On a sofa, we relax, we eat, we enjoy, we laugh... we live! As the summer period is the sunniest, it reveals the slightest defect in your sofa. Whether it's leather or fabric, now is the perfect time to clean it well and give it a makeover!
Clean your sofa properly in summer
All year long your sofa has suffered the ups and downs of life. When summer arrives, the light having increased, the slightest defect will be visible. Natural wear and stains on a sofa make your furniture look ugly and shorten the lifespan of your furniture. To restore its aesthetics and comfort, you must start by cleaning it well, depending on its covering. Even if we must follow the different steps, they will not be done in the same way depending on the type of coating.
Step 1: Dust your sofa
The essential step, and yet all too often ignored, is to properly dust your sofa. Since dust never takes a holiday, it accumulates over the days. In addition to creating allergic reactions, it will make the washing step more difficult. When dust comes into contact with moisture and dirt, it sets in and stains!
Vacuum cleaner with upholstery brush
- For fabric sofas: The vacuum cleaner is ideal, if you use it gently! The trick to not damaging the fabric threads is to use a non-rigid brush head. By making small circular movements without rubbing, pressing or scratching, you will eliminate all the dust accumulated over the days without relaxing the threads.
- For leather sofas: Use chamois leather or a very soft, slightly damp cloth to gently dust the surface of the sofa.
Gentle cleaning with a chamois glove
Good to know: Some professionals recommend dusting your sofa every week, others every two months... One thing is certain, as soon as you want to clean, you must first dust!
Step 2: Wash the sofa completely
The mistake we often make is to clean only the stained area. However, to avoid any demarcation and especially to create new stains, it is preferable to clean the entire surface.
- For fabric sofas: Start by referring to the label to find out if the fabric is water resistant.
If you find a symbol representing a basin with water in it, you can use a commercial liquid shampoo intended for this purpose or white vinegar. The number, which is sometimes written inside the basin, corresponds to the maximum washing temperature.
If the basin symbol is crossed out, your sofa can only be dry cleaned. In this case, sprinkle with Terre de Sommières or baking soda and let it sit for an hour before vacuuming.
- Leather sofas require special maintenance and our grandmothers had the best recipe. Beat an egg until stiff with the juice of 1/2 lemon. Dab the mixture on your sofa, without rubbing, using a cloth. To keep the leather supple for as long as possible, you must also apply a moisturizing milk to the entire surface once a month. The more nourished the leather, the less likely it is to dry out or crack.
To find out everything you need to know about caring for your sofa, find out how to clean your leather sofa.
- If your sofa cover is completely or partially removable, a trip to the washing machine or dry cleaner will do the trick. When machine cleaning, it is important to follow the washing precautions on the label. As a general rule, wash on cold and delicate cycle so as not to damage or shrink the fabric. And above all, no spinning!
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Step 3: Protect your sofa
To keep your sofa in the best possible condition, you must protect it against the ravages of time and especially its environment.
Whether fabric or leather, the covering must be water-repellent and waterproof. This thin transparent protective layer has no odor, does not harden the textile fibers and does not affect the colors... This invisible barrier is particularly effective on water, oils and dust. Having only advantages, it would be ill-advised to deprive yourself of them!
You have to be very careful with the sun and especially the moon which burn the pigments and therefore discolor the sofa. At the moment, there is no waterproofing product that is truly effective against UV rays. Protection must therefore be done manually, using a blanket for example. When you go on vacation, remember to cover it entirely with a sheet, especially if you don't have shutters!
Good to know: Today, the majority of sofas are chemically treated in the manufacturing workshop to protect them. As these products fade over time, it is important to repeat this treatment regularly.
Rethink your sofa in summer
Rethink your comfort
A sofa never ages evenly. Due to repeated friction, the seat is the part that suffers the most wear. You may need to consider reupholstering the seat cushion. It's best not to do it yourself. More and more specialized companies come to your home and repair your sofa in less than two hours....
If you have children, the repeated jumping may also have injured the armrest of your sofa. If it is damaged, torn or stained, you can certainly replace it because the majority of armrests are placed on rails.
If one of the legs is damaged, you can also change it by contacting the seller of your sofa directly. When the feet are mounted on screw threads, they can be dismantled and therefore easily replaced. If the sofa legs are included in the armrest, you will need to change this entire part...
Give your sofa a makeover in summer
After maintaining and repairing your sofa, why not give it a new look? There are many tips that will allow you to personalize your sofa to make it unique...
- You can change the color of your sofa. If it comes with an extra cover, take advantage of it! If this is not the case, choose your color carefully because you cannot change it forever without affecting the quality of the coating. Your choice of stain must absolutely be based on the texture and initial color of your sofa. There is now a whole range of very easy to use dyes which also allow you to hide certain wear imperfections. It is best to waterproof your sofa before and after staining.
- Don't forget to accessorize your sofa! By arranging cushions in various shapes, textures and patterns, you can create the sofa that suits you, without having to change much. You can also place a rug in front of the sofa which will bring out its color and add relief to the room.
Good to know: If you want to change the covering of your sofa, whether it is a question of color, texture or even to redo it identically, know that it will cost you at least 1/3 of the cost of your sofa.
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