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If you have upholstered furniture and want to give it a good clean and sanitize, this post is for you. Upholstered furniture can take a beating, it can get smelly, stained, and look worn and used quickly. I’m going to show you how to clean little spills and drips as well as how to give your upholstered furniture a full deep clean and sanitize it as well.
First up, remove and throw pillow cases, blankets and throws and give them a good washing – of course check the tags first to make sure that they are washable. I will generally wash them on cool/warm and let them fluff up a bit in the dryer. The heat from the dryer will kill germs and freshen them up.
 HOW TO WASH THROW PILLOWS
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If a throw pillow has a cover, remove it and launder the cover separately from the pillow.
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Even if the pillow insert cannot be laundered, it can be tossed in the dryer on high heat with some clean tennis balls to ‘fluff’ it up. The heat from the dryer will help to remove dust and eliminate some germs and smells.
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Wash pillow covers inside-out on cold and gentle if needed.
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Dry pillow cases in the dryer on low or no heat to ensure no shrinking or line dry.
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Can’t remove the cover? and you cut off the tag? try washing on gentle/cold – chances are it’ll be fine.
While the throw pillows and cushions are washing/drying, look over your furniture for any stains. If you see anything, mix up my Upholstered Fabric Cleaner Recipe. It’s perfect for those little drips, dots and spills.
UPHOLSTERED FABRIC CLEANER:
- 2 teaspoons Castile soap
- 1/4 cup warm water
Mix the warm water and soap in a small cup or container. Using a white cotton cloth, dip the cloth in to the mixture and dab those stains. Once the stains are removed, use a clean, dry cloth to absorb any liquid that remains. Add a little water to remove any residual soap. Alternatively, you can also use a cotton swab if the spot is itty bitty.
STINKY OR LINGERING ODORS:
Need a little extra oomph or have a lingering odor from an accident or illness, I always recommend Biokleen’s Bac-Out. It’s an enzyme-based cleaner with a lime scent that looks to remove the odor rather than just cover it up like most commercial option.
DIY FABRIC FRESHENER SPRAY:
This is a great DIY, perfect for a ‘febreeze’ replacement – mix up the scent to your liking, I like Lemon + Lavender.
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup vodka (or rubbing alcohol)
- 5 drops LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL
- 5 drops LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL
- SPRAY BOTTLE
REMOVABLE CUSHION COVERS:Â
If you can remove the cushion covers AND they are washable, you can wash them in the washing machine on gentle and fluff to dry or line dry. I recommend using Clean Mama’s Laundry Super Powder and Oxygen Whitener (it’s color safe!).
VACUUM + CLEAN:
Once you have removed the throws and blankets, cushions, and any stains, it’s time to vacuum the furniture.
I like using an upholstery and nozzle attachment for optimal dirt removal.
If your furniture is pilling and could use a good de-fuzzing, now is the time to do that as well. I find that a sweater shaver works amazingly well for removal. Here’s my favorite sweater shaver – I love that it has a handle, making it much easier to use, especially if you’re de-pilling a large piece of furniture.
Finally, the last thing you want to do after deep cleaning your upholstered furniture is to sanitize it. Of course this isn’t necessary but I love having this option for after someone is sick or just to freshen up furniture and kill any lingering germs and get rid of odors. You can see my favorite steam cleaner here – I’ve mentioned it before and while it’s pricey, the various attachments make it worth it for me.
Once you’ve completed some or all of these components of deep cleaning and sanitizing your upholstered furniture, put everything back, fluff up the pillows and enjoy your clean furniture!
Carol Ritzenthaler Says...
Very helpful article, thank you!
Cara Says...
Hi Clean Mama! Thank You for ALL of your amazing information! How would you finish cleaning the upholstered furniture if you did not have a steam cleaner? Many Thanks!
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorLightly spray it with the DIY Furniture Refresher Spray!
Kate Says...
Hi! Any ideas on how to clean microfiber couches? Do you think you’d be able to steam clean that as well or not?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorHere’s my solution for microfiber furniture – test in an inconspicuous spot first:
*4-8 ounces rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle
*White or light colored sponge that has a scrubbing surface
*Bristled cleaning brush with white bristles
Working in small sections, spray the alcohol on the surface of the furniture. Using the textured side of the sponge, scrub the surface with enough effort to clean. Repeat this over the entire surface, concentrating especially on the arms, sides and back where dirt accumulates. Let the furniture dry completely before fluffing up the fibers. Using the scrubbing brush, scrub in a circular pattern until no brush strokes remain. Continue until the piece is uniformly brushed and refreshed. That’s it!
