If you are unsure how to clean fabric sofa, upholstered furniture or the like, we have your best solution here. Find out the 11 simple steps required to clean fabric or upholstered sofa. In addition, learn 6 golden tips to care for your upholstered furniture and sofa. We know cleaning fixtures with fabric material is not easy, and that is exactly why we wrote this guide!
An Overview Of This Article:
What Is A Fabric Sofa or Upholstered Sofa?
A fabric sofa, is a sofa made primarily of fabric, which is a soft, comfortable and absorbent material. Upholstery is basically the practice of fixing and covering furniture with soft and padded textile or fabric. Hence, when referring to such sofas, fabric sofa and upholstered sofa both basically mean the same thing.
Fabric V.S. Leather Sofa
Is a fabric sofa better than a leather sofa? On this topic, there are numerous arguments and sides to take. MEIDE.SG simplifies things, as always for you right here:
Consider which factors are the most important for you, give some points to each factor, and see whether fabric or leather sofa has higher points for you and your family!
| Factor | Fabric Sofa | Leather Sofa |
| Cleaning Difficulty | High | Medium |
| Maintenance Difficulty | High | Medium |
| Costs | Economical | High |
| Comfort | Softer, Warmer | Firmer, Cooler |
| Durability | Less | More |
| Aesthetics and Appearance | Subjective preference | Subjective preference |
| Health | More prone to dust and mites | More hypoallergenic |
| Bottomline | If costs and comfort in terms of warmness and softness are the most important for you, pick a fabric sofa! | If costs are not so much of a concern, and you want a durable classy furniture, or you have persons with allergies around, choose a leather sofa! |
All in all, picking your sofa material may be a dilemma, but do not forget to enjoy this process! In fact, it is already a blessing that you are fortunate enough to be choosing new furniture! Hooray!
Regardless of your choice of fabric or leather sofa, MEIDE will make sure it is well maintained, cared for, and cleaned regularly and properly with our expertise!
Should You Clean Your Fabric Sofa?
Without regular and proper cleaning, germs, mites, dust and a boundless list of undesirable stuff will get onto your soft fabric couch! However, with too rigorous cleaning, or inappropriate techniques, your fabric sofa may get irreversible damages too. Hence, when faced with the question of whether one should clean fabric furniture, it is often hair-pulling difficult to decide.
Well, perhaps, but not anymore. MEIDE.SG is determined and confident that our comprehensive article right here, will get you on the right track! And not to worry, because if all else fails, we are simply a click, call or text away.
Book your #1 home services today, or join our team!
meide.sg is here for you, always.
Before Your Fabric Sofa Cleaning
Before anything, check your fabric sofa label for cleaning code first! Indeed, be aware of the 4 different letters / codes that differentiates the types of fabric couches. These 4 letters are: W, W/S, S and X. W means the fabric sofa can be cleaned with water and water-based solutions. W/S is also easy because both water and solvent-based detergents are allowed. S means you should NOT use water, but only use dry cleaning methods or solvent-based detergents to clean your sofa. X means you should ONLY vacuum your sofa and do NOT use water!
Tools Required
Next up, you can now get your cleaning tools ready! For your benefit, we have summarised these in a table based on your type of upholstered sofa:
Cleaning Equipment To Clean Fabric Sofa
These are the 9 cleaning equipment to get ready before your fabric sofa cleaning!
| S/N | Cleaning Equipment | W(Water Allowed Only) | W/S (Water or Solvent Allowed) | S(Solvent Allowed Only) | X(Vacuum Only) |
| 1 | Washing Machine | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 2 | Dusting Brush (For Sofa and Covers) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 3 | 6 Pieces of clean microfibre cloths or towels (match a similar color with your sofa fabric) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 4 | Vacuum Cleaner and Accessories (For Upholstery) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 5 | Steam Cleaner and Accessories or Garment Steamer or Iron With Steam Abilities | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 6 | Container or Spray Bottle for mixing vinegar, dish soap and baking soda | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 7 | Soft scrub or sponge | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 8 | Fan | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 9 | Clothesline (to hang up any soiled/damp objects) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Cleaning Supplies
These are the 8 cleaning supplies to get ready before your fabric sofa cleaning!
| S/N | Cleaning Supplies | W(Water Allowed Only) | W/S (Water or Solvent Allowed) | S(Solvent Allowed Only) | X(Vacuum Only) |
| 1 | Laundry Detergent (For Washer, if applicable) | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 2 | Clean Distilled Water | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 3 | Dish Soap | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 4 | White Distilled Vinegar | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 5 | Baking Soda Powder | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 6 | Commercial Fabric Sofa Cleaning Agents | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 7 | Clean paper towels | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 8 | Fabric Sanitization / Freshening Spray | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
How To Clean Fabric Sofa (All In One Guide)
Are you ready to officially begin cleaning your fabric sofa? Let’s start!
