Home » Misc » How to sanitize leather furniture

How to sanitize leather furniture


How to Disinfect Leather Couch Like a Professional [2021]

Kristina Davis

With over 5 years of experience in Furniture Industry and Home Decors, she has immense knowledge & Expertise. Her guides and reviews are well appreciated by Industry experts.

Latest posts by Kristina Davis (see all)

Want to know how to disinfect leather couch like professionals?

Nothing screams luxury more than a plush leather sofa—whether it’s in the middle of your living room or the focal point in your office or home study.

From all the popular upholstery materials, leather is comparatively longer lasting and easy to care for choice.

However, it requires occasional cleaning and upkeep.

If your furniture appears worn or if you are worried about germs, follow our guide on how to disinfect leather couch.

Before you wonder if it is a DIY-able activity or whether you need a professional, consider the following:

It’s not challenging to clean leather furniture, and inexpensive, readily available supplies are probably lying in your kitchen.

Ready to begin?

The first step is to clean your furniture thoroughly.

Fasten a simple brush attachment to your vacuum cleaner and remove any dust, debris, hair, or other undesirable residues from your sofa and cushions.

Once you are satisfied that the dry deposits have been handled, wipe all furniture surfaces with a cotton, preferably microfiber cloth.

Examine your furniture for spots, patches, tears, or sagging.

Depending on whether you’re cleaning, disinfecting, or repairing, you’ll need additional supplies.

How To Disinfect Leather Couch?

If you’re on a disinfect-only-mission or have superficial dust and grime to remove, collect and mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a bucket.

Dip a soft, clean rag into the solution and then wring till it is just damp, not dripping wet.

Wipe down all accessible surface areas of your furniture, stopping at regular intervals to rinse the rag in the vinegar-water solution.

Excess moisture is not your furniture’s friend.

Always rub a dry cloth over every area treated with the water-vinegar solution to avoid water damage.

Pro tip: Allow the couch to dry naturally. Don’t try to quicken the drying process with heat.

Banishing Stains from Your Furniture

When confronted with stains, figure out what caused it, as different stains require separate remedies.

Grease Stains

If you’re looking to banish fresh grease stains, use a clean, dry cloth. Do not add liquids of any kind, including water, as the material will soak it up.

However, if the stain is old, draw out the grease by adding some baking soda onto the area.

Brush off after a few hours and wipe clean with a rag.

Stains on Light Shades of Colors

Lighter shades of furniture like white and beige are more vulnerable to stains.

In such cases, use a mixture of lemon juice and cream of tartar in equal proportions.

Once you’ve formed a fine paste, apply it to the stain. Wait for about ten minutes before wiping residue with a damp cloth.

Tetrad Monroe Leather Sofa. Soo comfy. Cat not included #newstock #newlifestyle #tetrad #tetradsofas #leather #leathersofa #lifestyle #life #homecomforts #living #comfort #comfortable #decor #sofa #CatsOfTwitter pic.twitter.com/1Bpuzs6P3q

— Clare Greenhalgh (@GreenhalghInt) September 25, 2020
Ink Stains or Mold

In the event that you find ink stains or patches of mold or mildew on your furniture, rubbing alcohol may be your miracle cleaner.

Take a cotton cloth and add a little rubbing alcohol to it. Wipe the desired area in a circular motion till the stain or mold clears.

Pro tip: Before you begin your DIY sofa cleaning, remember to spot test your choice of stain removal or disinfectant solution.

And no matter what, avoid bleach or ammonia-based cleaners.

How to Make Your Sofa Look Brand New

If you’re worried about how to reverse your sofa’s worn look, consider applying a leather cream.

These are specially formulated to retain your sofa’s soft and moisturized appearance.

Before you apply a specially formulated cream, remember to follow the few necessary cleanup steps first.

It would be best if you vacuum or dust your furniture to eliminate any potential stain-causing dirt or grime.

For mild stains, dip a damp cotton or microfiber cloth in warm soapy water and squeeze lightly.

Gently wipe away the stains before following with a dry rag. While saddle soaps are best, it is acceptable to use a mild soap if you’re out and in desperate need of a cleanup.

Ensure that your soap is non-alkaline; otherwise, you run the risk of ruining your sofa over time.

Once your treated area has had several hours to dry, re-moisturize with the cream with a clean cloth.

Let the material absorb the cream before buffing to a shine.

How to Disinfect Faux Leather Couch

Pleather is a more durable and synthetic cousin to genuine leather.

