How to Deep Clean a Couch

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: December 9, 2021 References

You and your family probably lounge on your couch almost every day, so giving it a deep clean every once in a while is super important. If your couch is looking a little dingy or it hasn’t been washed in a long time, look no further! In this article, we’ll explain a few different methods for cleaning your leather, microfiber, upholstery, or polyester couch safely to keep it looking brand new.

Question 1

Question 1 of 7:
How Often Should You Deep Clean a Couch?

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You should deep clean your couch about once or twice a year. Your couch gets a lot of use, and giving it a nice, deep clean every year or so will keep it in tiptop shape for much longer. This doesn’t have to be a weekly chore, but you should aim to do it any time your couch is looking a little dingy or dirty.^{[1]
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- If someone has slept on the couch for a long time, your couch has stains on it, or you just bought a used couch, you’ll want to deep clean it more often than once or twice a year.

Question 2

Question 2 of 7:
Picking the Right Cleaning Solution

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Read the label on your couch cover before getting started. Couches can be made of different materials, including (but not limited to) microfiber, pleather, polyester, fabric, upholstery, leather, and velvet. Take a look at your couch cover’s label, which is usually on the back of a cushion, to find your specific cleaning or washing instructions. The letters on the labels mean specific things for each couch.^{[2]
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- W-labeled sofas can be washed with water.
- S-labeled sofas need a special solvent, because water will stain them.
- S-W labeled sofas can be cleaned with either water or solvent.
- X-labeled sofas should only be vacuumed.
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Test your cleaner before using it all over. If you have an S, S-W, or W-labeled sofa, it means that you can use liquid to clean your couch. To avoid staining or discoloring your sofa, pick a small area on the back, and apply a little bit of your liquid cleaner. Let it dry for a couple of minutes, and watch for any signs that it’s damaging your couch. If it isn’t, then you’re good to go!^{[3]
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- If you do notice that your cleaner is discoloring your couch, immediately wipe it off with water and switch to a different cleaner.

Question 3

Question 3 of 7:
Pre-Cleaning the Couch

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Brush off lint and fur with a lint brush. This will make the rest of your cleaning much easier. Grab a lint brush or a lint roller and go over your entire couch, focusing on areas that are extra hairy. Gather up all the hair as you go and throw it away to avoid dealing with it later.
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Machine wash any removable couch covers. Unzip the removable covers from your couch and check the label for washing instructions. If you can put them in the washing machine, throw them in with mild detergent, then let them air dry. Try to keep the covers out of the sun, since that can fade the color much faster.^{[4]
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Sprinkle baking soda all over the couch to deodorize. If you’re dealing with a bit of a smell, don’t worry—grab a box of baking soda and shake a light layer all over your couch. Let the baking soda sit for about 15 minutes, then vacuum it up.^{[5]
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- You can also use bicarbonate of soda if you have any of that on-hand.

Question 4

Question 4 of 7:
Vacuuming the Couch

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Attach a crevice tool or upholstery brush to your vacuum. This will help you get inside the crevices and cracks of your couch. You’ll want to use a long, pointed nozzle to really get inside those hard-to-reach areas.^{[6]
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Vacuum the couch thoroughly, focusing on dirty and stained areas. You’d be surprised at just how much vacuuming can fade a stain. If the stain is old and dry, running a vacuum over it a few times can help break off any flaky pieces. Be sure to get inside and under the covers too, and don’t forget about the back!^{[7]
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- If you don’t have a vacuum, use a soft brush to gather up dirt and pet hair instead.
- Remember that if you have an X-labeled couch, vacuuming is as far as you can go, since water or solvents can damage your sofa. If your couch is still stained or dirty, contact your local dry cleaner to see if they can help you clean your couch.

Question 5

Question 5 of 7:
Spot Cleaning Stains

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Use an enzymatic cleaner on W-labeled sofas. Enzymatic cleaners are perfect for tackling tough stains from food or pets. Grab a bottle of enzymatic cleaner from your local home goods store, then spray it onto the stains. Let the cleaner sit for a few minutes, then blot it up with a clean paper towel.^{[8]
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- Even if your couch has a W-label, it’s a good idea to test your cleaner on a hidden area of the couch first.
- If you have an S-labeled couch, you can use a solvent-based cleaner on any tough stains.

Question 6

Question 6 of 7:
Deep Cleaning with Water or a Solvent

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Use water and dish soap or a store-bought solvent. If your couch has a W-label, you can mix up a bucket of warm water and a few drops of dish soap for a thorough clean. If your couch has an S-label, head to the store and buy a bottle of cleaning solvent specifically made for couches.^{[9]
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- If your couch has an S-W label, you can use either water and dish soap or a solvent.
- If your W-labeled couch has an unpleasant odor, mix 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of white vinegar or baking soda into your water mixture to help neutralize any smells.
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Brush or spray your solution over the entire couch. If you’re using water and dish soap, dip a soft-bristled brush into the water and lightly rub it into your couch. If you’re using a solvent, make sure you’re in a ventilated area, then start spraying down your entire couch.^{[10]
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- You can also use a soft-bristled brush to work your solvent into any stained areas.
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Wipe down your couch with a damp cloth. Grab a clean towel (microfiber is best, but cotton works too), and get it wet in the sink. Go over your entire couch to remove the water mixture or solvent, then let your couch dry completely before sitting on it again.^{[11]
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Question 7

Question 7 of 7:
Cleaning Methods for Bugs or Mites

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Spray bug spray on used couches. If you recently brought a used couch into your home and you think it might be infested with insects, run to the store and buy a bottle of aerosol bug spray. Head to a ventilated area and spray down your entire couch, then let it dry before you use it again.^{[12]
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- Keep in mind that bug spray might not get rid of all insects right away, and you may have to repeat this process a few times.
- If you think your couch has bed bugs, call a professional pest control service right away.^{[13]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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Try a steam cleaner to kill dust mites. Dust mites feed on, you guessed it, dust. If your couch is pretty dusty and you’d like to get rid of any mites that might be lurking, grab a garment steamer and fill it with water. Wait for it to heat up, then run it over your entire couch, focusing on any dusty or grimy areas. After that, you can vacuum or spot treat any stains that are left over.^{[14]
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- Since steam cleaners use water, you can only use this method on W- or S-W labeled couches.