1) Check your fabric sofa label for cleaning code first
Before you begin cleaning, be aware of the 4 different letters / codes that differentiates the types of fabric couches. These 4 letters are: W, W/S, S and X. W means the fabric sofa can be cleaned with water and water-based solutions. W/S is also easy because both water and solvent-based detergents are allowed. S means you should NOT use water, but only use dry cleaning methods or solvent-based detergents to clean your sofa. X means you should ONLY vacuum your sofa and do NOT use water!
Based on the letter shown on your fabric sofa label, you may need to omit or follow certain steps as per the summary table below:
| S/N | Cleaning Step | W(Water Allowed Only) | W/S (Water or Solvent Allowed) | S(Solvent Allowed Only) | X(Vacuum Only) |
| 1 | Check Cleaning Code | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 2 | Remove and clean your sofa covers (if applicable) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 3 | Simply brush or wipe it first | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 4 | Vacuum your fabric sofa | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 5 | Steam clean your fabric sofa | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 6 | Remove stains with baking soda powder, white distilled vinegar, and dish soap | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 7 | Remove stains with baking soda powder alone | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Clean fabric sofa with commercial cleaning agents | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 9 | Dry your fabric sofa | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 10 | Re-vacuum your sofa | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| 11 | Re-vitalise and freshen up your fabric sofa | ✔ | ✔ |
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2) Remove and clean your sofa covers (if applicable)
Some fabric sofas allow you to remove the covers. As much as possible, do this to aid your cleaning. The covers can be cleaned separately (see subsequent section below). Otherwise, if yours unfortunately cannot be removed at all, fret not. Proceed to the next step.
3) Simply brush or wipe it first
Use a brush (preferably a brush specially made for upholstery – you can buy this from most hardware stores or the supermarket), or clean dry cloth, to wipe and brush away dry crumbs, dust and dirt. If your sofa is lightly colored, use a white cloth. Otherwise, you may risk color stains on your sofa!
4) Vacuum your fabric sofa next
Vacuum your sofa in detail. This is the top step, because it can suck out lots of dirt, dust, hair, crumbs and dead insects! Investing in a good vacuum would highly pay off at this point. Remember to vacuum the entire sofa including the cushions, sides, arms, back, skirt and all deeper areas. It is best to use a vacuum with detachable add-ons like the crevice tool to reach deep into the sofa and cushions.
5) Steam clean your fabric sofa
Use a steam cleaner, garment steamer, or hot iron with a steaming function, to shoot hot steam and mist at the fabric sofa. Again, read your sofa label first and always test a small area. This is because certain fabric sofas may not tolerate high heat and burn.
If all is good to go, steam clean in detail and steam all areas, just like you did when vacuuming. This step not only helps to dislodge and suck out debris, it also disinfects and kills germs and any possible dust mites hiding in your sofa.
Tip: yes, we know that a good steam cleaner and vacuum do not come cheap. However, do consider the long term rewards by investing in a trustworthy brand! Alternatively, you can get our professional cleaning helpers to bring in our equipment and do the whole fabric sofa cleaning for you too!
6) Remove stains with baking soda powder, white distilled vinegar, and dish soap
Create a fabric sofa cleaning solution by mixing 1 part of white distilled vinegar with 3 parts of clean distilled water. Add in 1 tablespoon of dish soap (or some call it washing-up liquid) too. You can use this solution to dab, rub, or spray over stained areas. MEIDE recommends using a clean dry cloth, soft scrub, or spray bottle to do this. It is also best to use dabbing first, as rubbing or scrubbing would increase risks of material damage. Thereafter, use another clean damp cloth (dipped in clean distilled water only, and wrung out) to dab or wipe out the residues.
7) Remove stains with baking soda powder alone
Sprinkle baking soda powder over the stained area, and leave it for about 30 minutes to absorb stains and remove odors.Moreover, the baking soda will attract and bring up stubborn grease too! Whilst waiting for the 30 minutes, refer to the steps below to clean your couch covers, or look up more cleaning tips at MEIDE.SG/BLOG!