Cleaning and disinfecting this kind of furniture is, therefore, not very different or challenging.

First determine whether you have a vinyl or polyurethane (PU) sofa. Do also read the care instructions for washing and cleaning suggestions.

If you’re worried about how to disinfect fake leather couch, you shouldn’t be. A fake leather couch is easier to clean as it is more durable.

More importantly, you can use the same DIY mixture (equal parts water and vinegar or alcohol) on a faux couch if you’re disinfecting.

Pro tip: Always clean before using a solution to avoid spreading stains.

How to Clean White Faux Leather Couch

White has always been a favored color as it’s easier to match with vivid interiors.

However, white, whether on curtains, rugs and even faux sofas is challenging to keep clean.

This is because it’s more prone to staining, even with something as ubiquitous as the oil on our skin.

Cleaning a white couch need not be a nightmare though.

Follow a weekly routine of dry brushing or vacuuming followed by a damp cloth wipe down to maintain the appearance of your sofa.

When confronted with a stubborn stain like red wine, blot with a paper towel before spraying a clean cloth with a water-vinegar solution and blotting on the stained area.

How to Remove Stains from Faux Leather

As with any other fabric, stains are easiest to remove when tackled early. This is especially true for beverages like tea, coffee, and juices.

Keep a spray bottle handy for such situations. All you’ll need is a mixture of water and soap of choice and a good shake.

Spray the area and clean with a dry towel.

If the cleanup was extensive or if you clean more frequently than once a week, follow up with a gentle moisturizer—either a specially formulated cream or a mix of coconut oil and water.

Pro Tip: Undiluted coconut oil will remove the appearance of surface scratches on your furniture.

For Stains that Have Set-In

You will need to grab alcohol or vinegar. Mix either with equal parts of water, dip the end of a rag in the solution, and blot the stain with it.

Repeat if necessary, using a clean corner of the rag. Once the stain has disappeared, wipe the treated area with a soft dry cloth.

A beautifully crafted and well-maintained sofa can indeed last you thirty years or more.

However, as with anything else that needs to stand the test of time, a few preventive, maintenance, and upkeep measures are required.

General Care

Like skin, it is susceptible to damage if exposed to extreme and harsh sunlight.

Never place your furniture near an air conditioner, heater, or fireplace. Design your furniture layout such that your furniture remains protected from these elements.

Amazing leather furniture restoration! After many years of wear & tear, this leather sectional was due for a refresh & Cal from #Fibrenew #franchisee from Burnaby did just that!

250 #franchisees & growing!#franchise #leatherfurniture #restoration #leatherrepair #ggfc pic.twitter.com/pQLNYwnaps

— Grant Garraway – Franchise Consultant (@GarrawayGrant) July 26, 2020

Leather will also dry and crack when exposed to extreme temperatures and lack of moisture.

Aside from appropriate placement, treat your sofa to a monthly cream and buff session.

If you have a faux leather couch, cream and buff twice a year.

Addressing Minor Scratches, Cuts and Tears

Since this kind of furniture is extremely comfortable, you’ll find damage such as scratches from pets over time.

Reverse these with a light application of flaxseed or coconut oil.

Remember to rub in a circular motion and follow with a dry towel to remove excess and add shine.

Minor cracks can be dealt with at home as well. You’ll need a leather filler kit for this.

After a basic vacuum and dry cloth cleaning, apply the filler as per the provided instructions.

Small cuts and tears can also be repaired at home with a leather repair kit.

The kit will come with detailed instructions that will guide you on how to prepare the site.

You’ll also need to learn to bond a new piece of material to the area so that the damage is unnoticeable.

Deal with Fading

Fading is another issue most leather sofa owners face. You can minimize fading chances by keeping your sofa away from sunlight, heat, and chemicals.

In the event that you need to treat uneven coloring, shop for a color-restoration kit.

You might also ask your local hardware store or search online for a leather dye kit.

Call a Professional

If the leather gets extensive cuts or tears, or you’re not comfortable handling such repairs, call a professional.

Don’t risk damaging your sofa as repairs can be expensive, or worse, you might need a new sofa.

Large cuts require color mixing and texture application using heat.

Take any leather furniture to a shop or call a professional to your home to assess the damage and suggest restoration procedures and costs.

Learning how to disinfect leather couch or how to clean a leather couch, faux or genuine, isn’t challenging and can be incorporated into your weekly routine.

All you need is a little spray bottle with your desired cleaning solution and a microfiber or cotton cloth.