Beverly Says...
Thank you for this! Do you have advice for cleaning vacuum cleaner attachments? The plastic parts are easy, but the brushes?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorGenerally you can wash the brushes in warm, soapy water and allow to air dry.
Laraine Baker Says...
What would you use for microfiber.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorHere’s my solution for microfiber furniture – test in an inconspicuous spot first:
*4-8 ounces rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle
*White or light colored sponge that has a scrubbing surface
*Bristled cleaning brush with white bristles
Working in small sections, spray the alcohol on the surface of the furniture. Using the textured side of the sponge, scrub the surface with enough effort to clean. Repeat this over the entire surface, concentrating especially on the arms, sides and back where dirt accumulates. Let the furniture dry completely before fluffing up the fibers. Using the scrubbing brush, scrub in a circular pattern until no brush strokes remain. Continue until the piece is uniformly brushed and refreshed. That’s it!
Abbey Collier Says...
What’s your advice for cleaning upholstery with an S cleaning code? It states with an S code you cannot wet the fabric, but to be honest I’m very tempted to try and wash it. It’s so stained. I would do it on gentle, maybe even in a mesh laundry bag? Not sure, wanted to know your opinion. I know it’s risky to machine wash it at all but spot cleaning just isn’t cutting it at this point.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorSpot test it first and see or have a pro clean it for you.
Michele Sanders Says...
Great post – thank you! Non-cleaning question. Do you remember where you got your couch? I’m looking for one just like that one 🙂 By the way – I purchased the whitener and it has definitely worked in my toilets! I live with 2 boys so it is always a challenge to keep them clean. Still waiting to take them up to our cabin for the real test – toilets that aren’t used often with well water! I will let you know how that goes!
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorThanks Michele! It’s a Pearce sectional from Pottery Barn – we love it!
Rose McCluskey Says...
I have a shark cleaner. It’s middle part comes off and has two attachments. I wonder if one of those does furniture. ??
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorPossibly!
Elissa Says...
Any thoughts on if this would work for a couch that we were gifted which said to only professionally clean it?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorTest it out in an inconspicuous spot 🙂
rosalba Says...
I thank you for all your post..I have been trying to follow your cleaning schedule(still working on it) as soon as my account gets some $$$ so I can buy your stuff
Do you have a blog on how to declutter or get rid of stuff..i really need to minimize what I have
Thank you
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorYou can see all my decluttering posts here:
https://cleanmama.com/category/declutter/
Janet Says...
Just a note for your readers to be careful and check the fabric care codes before using much water on upholstered furniture. Our couch is in a high performance chenille so it will stand up to our pets, but it is also an S code fabric so we can only use dry cleaning solvents on it. Have read that rubbing alcohol can be used on small stains (intend to try on an inconspicuous spot soon) but will have to skip your fabric cleaner recipe unfortunately. Just would hate for someone to take this as blanket advice for any type of fabric and ruin a large investment.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorYes, that’s right at the top of the post 🙂
Nicole P Says...
Do you have a cleaning solution for suede furniture ?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorIs it microsuede or actual suede? If it’s actual suede, it can be lightly wiped down with a BARELY damp cloth (test first), if it’s microsuede it can usually be treated like microfiber – see my diy in the other comments 🙂
Linda johnson Says...
Good timing. Need to clean couple couches & love seats. Upstairs & downstairs- family room. FLEAS!! Again. I, will be doing this. 9 p.m. last nite, discovered mice droppings in lazy susan. Graham cracker crumbs all over it. Cleaned with bleach bathroom cleaner from walmart. Any advice for cleaning up after mice? I, was up till 12:30 a.m. cleaning my kitchen, washing the floor. After, 11 hr. Day of watching 2 yr. Old. 6:15 a.m. – 5:22. P.m. and, she was at 6:15 a.m. long, long day. While cleaning, thought BECKY would have good advice!! Thank you.
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