If your sofa cleaning code is W or W/S, you can also add a few drops of water and dishwashing soap, to moisten the baking soda powder. This paste would hasten the stain dislodgement process.
Lastly, use your vacuum to vacuum up all the residue. If you have added water, make sure your vacuum is a “wet/dry” type of vacuum, or else, use a clean damp cloth instead.
8) Clean fabric sofa with commercial cleaning agents
There are many commercial and different types of fabric sofa cleaning agents. If you do get them, just make sure they are suitable according to your type of fabric sofa (see above for the explanation on W, W/S, S and X label on your upholstery).
9) Dry your fabric sofa
Remember to always dry up any leftover moisture or cleaning agents after use. You can use disposable clean paper towels, or dry clean towels to aid you with this. Press them onto the sofa fabric and repeat as necessary until the fabric itself is dry to your touch (remember to dry your hands first too)!
As a bonus tip, turn on the fan(s) to blow away at the fabric sofa to quicken up the process! If you want to use your hair dryer, be very cautious to avoid burning and blackening your fabric as it is more suitable to concentrate heat in smaller regions.
10) Re-vacuum your sofa
Finally, repeat the vacuuming as per described above. Vacuum the entire sofa again, because after the additional cleaning steps, it is likely that additional debris and dirt may have came up to the fabric’s surface. This second round of vacuuming would suck up and remove the final layer of dirt, dust and hair!
11) Re-vitalise and freshen up your fabric sofa
Now that you are done with your cleaning per se, go the extra step by using a fabric sanitizing spray like Febreeze (buy from Giant, NTUC or Cold Storage) to freshen up your beloved upholstery! This will help kill germs over time, and add a scent (you can choose from many types) to the sofa to wow your visitors and aromatise your living room.
Want more educational materials and great learning articles free of charge? MEIDE.SG delivers it to you fresh from the oven, specially for our subscribers only. Sign up now (it’s free)!
How to Clean Fabric Sofa Covers
In addition, this is a follow up topic from the guide above on how to clean fabric sofa!
- Read the labels or manufacturing details of the fabric sofa and covers first because they would provide detailed instructions on what is allowed or not
- Put the soiled covers in the washing machine (if allowed on manufacturer’s label) and use any suitable laundry detergent to get it cleaned fuss-free! Skip all the way to the last step!
- If not machine-washable, you would have to manually dust them by using a brush, or beating them gently but repeatedly outdoors during a sunny day.
- You can then manually wipe down the covers using a microfibre cloth damp with clean distilled water thereafter.
- Avoid using the machine dryer. Rather, hang them up to sun dry. UV rays from the sun will disinfect the covers, dry them and leave them with delightful freshness!
6 Golden Tips To Clean Fabric Sofa
- You should conduct regular cleaning of your sofa to maintain its hygiene and looks! How often should you do the cleaning? Well, MEIDE recommends a full deep cleaning of the fabric sofa at least once in 4 to 6 weeks (follow the guide above)! However, for a more sustainable method, you could also just do the dry cleaning steps (Steps 1, 2 and 3 above) every 2 to 3 days to keep out all dirt and insects. That would definitely make your overall cleaning easier each time!
- Conduct a detailed cleaning after each gathering, party or visiting. In addition to the regular cleaning, you should also conduct a full cleaning after each party or celebration. This is because it is highly likely that the sofa would be heavily soiled by your friends or relatives visiting, lounging and eating or drinking over the fabric sofa!
- Do not wait out stains or mishaps If any spill or stains occur, clean it up immediately. Leaving it to sit will cause set stains that are harder and harder to remove over time.
- Keep pets off your fabric sofa – they might poo, pee, leave dander and fur all over, or scratch it. Enough said.
- Before you do the cleaning, try to pick a date and time where the weather is sunny and windy, and open all windows to ventilate your area during the cleaning process!
- When doing cleaning, always test out on a small hidden, inner area of the fabric sofa first. This will minimise harm, if any is caused. Of note, some fabric sofa may be susceptible to high heat and burn when subjected to hot steam (during steam cleaning) or hot air from your hairdryer. So, be careful.
We really hope you have enjoyed this fabric sofa cleaning guide and golden tips! If you are still in doubt, or need any assistance, we are just a click away! Book your #1 home services today, or join our team!
meide.sg is here for you, always.
Summary Of 11 Steps
Time needed: 1 hour and 29 minutes.