With a little attention and preventive measures, you’ll enjoy your sofa for decades.

Further Read: For Cleaning the fabric, refer this guide.

How to Disinfect Leather

How to Clean or Disinfect Leather and Surfaces from the COVID-19 Coronavirus

These instructions for how to disinfect leather and other surfaces are written so that even a 5th grader can understand (no offense if you’re a 5th grader). I am summing up here what scientists and cleaning professionals have recently written about virus dwell time on surfaces. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) said that cleaning refers to removing germs from surfaces and disinfecting refers to killing germs. Both work.

These recent studies on the Coronavirus COVID-19 are from the New England Journal of Medicine, the National Institute of Health, the CDC and articles from other really smart people who specialize in virus and pandemics. And I threw in a couple of ideas that I thought were pretty logical common sense ones too. But unlike fearing a toilet paper shortage, overreacting is better than under-reacting right now.

What kills or neutralizes the virus is when its outer shell dries out or is damaged. The shell is a thin protective gel-like fat layer that this coronavirus has around it. If you can dry it out, then it’s kind of like popping a water balloon. With the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19, the virus can be neutralized as fast as in 15 seconds. But sometimes, when you just disinfect a surface with a cleaner, it can take up to 5 to 6 minutes for that protective layer to deteriorate. I’m not really sure exactly what makes it go faster or slower. So disinfecting AND cleaning is your best bet.

Seems to me, the best way to get rid of the novel coronavirus from any surface is to actually remove the virus with soap and hot water. Ummm… am I missing something? I don’t believe the COVID-19 actually bonds to any surface very well. It just kind of sits there. That’s why it’s so contagious. It comes off really easily when you touch it. It is not loyal. It’ll date whoever touches it next. So, if it comes off that easily, then it should clean it off with a course rag pretty easily too.

A recent study from scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the Coronavirus can live for 4 hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard and 72 hours on steel or plastic. And the Coronavirus can live for up to 3 hours in the air. Epidemiologists say that viruses live longer on smooth surfaces that don’t have many pores in them, like glass doors, doorknobs and tables. The reason porous surfaces like leather, wood, money, cardboard, hair and fabric don't allow viruses to live as long is because the small holes or spaces in them can trap the microbes and keep them from transferring.

Scientists say that colder temperatures, no air movement and humidity are friends of the virus and keep that protective layer strong. In fact, cold temperatures actually harden the gel-like protective shell around the virus particles. The Journal of Hospital Infection put out a study that says when temperatures go up, the lifespan of coronaviruses goes way down. They said when the temperature goes from 68 degrees to 86 degrees, the lifespan of the Coronavirus lasted on steel surfaces about half as long. So I say, put on some deodorant and open the windows of your home on hot days. Heat up the house with your central heat system because that dries out the air and therefore will dry out the gel-like fat layer of the virus microbes sooner. Cook out the house if you have a wood stove. Get that stove glowing red. The CDC says that the COVID-19 Coronavirus dies if exposed to 132 degrees Fahrenheit for a time. Wash everything on HOT and set it on Extra Rinse. Why not use Blowdryers to disinfect your leather couch or briefcase or wallet. If you dry out that outer protective shell, you’ll kill the virus sooner.

If you disinfect your leather harshly, then be sure to condition it harshly afterward. I recommend Chamberlain Leather Milk to do that best. Do not use bleach or rubbing alcohol on leather because it may discolor. I suggest rubbing it down with a HOT cloth that you can barely hold, along with a dab of light shampoo because it’s PH balanced for the leather. For generally dirty leather, I recommend just hot water. To learn how to clean leather of anything that sticks, stinks or stains, click here.

Read our List of 17 practical ways to disinfect or clean leather or surfaces of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19.

These tips and tricks will teach you how to beat the deadly virus’s “coronavirus” and drastically shorten its lifespan or kill it quickly.

  1. Keep the floor mopped because droplets that come out of the mouth or from farmer blows, land on the floor.

  2. Get things into the sun.

  3. Leave things outside for air movement.

  4. Open doors and windows for air movement.

  5. Remove the Coronavirus COVID-19 by wiping instead of just spraying.

  6. Wipe surfaces with soap and hot hot water.

  7. Don’t shake dirty laundry.

  8. Set washing machines to use HOT water and extra rinse.

  9. Blow Dry things with a blowdryer.

  10. Turn up the heat in the house to dry out the virus’s gel-like shell.

  11. Use one cap of bleach when cleaning hard surfaces, but not porous surfaces like leather.

  12. Get Hepa-filters for Heat and A/C systems to suck virus particles out of the air.

  13. Leave mail packages in the sun outside for 48 hours if they’re not urgent.

  14. Don’t bring mail into the house. Open it outside and toss packaging because the postman may be contagious.

  15. Park in the sun and roll your windows up so the heat will kill or weaken the virus.

  16. Boil it for at least 5 minutes.

  17. Dilute ⅓ cup of bleach to one gallon of water to clean.

Remember, at times like these, overreacting is the loving thing to do and is far better than under-reacting. You’ll NEVER say, “Man, I wish I never would have disinfected my leather and other surfaces”, but you may say the opposite.

