You're Cleaning Your Microfiber Couch All Wrong (2024)

We can't think of a single piece of furniture that sees more daily wear and tear than a living room couch. From raucous wrestling matches to chill movie nights, your sofa sees it all—and can show it all too. Many families looking for the best furniture for kids and pets turn to a microfiber couch since the polyester or poly-blend material is pretty easy to wipe clean and doesn't pill or snag; that makes an affordable microfiber sofa a great choice for a first apartment too. But even though do let most stains roll right off their back, you do need to deep clean a microfiber couch every so often, especially if you're hoping to get a decade or more of use out of it. Consider learning how to clean a microfiber couch one more of those rites of adulthood—right up there with making purchases you want to last for 10 years.

Below, we're detailing the right way to clean your microfiber couch (hint: it just takes a bit of elbow grease), as well as techniques you should avoid if you want to prevent permanent stains.

How frequently you need to clean your microfiber couch depends on how much you use it and how hard you and your family are on your things. As a general rule of thumb, you should plan to give your couch a thorough cleaning once a season (that's spring, summer, fall, and winter), though more frequent sessions may be necessary in the event of a stain or blemish. Vacuum up dirt and grime weekly (so it doesn't get ground into the fibers), and attack any fresh spills right away before they can set into the fabric.

It depends on the exact fabric your sofa is upholstered with. As we mentioned earlier, microfiber upholstery can be made of 100 percent polyester fibers or a blend of polyester and other materials (poly blend). Before you get started, take a look at the tag on your couch to determine the specific type of cleaning products the manufacturer recommends using on the fabric. The tag is likely attached to the frame underneath the cushions. Microfiber couches will be marked with a "W", "S", or "W-S" on the tag, depending on the exact blend of fibers. Couches marked with a "W" can be cleaned with water, while those marked with an "S" must be scrubbed with a water-free solvent (such as rubbing alcohol). Those denoted with a "W-S" can use either method.

Microfiber couches tagged with a "W" can be cleaned with soap and water, making them among the easiest types of upholstery to care for. Follow these instructions only if your sofa's label is marked with a "W" or "W-S" If the label says "S" only, you need to use a water-free solvent instead (see below).

Supplies:

• Vacuum with the upholstery attachment
  
• Liquid dish soap
• Two buckets or large bowls
• Warm water
• Soft-bristle brush or sponge
• Microfiber cloth

Instructions:

1. Start by vacuuming your couch thoroughly, taking care to lift up all the cushions or pillows and get in the creases of the couch. Remember, you're using water for this method, so any residual dirt could turn to mud (and cause an even bigger issue) if left behind.
2. Mix up the cleaning solution. In a bucket or bowl, combine 1/2 cup liquid dishwashing soap with 2 cups of warm water, whisking the solution to create lots of foamy bubbles. Fill another bucket with clean, warm water for rinsing later on.
3. Using the brush or sponge, scoop up the bubbly mixture (absorbing as little actual water as possible) and begin cleaning the couch gently but firmly, starting at the top and working your way down. As you run out of bubbles, rinse the brush or sponge in the clean water before returning to the sudsy one for more bubbles. Repeat this process until you've cleaned the entire sofa.
4. Dampen a microfiber cloth with clean water and use it to gently wipe down the entire couch from top to bottom to eliminate any remaining dirt or grime. Allow the couch to dry completely (this may take several hours).
5. Once it's dry, vacuum the sofa again. Make sure the vacuum head and upholstery attachment are clean, then go over the entire surface. This will help de-matt any fibers and fluff up the material to its original texture.

Sofas marked with an "S" cannot be cleaned with water and soap. Rubbing alcohol is one of the easiest most affordable cleaners for these types of microfiber couches, though some specialty upholstery cleaners can work too (just read the label usage before proceeding). Rubbing alcohol is not the same as isopropyl alcohol, which has a higher concentration of alcohol.

Pro tip: This method is best used to spot clean a microfiber sofa. If your entire couch needs to be cleaned, you're better off hiring a professional.

Supplies:

• Vacuum with the upholstery attachment
• Spray bottle
• Rubbing alcohol (70 or 91 percent is okay)
• Cotton cloth

Instructions:

1. Vacuum your couch thoroughly, taking care to lift up all the cushions or pillows and get in the creases of the couch.
2. Pour the rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle to make it easier to apply; do not dilute it. Lightly spritz stained areas of the fabric. Allow the solvent to settle onto the fibers for several minutes.
3. Gently blot the stain with the cotton cloth, applying a bit more rubbing alcohol if necessary.
4. Allow the spot to dry. Repeat steps 2 and 3 if any signs of the stain linger.
5. Once dry, give the couch one last vacuum. This will help de-matt any fibers and fluff up the surface to its original texture.

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