How To Clean Fabric Sofa (All In One Guide)
- Check your fabric sofa label for cleaning code first
Before you begin cleaning, be aware of the 4 different letters / codes that differentiates the types of fabric couches. These 4 letters are: W, W/S, S and X. W means the fabric sofa can be cleaned with water and water-based solutions. W/S is also easy because both water and solvent-based detergents are allowed. S means you should NOT use water, but only use dry cleaning methods or solvent-based detergents to clean your sofa. X means you should ONLY vacuum your sofa and do NOT use water!
- Remove and clean your sofa covers (if applicable)
Some fabric sofas allow you to remove the covers. As much as possible, do this to aid your cleaning. The covers can be cleaned separately (see subsequent section below). Otherwise, if yours unfortunately cannot be removed at all, fret not. Proceed to the next step.
- Simply brush or wipe it first
Use a brush (preferably a brush specially made for upholstery – you can buy this from most hardware stores or the supermarket), or clean dry cloth, to wipe and brush away dry crumbs, dust and dirt. If your sofa is lightly colored, use a white cloth. Otherwise, you may risk color stains on your sofa!
- Vacuum your fabric sofa next
Vacuum your sofa in detail. This is the top step, because it can suck out lots of dirt, dust, hair, crumbs and dead insects! Investing in a good vacuum would highly pay off at this point. Remember to vacuum the entire sofa including the cushions, sides, arms, back, skirt and all deeper areas. It is best to use a vacuum with detachable add-ons like the crevice tool to reach deep into the sofa and cushions.
- Steam clean your fabric sofa
Use a steam cleaner, garment steamer, or hot iron with a steaming function, to shoot hot steam and mist at the fabric sofa. Again, read your sofa label first and always test a small area. This is because certain fabric sofas may not tolerate high heat and burn.
If all is good to go, steam clean in detail and steam all areas, just like you did when vacuuming. This step not only helps to dislodge and suck out debris, it also disinfects and kills germs and any possible dust mites hiding in your sofa. - Remove stains with baking soda powder, white distilled vinegar, and dish soap
Create a fabric sofa cleaning solution by mixing 1 part of white distilled vinegar with 3 parts of clean distilled water. Add in 1 tablespoon of dish soap (or some call it washing-up liquid) too. You can use this solution to dab, rub, or spray over stained areas. MEIDE recommends using a clean dry cloth, soft scrub, or spray bottle to do this. It is also best to use dabbing first, as rubbing or scrubbing would increase risks of material damage. Thereafter, use another clean damp cloth (dipped in clean distilled water only, and wrung out) to dab or wipe out the residues.
- Remove stains with baking soda powder alone
Sprinkle baking soda powder over the stained area, and leave it for about 30 minutes to absorb stains and remove odors.Moreover, the baking soda will attract and bring up stubborn grease too! Whilst waiting for the 30 minutes, refer to the steps below to clean your couch covers, or look up more cleaning tips at MEIDE.SG/BLOG!
If your sofa cleaning code is W or W/S, you can also add a few drops of water and dishwashing soap, to moisten the baking soda powder. This paste would hasten the stain dislodgement process.
Lastly, use your vacuum to vacuum up all the residue. If you have added water, make sure your vacuum is a “wet/dry” type of vacuum, or else, use a clean damp cloth instead. - Clean fabric sofa with commercial cleaning agents
There are many commercial and different types of fabric sofa cleaning agents. If you do get them, just make sure they are suitable according to your type of fabric sofa (see above for the explanation on W, W/S, S and X label on your upholstery).
- Dry your fabric sofa
Remember to always dry up any leftover moisture or cleaning agents after use. You can use disposable clean paper towels, or dry clean towels to aid you with this. Press them onto the sofa fabric and repeat as necessary until the fabric itself is dry to your touch (remember to dry your hands first too)!
As a bonus tip, turn on the fan(s) to blow away at the fabric sofa to quicken up the process! If you want to use your hair dryer, be very cautious to avoid burning and blackening your fabric as it is more suitable to concentrate heat in smaller regions. - Re-vacuum your sofa
Finally, repeat the vacuuming as per described above. Vacuum the entire sofa again, because after the additional cleaning steps, it is likely that additional debris and dirt may have came up to the fabric’s surface. This second round of vacuuming would suck up and remove the final layer of dirt, dust and hair!
- Re-vitalize and freshen up your fabric sofa
Now that you are done with your cleaning per se, go the extra step by using a fabric sanitizing spray like Febreeze (buy from Giant, NTUC or Cold Storage) to freshen up your beloved upholstery! This will help kill germs over time, and add a scent (you can choose from many types) to the sofa to wow your visitors and aromatise your living room.