How to clean a leather sofa at home

Modern samples, thanks to their thoughtful design and construction, from leather upholstery as a finishing element, only add sophistication and elegance to themselves. Any furniture in the apartment is used daily by people. We open the cabinet doors and pull out the chest of drawers. We try to protect those surfaces that we have to touch more often with various kinds of covers. We put a blanket on the bed. We cover the surface of the table with a tablecloth. Only the sofas and armchairs, despite being the most frequently used, remain open. If you can still pick up a cape on fabric upholstery and at the same time everything will look organic, then this will not work with leather products. You didn’t buy such a set, definitely not cheap, to hide it under a cape.

It remains to either refrain from using it for its intended purpose, or prepare for the fact that you have furniture that requires special treatment and care. We suggest you find out in advance how to clean a leather sofa from stains and dirt at home. Regularly transporting the product to a specialized dry cleaner or calling a team of specialists at home is troublesome and expensive. In some cases, professional equipment and specialized preparations are indispensable. But ordinary cleaning is quite within the power of everyone to do.

Daily care of upholstered furniture

The most important thing for the preservation of such products is a comfortable environment - constant temperature, moderate humidity and no direct sunlight. Simply following these requirements will prolong the appearance of the headset. More effective methods of maintaining cleanliness will be needed only with significant contamination. This article contains the most common ways to care for such things. The ingredients used for this are publicly available and are in every home. We will tell you in detail what and in what cases you can use.

Use a vacuum cleaner

At least once a week, along with the general cleaning of the apartment, vacuum your rest area. On a smooth glossy surface, dust is visible just as well as on a polished one. But, before cleaning a leather sofa, take a closer look at the nozzles used. Whether they are metal or plastic, they can damage the skin. There should be no sharp edges or corners. A small scratch on the protective layer will lead to further damage and cracks. The degree of safety of the furniture depends on your attentiveness and accuracy.

If the coating is fluffy, it is not recommended to use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning. Dust and dirt should be swept away only with a soft bristle brush and all movements should be made strictly in its direction. The same applies to corrugated trim elements.

Wet cleaning

After removing large debris and dust, it is necessary to wipe the entire upholstery. Such a procedure will help remove contaminants that have not been pre-cleaned, but have not yet had time to penetrate into the pores of the material. We dilute a little soap in clean warm water, you can use liquid soap. Even better if it has a moisturizing effect. We moisten a soft sponge in the solution, wring it out well and wipe all accessible surfaces, not pressing hard. This procedure will help you, without any cleaning products, at home, wash the dirt off the leather sofa before it penetrates the structure. We wait 15-20 minutes until the solution dries, and wipe it along with the lagging dirt.

A good effect is obtained by using ordinary Vaseline or baby oil instead of a cleaning solution. Apply the composition to the product and, after waiting a quarter of an hour, wipe everything with a dry cloth, making polishing movements. Under the influence of external conditions, the skin dries up from time to time, which leads to its cracking and loss of presentation. Treatment with such oils moisturizes and softens leather upholstery. It restores its softness and shine.

Beaten egg white can be used for this purpose. The natural component works more effectively. But, if the coating is old and dotted with a network of cracks and damage, there is a risk that the organic matter will not be completely removed by wiping. Its remains can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and microorganisms.

How to clean stains on a leather sofa and wipe off stubborn dirt

Before proceeding with direct removal, read the accompanying passport for your furniture from its manufacturer. The upholstery material, the type of dye used and a list of recommended care products are necessarily indicated there. If such a document is not available for any reason, check all formulations for interaction with the coating in places that are not conspicuous before use.

Try soapy water, petroleum jelly, or baby oil first. Most types of pollution are amenable to these means. You can use special ones designed for skin care:

All of them have a composition that not only destroys dirt, but also protects the product, creating a barrier from environmental influences, and restoring the structure. Thereby extending the service life. Before cleaning your leather sofa with an unfamiliar product at home, carefully read the instructions. Compositions not intended for skin treatment should not be used. Preparations intended for smooth material are not suitable for suede and nubuck. And vice versa.

