How Often Should I Clean My Couch? A Guide to Upholstery Maintenance
Everyone knows no upholstery purchase is simple.
Whether you’re looking for a recliner, sofa, or dining chair, the aesthetic needs to match your overall décor and be comfortable while still being affordable for your budget.
Once you find a piece that checks all of your boxes, you want it to last a long time and to look nice throughout its lifespan.
That said, life happens. Pets happen. Kids happen. Food spills happen.
As a result, you might find your upholstery showing signs of wear, but you’re not out of options. In fact, you might just be able to refresh your upholstery with a simple professional cleaning.
How often are these cleanings necessary, though? Like with any cleaning cadence, there’s a generally recommended timeframe, but where you fall in that range depends on a few factors. Let’s dive in!
How Often Should I Get My Upholstery Cleaned?
The recommended frequency boils down to a few factors: the level of usage, the type of fabric, the number of people in your household, and the presence of pets or children.
Generally, it's recommended that upholstery gets professionally cleaned at least once every 12 to 18 months. However, if your furniture sees heavy usage, it may be necessary to clean it more frequently.
For households with pets, cleaning upholstery every six months is recommended. Many pets shed a lot, which leads to fur and dander embedded in the fibers of your upholstery over time. This can trigger respiratory symptoms in those with allergies or asthma. Pets may also leave a variety of stains on upholstery, which can be difficult to remove if left unattended for an extended period.
If you have children, your couch is again at higher risk for stains and dirt. Children also tend to be more active and may play on your furniture, which can cause the fabric to wear out more quickly.
Tips on How to Properly Maintain Upholstery
- Vacuum Your Upholstery Regularly
- Rotate Your Cushions
- Protect Your Upholstery from Sunlight
- Clean Stains Immediately
- Avoid Eating on Your Upholstery
Vacuuming your upholstery regularly removes dirt, dust, and pet hair that can accumulate on the surface of your furniture. Use a soft-bristled vacuum cleaner to prevent damaging the fabric. Although some allergens, dirt, dust, and pet hair will inevitably sink into your couch fibers, vacuuming once a week can reduce the amount that becomes embedded.
Rotating your cushions regularly helps to prevent them from wearing out on one side. This can help prolong the lifespan of your upholstery. Depending on your usage, rotate your cushions every two to three months.
Sunlight can cause the fabric of your upholstery to fade or discolor. To prevent this, ensure your furniture is not placed directly under sunlight. If you can’t avoid putting your upholstery where the sun regularly shines into your home, consider using window treatments such as blinds or curtains to protect your furniture from the sun's rays.
Spills and spots on your upholstery should be cleaned immediately to prevent them from setting in. Use a clean cloth to blot the stain and remove as much of the liquid as possible. Avoid rubbing the spot, as this can cause it to spread. Once you've removed as much of the spot as possible, use a gentle upholstery cleaner to remove any remaining residue.
Stanley Steemer’s spot cleaner for upholstery or carpet has simple application instructions while maintaining powerful results. If a spot might create a lingering odor, also use an enzymatic cleaner like Stanley Steemer’s Odor Out! Plus to break down the odor-causing bacteria.
Eating on your upholstery can cause spills and stains that are difficult to remove. If possible, avoid eating on your furniture. If you need to eat on your upholstery, use a tray to avoid spilling your meal on the furniture.
Of course, while dining room chairs are mostly protected by the table, they are always fodder for spills because of their purpose as dinnertime seating. Do your best to spot-treat any spills right after they happen, and then we’ll take it from there when it’s time for your regular upholstery cleaning.
That being said, there’s more to owning furniture than just keeping it clean! After all, some of our most treasured memories are from movie nights with snacks galore on our favorite couch or cuddling with our pets.
Don’t sweat it—spilled drinks and snacks happen, dirt makes its way in, and pets shed their hair everywhere—but we’re here to help! Stanley Steemer uses a hot water extraction method to flush the dirt, allergens, and pet hair out of your upholstery, leaving it looking and smelling fresh.
With regular maintenance and cleanings from professionals like Stanley Steemer, you can enjoy making memories and keep your upholstery clean!
When you’re ready to schedule, call us at 1-800-STEEMER or use our quote tool to schedule online and get an estimate.