Couches are so much more than regular pieces of furniture. They’re where you sit to have conversations with friends and family, the ideal place to watch movies and TV, and also where a lot of families eat. If you have pets and children, you can expect your couch to get more use than ever before.
Although they can be comfortable, couches can also harbor an insane amount of dirt and bacteria simply because they’re used so often. Most home owners don’t think about disinfecting their sofas, which can be a great way to return them to their original beauty and to get rid of odors.
By learning how to steam clean a couch, you can easily get rid of bacteria and viruses within a few minutes and be able to enjoy the beautiful look and feel of your furniture as if it were right out of the store.
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The Benefits of Learning How to Steam Clean a Couch
There are many things to take note of when it comes to the advantages to opting for steam cleaning instead of professional and chemical cleans.
- Affordable: The first thing to know about steam cleaning is that it is far more cost effective. Especially when compared to hiring professional upholstery cleaning services or even buying couch cleaning products on your own. All you’re going to need is your household steam cleaner and water to thoroughly disinfect the upholstery. Plus, once you have the steam cleaner you can use it throughout your house for years to come.
- Chemical-Free: There’s nothing worse than filling your home with unnecessary chemicals. Your couch doesn’t need to smell like artificial fragrances to be clean; the most important thing is to get rid of the odor causing bacteria. Using steam means there’s no need for any harmful chemicals. Not only does this protect the environment, but it also creates safe living conditions for your whole family.
- Improving Couch Quality: Over time, it’s a known fact that your couch is going to see a lot of wear and tear. Without regular cleaning, it will also fall victim to stains and bacteria that will make the materials wear away far faster than if it were clean. By regularly steam cleaning your upholstery it improves its quality, helping to make the couch last longer.
- Enhancing Comfort: Steam is a miracle worker, as it not only disinfects the surfaces it touches but it can also be a phenomenal way to improve the softness of your couch. The steam will work its way into the fibers of the material and soften them, making your couch feel even more comfortable than it was when you first bought it.
Last update on 2023-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tips and Tricks for Steam Cleaning a Couch
Before you begin, it’s important to take advantage of these tips and tricks to make sure you’re prepared.
Tip 1: Using Cleaning Attachments
It’s important that you opt for a steam cleaner that has all of the cleaning attachments you’ll need to disinfect a sofa. Typically you’re going to want to look for an upholstery tool as it gives you the ability to properly steam the fabric. Cleaning attachments are also great because they help you to get into hard-to-reach areas such as cracks and crevices with ease.
Tip 2: Reading the Instruction Manual
When you purchase your steam cleaner it’s important to read through the instruction manual to see if they have any recommended settings for working with upholstery. There may be different heat settings and steam settings that you should use for various types of couch materials. For example, corduroy might need certain settings whereas microfiber will need others.
Tip 3: Using Distilled Water
Your steam cleaner is going to need the cleanest water possible to ensure there aren’t any water streaks or minerals left behind after the steam is produced. This is why it’s recommended that you use distilled water for your cleans. Since it is essentially purified and free of minerals, it’ll penetrate deep fibers without leaving any residue behind.
The Steps for Steam Cleaning a Couch
Below are the easy to follow steps to learn how to steam clean your couch.
Step 1: Preparing the Steam Cleaner
The first thing you’ll need to do is prepare your steam cleaner by filling the reservoir with water and plugging the unit into the wall. Allow a sufficient amount of time for the unit to heat up to ensure you’re getting the highest quality steam when you start to use it.
Step 2: Vacuuming the Couch
While you’re waiting for the cleaner to heat up, take the time to thoroughly vacuum your sofa. You would be surprised at the sheer amount of dirt and crumbs that can fall in between cushions and different areas of padding. Every single surface (including cushions) should be vacuumed to where there aren’t any traces of dirt left behind.
Step 3: Setting Up the Couch
You’re going to want to make cleaning the couch as simple as possible and so set it up in the room to where you can easily walk around the entire piece and get to every inch. You can set the couch cushions up against the wall for easy cleaning and pull the couch into the middle of the room.
Step 4: Use a Microfiber Cloth
The best way to protect the material of your furniture against the hard cleaning attachment nozzle is to affix a microfiber cloth on the end of the cleaning head. This gives you the ability to create a thick pad that will distribute the ideal amount of steam and pick up extra dirt.
Step 5: Steam the Couch
During this step you should take your time and focus on all of the nooks and crannies. Pay special attention to the areas that had the loosest dirt while vacuuming, as that could be where the majority of bacteria are hiding.
You may find the end of the microfiber cloth is getting dirty and this is because as you steam, it loosens dirt and the cloth wipes it away. You’ll need to change the microfiber pad a couple of times throughout the entire process.
Step 6: Allow to Dry
This is the most important part, as you won’t want to start using the sofa too quickly after being wet. Allow for at least 3 hours for your entire couch to dry, including the cushions. You can turn on room fans and open windows to help speed up the process.
It’s important to leave enough time for the sofa to dry because if you start using it too early it could lead to the production of mold and mildew.
Steam cleaning a couch is easier than a lot of people think, and with the right tools, it’s much simpler than using a regular rag and bucket of water. If you were hesitant about using your steamer on furniture, now you know all of the steps you need to learn how to steam clean a couch.