Additional detergent components that can be used in the fight against pollution are also familiar to every housewife:

With some care you can use:

This set is enough to keep the furniture in good condition. Any dirt is easier to remove while it is fresh. The more neglected the situation, the more actively and aggressively the means will have to be used. For application and processing, use only foam sponges, flannel cloths, microfiber and soft brushes with natural bristles. But don't put too much effort into caring for a leather sofa. Otherwise, the paintwork or protective layer may be damaged, or the upholstery may stretch or tear.

Classification of stains and how to deal with them

Most often, unexpected stains on furniture come from food and drink. If you have not made it a rule to ban eating in the rest corner, these further tips are for you.

Grease marks

When the stain is very fresh, do not rub it with a cloth. So you only increase the area of ​​​​contamination and press particles of fat into the pores, which will become more difficult to remove from there.

Sprinkle any absorbent on the mark - chalk, talc, starch, salt, soda. Allow a few minutes for the grease particles to soak in and gently sweep everything off. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated. Then wash the entire area with soapy water or dishwashing detergent.

Old stains are removed by covering with soapy water or petroleum jelly. Allow to stand for 15-20 minutes and wipe with a dry cloth.

Spilled drinks

Freshly spilled tea, coffee, beer, wine and other liquids should first be blotted with a dry cloth. Then sprinkle with any available substance to absorb residual moisture. After a few minutes, remove the remaining dirt, wash the place with soapy water.

We try to clean a leather sofa from old stains in the same way as other dirt. First we try to soak with any warm detergent composition, and then we wipe it with a rag. If that doesn't help, try using Vaseline. If this does not work, as an extreme method, you can use a solution of ammonia, alcohol or lemon juice. But on painted products, we must first check the action in a hidden area. In order not to discolor the treated area. After processing, we rinse again, wipe everything thoroughly with clean water, dry it with a napkin and apply a layer of petroleum jelly or oil. The unpleasant smell after spilled beer is removed by adding a little ammonia to the water.

Blood stains

Blood stains, whether fresh or dried, can only be treated with cold water or solutions. Heat accelerates clotting and makes cleaning difficult. If the pollution has not had time to dry, apply talc, starch, soda on it and let it soak. Then remove the resulting slurry and wash the area with cold water and any detergent.

Moisten old stains with soapy water and let stand in this form for about twenty minutes. Then you need to rinse the leather sofa with a damp sponge, let it dry and grease it with petroleum jelly or baby oil, protecting it from drying out.

Ink and marker marks

These marks can be easily removed with weak alcohol solutions or acetone. But check if this concentration will affect the coloring layer. Sometimes small spots can be erased with an ordinary eraser.

Microbial Infestation

A common skin problem is mold and mildew. A contributing factor can be increased humidity in the room, spilled and not cleaned liquid, and even poorly wiped furniture after washing. It is especially necessary to carefully monitor products that have abundant folds and additional elements.

If a colony of spores is found, immediate disinfection is required. This is best done by wiping the area with a mild vinegar solution. But, without allowing the composition to be absorbed, rinse everything with detergent and wipe with clean water and napkins. Launched cases of mold damage to a leather sofa cannot be washed off on their own, like ordinary dirt. The fungus penetrates deep into the structure. To get it, you will need the effort of professionals and special operating means.

Care instructions for light colors

Keeping such furniture clean turns out to be an additional hassle for the owner. Any blots on such a surface stand out especially brightly. In part, this inconvenience is offset by the ability to use more radical cleaning products.

Many steps are the same as for painted products. Vacuum and wipe regularly. First with a damp sponge, then with Vaseline. We only note the distinctive features that can be used on such headsets:

If you are going to clean a white or light leather sofa at home, do not forget to test the product on an inconspicuous area before treating the base. And after washing with water, dry and lubricate the surfaces with nourishing baby oil.

Restoration of scuffs and scratches

You can easily repair leather goods yourself. After the standard cleaning procedure, allow the material to dry and carefully inspect it in good light from different angles. Over time, scratches and worn spots form on any surface. Under the influence of cleaning agents, the painted surface also brightens. To restore the appearance, you can use special tools. Whitish spots are returned to their juiciness with cream-paint for leather products. To hide cracks, treatment with a spray or napkins impregnated with a restorative composition based on wax or silicone helps.

