The safest way to clean any sofa starts with one small label. Look under the seat cushions or on the deck for the manufacturer’s cleaning code: it tells you which cleaners the fabric can take. Use it, test on a hidden spot first, and most stains come out without leaving a mark.
1. Find your sofa’s cleaning code
Every code is explained in more detail in upholstery cleaning codes.
| Code | What it means | What to use |
|---|---|---|
| W | Water-based cleaners are safe. | Upholstery shampoo, or a few drops of mild dish soap in lukewarm water. Distilled water helps avoid rings. |
| S | Solvent (water-free) cleaners only. Water can leave rings or shrink the fabric. | A dry-cleaning solvent made for upholstery. Many people use isopropyl alcohol on S-coded microfiber; test it first. |
| W/S or SW | Either type can be used. | Start with a mild water-based cleaner; use a solvent for grease or ink. |
| X | No liquid cleaners at all. | Vacuum and brush only. Leave stains to a professional upholstery cleaner. |
Removable covers have their own wash label. Follow it exactly: usually a cold, gentle cycle and air drying, because tumble drying can shrink a cover so it no longer fits.
2. How to deep clean a fabric sofa, step by step
- Vacuum everything. Take off the loose cushions and use the upholstery brush and crevice tool on the seat deck, the seams and under the cushions, where crumbs and grit wear the fabric.
- Test your cleaner. Apply a little to a hidden area, such as the back or underneath, and let it dry. If the color runs or the texture changes, stop.
- Clean in sections. Apply the cleaner with a soft cloth or brush, working it gently in the direction of the pile. Do not soak the fabric; the cushion foam underneath takes a long time to dry.
- Rinse and blot. For W codes, go over the area with a cloth dampened with clean water, then blot with a dry white towel to lift the soap out. Soap left in the fibers attracts dirt.
- Dry it properly. Let it air-dry with good ventilation or a fan. Keep it away from heaters and direct sun, which can set stains and fade color.
- Brush the pile. Once dry, brush velvet, chenille and corduroy lightly in one direction so the texture looks even.
3. How to remove common stains
Whatever the stain, act fast and blot, don’t rub: rubbing pushes the stain deeper and roughens the fibers. Work from the outside of the stain inward, and use only what your cleaning code allows.
| Stain | First step | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee, tea, soda | Blot up as much as you can. | W codes: a little dish soap in cool water, then rinse and blot. S codes: solvent cleaner. |
| Red wine, juice | Blot immediately; never use hot water. | W codes: cool water and mild soap, repeated in small amounts. Stubborn marks: a professional. |
| Grease, oil, butter | Sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda, leave 15-20 minutes, vacuum. | A solvent cleaner (S or W/S codes), or a drop of dish soap for W codes. |
| Ink | Dab, don’t smear. | Isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab for S and W/S fabrics, after a spot test. |
| Pet urine or vomit | Remove solids, blot the liquid. | An enzyme cleaner made for upholstery (W codes). It breaks down the odor rather than masking it. |
| Mud | Let it dry completely. | Brush off and vacuum, then treat any mark left behind. |
| Blood | Blot with cold water (W codes). Heat sets blood. | Repeat with a little mild soap if needed. |
More stains, from ink and gum to slime and water marks: how to get stains out of a couch.
4. Cleaning by fabric
- Chenille: usually W or W/S. Vacuum often, because its soft pile holds dust. Blot gently; scrubbing can pull the looped yarns. Shop chenille sofas.
- Velvet: brush with a soft brush in the direction of the pile. Pressure marks lift with a brush or a little steam held above the fabric, if the code allows. More: how to clean a velvet couch. Shop velvet sofas.
- Corduroy: vacuum along the ribs, not across them, and brush the ribs back up where they have flattened. Shop corduroy sofas.
- Microfiber and polyester: often S-coded. Alcohol-based cleaning followed by brushing with a soft brush restores the nap. Step by step: how to clean a microfiber couch.
- Linen and cotton: prone to water marks and shrinking, so check the code carefully and clean whole panels rather than small spots.
- Performance fabric: made to resist stains, but still follow its code; most allow water-based cleaning.
