How to Disinfect a Couch
When you have guests over at your house, you want them to feel comfortable. However, a dirty and smelly couch will not make the environment at your home feel inviting. For that reason, you should learn how to disinfect a couch.
In today’s world, cleaning and disinfecting your furniture and surfaces is a crucial part of our day-to-day activities now more than ever. Besides getting the everyday dirt and grime, you don’t want the risk of spreading any bacteria or viruses. So, you have to learn how to clean every area of your house correctly.
In this blog, we’ll focus on learning how to clean a couch so that it feels clean and fresh. We will talk about some of the best ways to clean different types of sofas. So, continue reading our blog to learn how to keep your couch in the best shape.
What to Do Before You Disinfect a Couch?
You may have your couch at the center of your living room or any other high-traffic area in your home. As a result, it suffers from the wear and tear of everyday use. Children and clumsy guests can leave stains behind, and pet owners know that pet odors are inevitable.
If you don’t clean your couch correctly, then all of this will start accumulating. As a result, it will be harder to remove those stains and dirt in the future. So, it’s vital that you clean your couch as often as you can.
Before you start trying to disinfect your couch, you need to follow two key steps. We will discuss them briefly next.
Vacuum the Couch
The first step you have to follow before applying cleaners to your couch is to vacuum it. You must remove all dust, dirt, and debris. We recommend using a vacuum cleaner for this. You can use a cloth or paper towels, but it will take you longer. Also, it will not be as thorough as using a vacuum.
If you have an upholstery attachment, then we recommend using it with your vacuum. As a result, it will be easier to clean your couch’s armrests, backrest, and backside.
If your couch’s seats are removable, then take them off and clean them separately. Clean that part of your couch using the vacuum attachment. Make sure to clean every surface thoroughly. Then, you can move on to cleaning the cushions or seats.
Once you have completed vacuuming the couch, you can put it together again and move on to the next step.
Check Your Couch’s Tag
This next step is crucial that you don’t miss, especially if you’ve never cleaned your couch before. Since there are various types of sofas with different fabrics, you can’t use the same type of cleaner on all of them.
The tags on your couch will have symbols that will tell you if you can clean it with water, steam, or harsh chemicals.
“W” – this symbol means you can use water or water-based cleaners to clean and disinfect your couch.
“WS” – this symbol means you can use water and solvent-based cleaners.
“S” – this symbol means that you cannot use water to clean your couch.
“X” – this symbol means that you can only vacuum your couch to clean it; you cannot use anything else.
Now that you know what you can and cannot use on your couch, it’s time to discuss the different ways you can disinfect it.
Different Ways to Disinfect a Couch
In this blog, we’ll talk about the different ways you can disinfect your couch using products you should have at home. Some of them should be on your list of cleaning supplies. We will not talk about the various cleaners as most of them contain harsh chemicals.
There are various ways to learn how to disinfect a couch. You can use soap, water, rubbing alcohol, and white vinegar. These products will work well in disinfecting your sofa. For the most effective way, then you may consider steam cleaning. Finally, to remove odors, you can use baking soda.
Remove Germs with Soap and Water
If there’s a “W” on your couch’s tag, then you can use this method to disinfect it. What you’ll need is dish soap, hot water, a spray bottle, and a clean cloth.
Firstly, pour the dish soap and water into the spray bottle and shake it. Remove your couch’s seats or cushions and set them apart.
Spray one area of the couch and work in sections, spraying the solution into the upholstery and wiping it down with a clean cloth or sponge. Ensure you wring out the sponge or cloth as you’re moving from one section to the next.
Now, move on to the cushions. If you can remove the covers, put them in your washing machine if the instructions allow it. If your covers are not removable, then use the soap and water solution to clean them. Finally, let your entire couch air dry completely.
This solution not only disinfects your couch but can also help remove stains.
Use Rubbing Alcohol as a Disinfectant
We recommend using rubbing alcohol to disinfect your couch, especially if someone in your house is sick. As a result, you’ll prevent any virus or bacteria from spreading to other people in your home.
What you’ll need to do is add 2 cups of rubbing alcohol and 1 cup of water to a spray bottle. Then, spray your couch evenly and let it air dry.
Disinfect Your Couch with White Vinegar
If you’re looking to disinfect a fabric couch, you may want to consider using white vinegar, as it is anti-allergenic, has disinfectant properties, and kills bacteria and germs.
Add one cup of white vinegar and a cup of warm water into a spray bottle and mix it. Mist your couch with the formula and allow it to air dry. It’s crucial that you don’t miss any corners or crevices.
You can also use white vinegar to disinfect a leather couch. You’ll do the same process of mixing equal parts of water and vinegar. But, instead of pouring them in a spray bottle, you’ll do it in a bucket.
Once you have your mix in a bucket, dunk a soft cloth and then wring it out as much as you can, then wipe down your entire couch with it. Finally, dry the surface with a towel to remove any residue.
Kill Bacteria and Germs by Steam Cleaning
If you have a steam cleaner and the instructions on your couch allow you to use it, we recommend doing so. Because steam cleaning is the most efficient way to kill bacteria and germs, the heat will remove all dirt and grime and kill mildew, viruses, and other pathogens.
Use the upholstery attachment of your steam cleaner to clean your couch’s cushions. While they are drying, move one to the other parts of your couch. Allow the entire couch before you start reassembling it.
Remove Odors with Baking Soda
To remove odors from your couch, you can use baking soda. Many of the scents on your couch are bacteria. So, we recommend you use one of the methods we mentioned above. Then, use baking soda to get rid of any remaining smells.
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda all over your couch and use a brush to distribute it evenly. Let it sit for a couple of hours, and then vacuum it.
Follow these methods to learn how to disinfect a couch. As a result, your entire house will feel clean and neat. If you need assistance with your cleaning needs, then give our team a call. Contact us now to schedule an appointment.