Restoration of wooden elements

If your suite has decorative inserts and armrests made of wood, they also need to be looked after. The already tested furniture polish and petroleum jelly will help you with this. They will help hide minor scratches on lacquered surfaces, and remove whitish stains left after hot cups.

A few more tips for caring for furniture

In this article we tried to tell you how to wash and how to clean leather sofas and armchairs. But no matter how hard you try, no matter how carefully you use them, over time, the coating wears out, tears and loses its presentability. If earlier such a product was considered to have served its time and was thrown away, modern technologies allow it to return to its second youth. Only such a procedure requires special tools, consumables and some experience in their use.

Leather repairs

These are done in leather repair shops. But for those who like to make their own hands, all means are quite affordable. And the necessary skills are developed in the course of actions. What opportunities exist in this service sector:

Thus, the old product is returned to its original appearance. Such work will cost much less than a complete alteration of new upholstery or the purchase of other furniture.

sofa upholstery cleaning hacks

Get rid of stains and odors with this simple guide.

Valeria Skripko

Unsplash

The sofa is a place where you and your loved ones often gather with drinks and snacks to watch TV shows, relax after a hard day, play games and much more. Because of this, chips, popcorn grains and cookie crumbs clog between the pillows, not to mention the remaining stains from juice or wine.

Contents of the article

When does a sofa need a deep cleaning?

To get rid of debris and pet hair, a fabric sofa can simply be vacuumed, and faux leather upholstered furniture can be wiped with a cloth. But if you need to remove stubborn stains and pet odors, then a deeper cleaning will be required.

Every six months or so, follow this step-by-step guide from Carolyn Forte, Research Institute Laboratory Manager. Thanks to him, you can clean the sofa from any fabric and prepare the living room for the next movie weekend.

Whether you're trying to fix a specific stain on a cushion, or you're planning to refurbish your entire sofa, the first thing to do is check your upholstered furniture's ingredients and care label to see which cleaning methods and products are right for you. certain fabric.

Here are the codes used for upholstered furniture:

After checking the tag, follow the instructions below for fabric, microfiber and leather sofas.

How to clean and disinfect fabric and microfiber sofas

1. Steam the surface of the sofa

Use a manual garment steamer or iron to kill dust mites. Walk it along the surface of the sofa (only steam should come into contact with the fabric). If you don't have a steamer or iron, skip this step and go straight to the vacuum cleaner.

2. Vacuum the upholstery

Use the upholstery tool to vacuum the entire sofa: back, armrests and cushions. If the cushions are removable, remove them and vacuum the fabric underneath. Use the crevice tool for seams, buttons and along upholstery.

3. Test the cleaner

Be sure to first apply the upholstery cleaner of your choice in an inconspicuous area to ensure that it does not harm the fabric and cause stains or discoloration.

4. Remove stains from sofa

For fabrics that can be cleaned with water, treat food and pet stains with enzymes following package directions. As a last resort, mix ¼ teaspoon of mild dish soap with one glass of warm water.

If your pillows have removable covers, unzip them and place a paper towel between the fabric and filling to absorb excess moisture. Apply the cleaner to the fabric and gently blot the stain. Once it is removed, blot the area with another damp cloth to get rid of the cleaner completely and wipe everything dry.

For cloth cleaning code S, see the directions on the solvent-based product packaging.

5. Disinfect sofa

Once your sofa is clean and dry, kill any remaining bacteria and odors on water-cleanable upholstery with a fabric disinfectant spray.

How to Clean a Leather Sofa

Cleaning a leather sofa may seem intimidating at first, but it's pretty easy, especially if there are no stains to remove. For general cleaning, follow these steps:

  1. Wipe the cloth with a microfiber cloth to remove any crumbs or dirt.
  2. Vacuum the sofa with the crevice nozzle along the seams, around the buttons and along the upholstery.
  3. Treat the upholstery in small areas using a leather cleaner and a soft, damp cloth. You can also use a mild soapy solution.
  4. Wipe the surface with another damp cloth to completely remove the cleaning agent. Then wipe everything with a dry cloth. If necessary, walk over the armrests and headrests several times.
  5. Apply a skin care protector to make stain removal easier in the future.

How to Neutralize Bad Odors

In between deep cleanings, you can freshen up your sofa, especially if it gives off a bad smell. Whatever the cause, such as greasy food, a wet dog, or sloppy children, you can get rid of the smell by sprinkling baking soda on upholstered furniture.

Learn more