No matter if your couch is a used one, or you have used it. Today, our topic is how to clean and sanitize a used couch. It’s not our responsibility to see how or by whom the couch was used.
A couch is a perfect piece that enhances the beauty of our home. It’s a place where we spend precious moments with loved ones. It bears so many things, jumping off our kids, spilled foods & drinks, the residue of oils or cream from our body, and so on.
So we should clean and sanitize it to keep our family safe after every six months. A used couch doesn’t only contain dirt & stains; it contains germs also. So along with deep cleaning, our couch needs sanitizing.
Cleaning used couches is simple. It needs only a few steps. We should try to clean a used couch with a natural cleaner first. It will be affordable and will keep our couch damage-free. And after deep cleaning, we will sanitize the couch to be safe from germs and bacteria.
If you have purchased a used couch, clean it deeply by following our cleaning method before using it. And if you have used your couch for more than six months, still you can follow our cleaning process.
So, scroll down and know the simple method of cleaning and sanitizing a used couch with a natural cleaner.
How to Clean and Sanitize a Used Couch
Before you start any cleaning or sanitizing steps, first read the instruction tag of the couch. Every little detail about couch cleaning you will find there.
Whether the couch is machine washable or not, cleaning ingredients support water, vinegar, dish soap, mild soap, shampoo, or alcohol.
Let’s know some meaning of the used sign on the tag and what they mean. If the tag has “W” it means you can use water if it has “S” use only dry cleaning ingredients like vinegar or alcohol.
`But if the tag comes with “X” it means you can only vacuum clean the couch. If you find both “S” and “W” you can cla the sofa in both ways, with water or dry cleaning.
Mop up Spills
Before you deep clean your couch, you should clean up the recent spills first. Mop up any types of recent spills with a cloth and wipe away drinking spills.
Vacuum in The First Place
Now you know what your couch can endure and mop away all the recent spills. Then let’s start the cleaning process by vacuuming the sofa. Vacuuming will reduce your workload by more than fifty percent. It will ensure the couch surface and bottom are thoroughly cleaned.
And each corner, like backside, armrests, backrests, all are free from any type of dirt. If there are food crumbs or loose dirt, pets’ hair and debris are sticking with the fabric, or inaccessible parts, vacuuming will clean all that.
One more thing, if the couch has detachable cushion seats, remove them and clean alone later. It will make the cleaning process simple in less time with less effort.
Some Cleaning Ways
Cleaning a couch is simple with some ingredients. We will know the best ways to clean by using five different ingredients.
01. Baking Soda
Baking soda is the most popular and easy-to-use cleaning method. You just have to take some baking soda, spread them all over the couch and let it sit for one hour.
If you get bad smells, then you should let baking soda be on the couch for more time. Keep it for around twelve hours, and then again use the vacuum cleaner to clean the baking soda sprinkle from the sofa.
If the dirt seems hard, use baking soda and water mixture solution. Spray the mixture on the couch surface, leave it for a few minutes and wipe away.
02. Vinegar and Water
Vinegar is another popular and affordable cleaning agent. It not only cleans dirt but also removes bad scents. If your couch has pets’ urine or drinking (alcohol/juice) spills, vinegar will clean it thoroughly.
Its using process is also simple. Take ¼ cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle, shake it well and spray to clean the couch. Let it sit for thirty minutes, then wipe away with a paper towel or dampen cloth. But using microfiber cloth will be best.
03. Dish Soap/liquid and Water
Using dish soap/liquid and water mixture solution is a typical method to clean a couch. Dish soap/liquid has the power to clean hard dirt and stains. So using it will benefit you.
Take a few drops of dish liquid and one bucket of water. Mix it well until bubbles show up. Now take a piece of cloth or a sponge and dip it into the solution.
Wring the cloth and wipe away each corner and surface of the couch and leave it to take action. After some time, it will be dried and free from any type of dirt.
04. Alcohol
Alcohol is also used as a cleaning agent. It can remove any type of stains and dirt from anywhere. You can use alcohol to clean your used sofa also.
Take some alcohol in a bowl; now dip a cloth or sponge into it. Then dab the cloth or sponge on the stain slowly. Do it for a few minutes, and see your couch is clean and free from stains.
Now to clean the couch surfaces and other areas, take some alcohol in a spray bottle and spray everywhere needed. Make sure the alcohol is fresh and clean. You can use rubbing alcohol or vodka for this process.
