth, dab at the stain until it’s gone and the area is dry.
- When the stain is removed, you should use a vacuum cleaner to remove any residual particles then wipe the affected area from seam to seam with a wet cloth.
I don’t have a care kit, how do I clean a stain?
If you don’t have a care kit and need to remove a stain, we recommend using a warm solution of soapy water when blotting and keep going until it has been removed. Once finished, you should wipe the affected area to avoid water marks. Dampen a fresh colourfast cloth with water and gently wipe the panel from seam to seam.
Regular Maintenance
The best way to keep your sofa looking great all year round is with regular maintenance, and that means weekly cleans. We recommend you plump your cushions daily where possible, especially seat or back cushions that are regularly used – this will invite air back into the fillings, which keeps the cushion feeling plump and looking full. We’d also recommend hoovering down the sides of the cushions and under the cushions (where possible) once a week to ensure any crumbs or dirt don’t damage your fabric or leather.
Every six months, take out your care kit and use the formulas included on your sofa where necessary to freshen up the fabric or leather. There are special protective oils included with brushed aniline care kits that are necessary to preserve the character of the sofa and keep it protected from the everyday wear and tear of life – these should be applied following the care kit directions.
We’re always here to help
If the tips above are followed, you’re likely to remove your stain in the first instance almost every time, and you’ll be able to keep your sofa looking great and feeling comfy for longer with our general sofa maintenance tips.
If you have any problems using your care kit, or need help with a tough stain, be sure to contact us and we’ll be happy to help.