How to Clean a Sofa
Content editor
Emily LambeHow to clean a sofa at home
While hiring a professional to clean your upholstery may be less stress, you don’t always have to splash out. It's easy to clean your own sofa at home with just a few household supplies and our clever tips:
Give your sofa a deep clean every six months to keep things fresh. If you have pets or small children you may want to clean it more frequently, about every three months.
Always check the cleaning code on the tag before you get started, this will tell you which cleaning products you can use.
If you’re not sure which products are safe, spot test on a small area hidden from view.
Make sure to give your sofa a good hoover before deep cleaning, getting into all the crevices.
How to clean a fabric sofa
Use the saucepan method to easily clean the surface of your fabric sofa:
Mix warm water with one to two drops of a mild washing-up liquid.
Dip a microfiber cloth into your solution and wrap it around a saucepan lid.
Glide the cloth and saucepan over the surface of the sofa, lifting dirt and grime.
Deep clean stains with equal parts washing-up liquid, white vinegar, and bicarbonate of soda. For the deepest clean, use a handheld steamer to kill bacteria and eliminate odours.
How to clean a leather sofa
You may wish to use a specialised leather cleaner on your sofa, but you can clean with household products, too. Just be sure to avoid bleach, ammonia and other harsh detergents that may damage the leather.
Mix warm water with a small amount of mild, non-detergent soap.
Use a microfibre cloth and gently dip into the mixture, making sure it is barely damp. Avoid using too much water on the leather.
Gently wipe down the sofa using circular motions in small sections.
Wipe away any soapy residue with a second, slightly damp cloth as you work.
Wipe the sofa dry with a completely dry towel.
Optional: after drying, buff the sofa with a leather conditioner to keep the leather soft and prevent cracking.
How to clean suede, velvet and chenille sofas
Cleaning a sofa made with delicate fabric can be tricky. When in doubt, try to clean without water by gently dry brushing with a soft cloth.
Suede: scrub scuffs and dirt away with a soft upholstery brush which raises the nap. To treat a stain, delicately rub with a small amount of white vinegar.
Velvet: mix one to two of drops of washing-up liquid with warm water and use a microfibre cloth to dab away any stains. Once dry, brush with soft-bristled brush in the direction of the pile.
Chenille: spot clean using a mixture of one part sparkling water to one half part white vinegar on a microfibre cloth. Restore the pile once dry with a soft upholstery brush.
How to remove stains from your sofa
When it comes to spills, time is crucial. Act quickly and absorb with a clean, dry towel – blot, don’t rub.
Banish stubborn stains with a mixture of equal parts washing-up liquid, white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and water. Apply to the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping away with a clean cloth.
Allow the sofa to air dry after cleaning. Using a heat source (such as a hair dryer) may cause the stain to set in.
How to get odours and pet hair out of your sofa
As much as we love our furry friends, pets may cause odours and shed hair on the furniture. Keeping them off the sofa is easier said than done, so keep these easy techniques in your back pocket to get your sofa looking and smelling like new.
Removing odours: sprinkle a generous amount of bicarbonate of soda all over your sofa and leave for at least 30 minutes, or ideally overnight, then hoover up. If unpleasant smells remain, spray with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water (don’t worry, the vinegar smell will disappear when dry).
Removing pet hair: put on a pair of rubber gloves (the kind you use for washing up) and slightly dampen them, then wipe in one direction to gather the hair. You can also use a window squeegee to scrape the hair off the fabric.
Published 28/04/2026
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