How to clean a microfiber sofa?

Microfiber couches look like suede, but the fabric is actually made of polyester and nylon fibers 100 times thinner than a human hair. Cleaning this space-age material can be a bit tricky because microfiber is prone to watermarks. However, cleaning with solvents or laundering cushion covers gets the dirt out without the unsightly spots.

Vacuuming and Brushing

The tight-knit of densely packed microfibers help keep dirt and allergens from penetrating the fabric, but that doesn't mean you don't need to vacuum microfiber furniture regularly. Keep your microfiber couch looking good with weekly vacuuming -- you can't grind in dirt that isn't there. Use a bristled upholstery attachment to remove dirt and brush the nap of the microfiber at the same time, which helps keep it feeling soft. If you prefer to brush microfiber on the days you don't vacuum, use a soft, nylon-bristled scrub brush.

Rubbing Alcohol

Although microfiber is designed to repel water, tending to spills quickly helps prevent telltale watermarks from forming. Blot liquid from your microfiber couch with a plain white cloth, pressing the cloth down 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 speed up the process with a blow dryer on the cool setting. After drying, brush the spot with a dry, nylon-bristled scrub 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 clean white cloth or dye-free sponge into the suds, avoiding the water, and gently rub the couch in a circular motion. Blot the suds away with a dry white cloth. Work in sections to keep the couch from absorbing too much water. After scrubbing down the whole couch, brush it with a nylon-bristled scrub brush to blend and soften the nap of the fabric.

Considerations

Before cleaning your microfiber couch, read its care instruction tag. Microfiber manufacturers use codes to indicate how to clean the fabric. "W" means the fabric is water-safe; "S" means to clean with a dry-cleaning solvent; "S-W" means both solvent- and water-safe; and "X" means to dry-brush only. Rubbing alcohol may 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 a professional furniture cleaning service.

Article Courtesy of SFGate

Sunbrella Fabric

Sunbrella fabrics are durable high-performance fabrics. Although they hold up to repeated cleaning, please read these instructions before cleaning.

https://www.sunbrella.com/en-us/how-to-clean/clean-sunbrella-upholster

How to Get Urine Out of a Couch Cushion

Whether the culprit is your child, a pet, or someone else, urine on a couch cushion is a messy thing to deal with. Fortunately, there are a few tips and tricks that allow you to clean the urine up and prevent any long-term smells. The key is to clean the urine up immediately and as thoroughly as possible.

Step 1 - Remove the cushion cover from the actual cushion if you can. Many have zippers that allow you to remove it, but if yours doesn't, don't worry. Either way, the following steps will still work.

Step 2 - Soak up the excess urine with a dry towel by gently dabbing it around the affected area. During this process you want the towel to absorb the urine, so don't press too hard. When the towel becomes damp, trade it out for a fresh, dry towel.

Step 3 - Mix two cups of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of liquid soap or upholstery-friendly cleaner and two tablespoons of baking soda in a bucket. Stir these three items together until the baking soda is fully dissolved.

Step 4 - Apply the mixture to a sponge and gently scrub the area. Spread it out evenly across the area and let it set for a half-hour.

Step 5 - Remove the solution with a clean, damp towel. Make sure you pick up all the cleaning residue and rinse and wring out the towel often.

Step 6 - Let the cushion cover (or cushion if you could not remove the cover) air dry for at least 24 hours before using it again.

Step 7 - Repeat the process one or two more times if necessary, to ensure that all the urine has been removed and the smell eliminated.

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