- Leather: dust with a dry cloth and wipe spills at once. Protected (pigmented) leather can take a leather cleaner; aniline leather is absorbent, so use a dry cloth only and ask a specialist about stains. Condition with a product made for your leather type. Full steps: how to clean a leather couch.
- Faux leather: wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap, then dry. Avoid alcohol and solvents, which can crack the surface.
5. Getting rid of odors
Sprinkle baking soda evenly over a dry fabric sofa, leave it for a few hours or overnight, then vacuum thoroughly. It absorbs most everyday odors and is safe for the majority of fabrics; test it on a dark fabric first to be sure it vacuums out cleanly. For pet odors, treat the source with an enzyme cleaner. More detail by cause, from pet urine to musty and smoke smells: how to get a smell out of a couch.
How to clean couch cushions
Vacuum both sides of every cushion, spot-clean them according to the cleaning code, and let them dry flat before you put them back.
- Check before you wash a cover. Only machine-wash a cushion cover if it has its own wash label or the listing says it is removable and washable. A zipper alone does not mean the cover is meant to be washed; many are there so the foam can be fitted at the factory, and washing can shrink or fade the cover so it no longer fits or matches.
- Washing washable covers: close the zipper, turn the cover inside out and use a cold, gentle cycle with mild detergent. Wash all the covers together so they fade evenly.
- Drying: air-dry, or put the covers back on while still slightly damp so they ease into shape. Skip the dryer unless the label allows it.
- Foam inserts: never soak or machine-wash foam. Spot-clean it, let it dry completely so it can’t grow mildew, and freshen it with baking soda.
Want covers you can take off and wash? See slipcovered sofas.
How to get pet hair off a couch
- Run a slightly damp rubber glove or a rubber pet-hair brush over the fabric; the hair rolls up into clumps you can pick off.
- Vacuum with the upholstery or pet-hair tool, working against the direction of the pile.
- Keep a lint roller handy for quick touch-ups.
- Cover your pet’s favorite spot with a washable throw.
Tight weaves, leather and performance fabrics release hair most easily; see the best couch fabric for pets and our pet-friendly sofas.
How to fix scratches on a leather couch
For light scratches on protected (pigmented) leather, rub gently with a clean fingertip or soft cloth, then apply a leather conditioner and buff. On aniline leather, light scuffs often fade with gentle rubbing and conditioner, but test on a hidden area first. Deeper scratches and tears need a leather repair kit matched to your color, or a leather specialist. Faux leather can’t be conditioned; use a vinyl or faux-leather repair kit.
6. When to call a professional
- The code is X, or there is no code at all.
- Water rings or tide marks on an S-coded fabric.
- Large or old stains, or anything on silk, aniline leather or a delicate weave.
7. A simple care routine
| How often | What to do |
|---|---|
| Weekly | Vacuum, including under the cushions. Plump fiber and feather cushions. |
| Monthly | Rotate and flip loose cushions so they wear evenly. Brush textured fabrics, and remove any pilling. |
| Every 6-12 months | Condition leather. Spot-check for wear and tighten any loose legs. |
| Every 12-24 months | Deep clean, or have it professionally cleaned, especially for a sofa in daily use. |
Keep your sofa out of strong direct sunlight and away from radiators and heating vents, which fade color and dry out leather.
Frequently asked questions
Can you steam clean a sofa?
Only if its cleaning code is W or W/S and the label doesn’t say otherwise. Hold the steamer a few inches away, don’t soak the fabric, and let it dry fully. Never steam S or X fabrics, velvet with glued pile, or leather.
Can I use a carpet cleaner on my couch?
Carpet shampoos are often too strong for upholstery. Use a cleaner labeled for upholstery, or a handheld upholstery attachment with a suitable solution, on W-coded fabric only.
How often should you clean a sofa?
Vacuum weekly, deal with spills as they happen, and deep clean once or twice every two years. Homes with pets or young children benefit from cleaning more often.
How do I remove water rings?
Water rings usually mean the fabric is S-coded. A solvent upholstery cleaner applied evenly across the whole panel can blend them out; if not, call a professional rather than adding more water.
Choosing a new sofa? Read fabric vs leather to find upholstery that suits your home and how much care you want to give it.
Good care is the biggest factor in how long a couch lasts.