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Here’s How Often You Need To Clean Your Sofa
By SAVANNAH SHER
How much time we spend on our sofa vs. how often we clean it is probably a bigger difference than we’d like to admit, but just how much cleaning does it need? Dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens can sit on your couch and make it appear dingy and worn-down, especially if you have kids or pets frequently using it.
Edgar Blazona, founder of BenchMade Modern, recommends deep cleaning your sofa every six months, depending on its fabric and how often it’s used. However, if you have a lot of removable cushions, vacuum weekly for best results, making sure to get the sides and back of the sofa and underneath the cushions.
Be sure to check the cleaning codes on your furniture’s tag to see how to properly care for it. Four letter codes are used to indicate how to clean your couch —“S” for solvent-based cleaner, “W” for water-based, “S/W” for either type of cleaner, or “X” to use only vacuums or a brush tool.
Leather sofas are the easiest to clean because a simple wipe with a damp cloth and leather conditioner will easily clean it, but fabric sofas can collect dirt into the fibers. When you have removable covers that can be machine washed, it is best to let them hang dry, and if you need to spot clean, use a mix of mild dish soap and warm water.