Some people spend most of their time in the living room, especially when the couch is very comfortable. In time, the sofa’s fabric might need some maintenance, and many homeowners are scared to do things wrong regarding polyester.
If your polyester couch is dirty or smells funny, don’t worry! Here’s what you can do to clean your sofa without damaging the fabric.
The quickest way to clean a polyester couch
Is it difficult to clean a polyester sofa? Not really, but you must be very careful with your method and cleaning solutions.
The quickest way is using a dry brush and a vacuum cleaner. You just loosen up any dirt, dust, and pet dander with the dry brush and vacuum everything up—simple as that!
However, sometimes it’s more than just food debris and dust; some areas of the couch can get stained and even smell. If this is your case, keep reading for a more thorough method.
How to spot-clean a polyester couch
If the mess isn’t that severe, soapy water will work wonders for spot-cleaning. However, don’t oversaturate it with water, or you’ll risk mildew due to excessive moisture. Also, don’t use a colored rag to scrub the fabric; otherwise, you’ll smear a new hue into the couch.
If you want to go further into cleaning, we recommend vinegar because it’s cheap, removes odors, and won’t damage polyester. To clean and deodorize your couch, you will need:
- A vacuum cleaner with brush attachment
- A spray bottle
- A soft brush
- Dish soap
- Vinegar
- Clean water
- A white, clean cloth
Now, follow these six steps:
- Vacuum the whole surface of the couch. If you have a brush attachment, the better.
- Grab the spray bottle, add one tablespoon of vinegar, one tablespoon of laundry detergent, and fill the rest of the container with water.
- Spray over the stained areas without drenching them; too much solution is harder to dry.
- Rub the cloth against the stains until they come off.
- Once dry, the sofa might become stiff. Give it a good brushing so the fabric is soft again.
What about the cushions?
Fortunately, you can clean your polyester cushions with the already-mentioned method. If you can remove the covers, it’s even easier to clean them in the washing machine.
However, you can ruin the material if you choose the wrong washing cycle. Therefore, put the covers in a laundry bag, and set your washing machine in a gentle cycle with cold water.
After washing, you can air dry the cushions, but avoid high heat if you toss them in the dryer. Finish by ironing the covers in a setting for synthetic fabric, and they’ll be good as new!
Can I steam-clean my polyester couch?
It is safe to use a steam cleaner only if you know the percentage of polyester in the fabric. Once you’re sure, you’ll be able to set the right temperature without burning the polyester. If you’re on the fence, get professionals to do it for you instead.
Keep learning with Sparkle Plenty!
It sure feels great to have a clean couch, but what about the rest of your home? If you like to discover better ways to clean your home, don’t stop! Get the best expert advice, tips, and tricks at the Sparkle Plenty blog. Click here for more!
