The Best Way to Clean a Microfiber Couch

Microfiber couches look like suede, but the material is actually made from cotton and polyester fibers 100 times thinner than a human hair. Cleaning this space-age material can be a bit tricky, since microfiber is more prone to watermarks. But cleaning with solvents or laundering cushion covers gets out the dirt with no unsightly spots.

Vacuuming and Brushing

The tight knit of densely packed microfibers helps keep dirt and allergens from penetrating the fabric, but that does not mean that you don’t need to vacuum microfiber furniture regularly. Keep your microfiber couch looking good with fifteen vacuuming — you can’t grind in dirt which is not there. Utilize a bristled upholstery attachment to remove dirt and brush the rest of this microfiber in the exact same time, that helps to keep it feeling soft. Should you would rather brush microfiber on the days you don’t vacuum, use a soft, nylon-bristled brush.

Rubbing Alcohol

Although microfiber is designed to repel water, tending to spills quickly helps prevent telltale watermarks from forming. Blot liquid in the microfiber couch with a plain white fabric, pressing down the cloth and lifting straight up rather than rubbing. To get rid of stains and watermarks, fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol, spritz the stain lightly and rub with a white or natural-colored sponge. Allow the alcohol to air dry or hasten the procedure with a blow dryer on the cool setting. After drying, brush the spot with a dry, nylon-bristled brush.

Soap Suds

If your microfiber couch is water-safe, scrub it down with soap suds. Add a generous squirt of dishwashing liquid to a large bowl and fill it with warm water to make suds. Dip a white cloth or dye-free sponge to the suds, avoiding the water, and gently rub the couch in a circular movement. Blot the suds away with a dry white cloth. Work in sections to keep the couch from absorbing too much water. After scrubbing the whole couch, brush it with a nylon-bristled scrub brush to blend and soften the rest of the cloth.

Factors

Prior to cleaning your microfiber couch, read its care instruction tag. Microfiber makers use codes to indicate the best way to clean out the fabric. “W” means the fabric is water-safe; “S” means to clean with a dry-cleaning solvent; “S-W” means both solvent- and also water-safe; along with “X” means to dry-brush just. Rubbing alcohol might work on microfiber furniture marked “S,” but always test it first on an inconspicuous spot. Never use bleach, acetone, carpet cleaner or upholstery cleaner on microfiber couches. If you are unsure about cleaning your couch yourself, schedule a consultation with an expert furniture-cleaning service.

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