05. Baby Wipes
Baby wipes are the most simple cleaning agent. You don’t need any ingredients, stiff brush, vacuum cleaner, streamer, baking soda, vinegar, alcohol, or dish liquid.
You just have to wipe away your couch surface and corners with the baby wipers. Baby wipes are excellent in cleaning and removing stains. Use it and see the results.
How to Sanitize Couch Properly
After sofa cleaning now, your couch is all dirt-free and clean. But what about the germs? How can you get rid of them?
It’s time to use the sanitizer for the used couch. Alcohol kills germs. So, if you have used alcohol to clean your couch, most of the germs are already dead.
But still, if you think some germs and bacterias are there, use some couch disinfectant spray like hexanol or any kind of sanitizer. You can also use bug spray. Bug spray is also a disinfectant spray for the couch.
It will kill unhygienic bacteria like ticks, mites, bed bugs, fleas, etc., that are not seen with naked eyes. After applying bug spray, you have to keep it away from human touch for at least twenty-four hours.
In the market, some other disinfectant spray for furniture is available, you can use them if you want.
Know More on Be A Cleaner
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Spray Lysol on My Couch
Yes, you can spray Lysol on my couch. Lysol is a disinfectant spray. It can kill all types of germs. You can spray Lysol anywhere in the home or on any surfaces. If your couch is a fabric one, still you can spray Lyson on its surface. It won’t damage your couch.
Can I Spray White Vinegar on My Couch
Yes, you can spray white vinegar on your couch. White vinegar has antibacterial effects. It can kill any type of bad smells. But remember, you shouldn’t use white wine vinegar, only white vinegar.
And never saturate too much vinegar on the couch. It will help the mold to grow. Put vinegar on a spray bottle, mix some water into it and spray on your couch. It won’t damage the fabric or surface of the sofa.
Can You Steam Clean a Couch
Yes, I can steam clean a couch. Steam work is to refresh the sofa. After steaming, your couch will look like a new sparkling couch.
Steamer kills germs and bacteria by going deep on the couch material. But steam can’t remove stains altogether.
There are two types of streamers available, cold and warm streamers. A cold streamer is not usable on all kinds of fabrics; it has excess moisture content. Use a warm streamer for any type of couch. It’s effective in clean dirt, greases, blended sod, etc.
How Can I Deep Clean My Sofa at Home?
Some deeply enclosed dirt and stains remain on the couch even after regular cleaning and Maintenance. To remove that dirt and stains, you need to clean the sofa deeply. Follow the steps to deep clean your sofa home.
- The first test is whether baking soda damages the couch fabric or not. Usually, it’s safe for most of the couch fabric.
- Then brush the couch with the stiff brush to brush away all the dust, crumbs, and other dirt.
- Spread baking soda all over the couch and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
- Take the help of a vacuum cleaner and remove the baking soda from the couch thoroughly.
If there is still a stain left, use the solution-
- ¾ cup of lukewarm water
- one tablespoon dish soap/liquid
- 1/4cup of white vinegar
Mix all the ingredients and apply them to the stained surface. After a few minutes, when it dries, use a damp cloth and remove the solution. Dry it with a regular air or air cooler, whatever you wish.
How Can I Clean My Couch without a Steam Cleaner
Cleaning a couch doesn’t always need a steam cleaner. You can clean your sofa with natural remedies like baking soda, white vinegar, mild soap, alcohol, or professional cleaner.
Let me tell you an effortless way to clean your couch without a steam cleaner.
Take a mild soap like Dove and mix it with distilled water. Because normal water leaves a stain after cleaning.
Take a sponge and soak it in the mixture solution, then clean the couch with that damp cloth. You can use a microfiber cloth to wipe away the residue after cleaning is done. As it’s a distilled water, there won’t be any residue still. You can do that if you want.
Final Verdict
We have told you in details easily clean and sanitize a used couch. We have also given you some cleaning options. You can use any of them that you liked or seems actionable to you. After cleaning and sanitizing a used couch, your work doesn’t end here.
You have to do regular cleaning and maintenance. At least once a week, do a proper cleaning, mop away recent spills with a cloth, and sometimes use a damp cloth to clean immediate stains.
If you follow the steps to clean your used couch and do proper cleaning and maintenance, your sofa will sustain for years. The more you will care, the more your couch will sustain.
I am Evan Jr. Wilson, a professional cleaner. Working as a cleaner, I involve every cleaning task like scrubbing, washing, brushing, sweeping, tidying, vacuuming, mopping, and polishing.
From cleaning the house to work areas & machinery, I have experienced cleaning every space.
