Cleaning sofas??

parcoeliz

Lately I've been obsessive about cleaning/washing things that are difficult or complex. Like a sofa. I feel like sofas are just a disgusting large item that harbors dirt and nastiness. Especially the arms! My cats constantly hop up on the arms and back of the sofas. We eat dinner a lot in the living room, sitting on the couch (we are careful not to spill but there's the occasional crumb or spill). Sometimes my husband comes home after work all sweaty or covered in dirt (construction guy) and sits and naps on the couch without changing his clothes! Grrrr!
I know you can vacuum the sofa weekly....but what about deep cleaning? How do you clean a sofa without it being a huge burden? Suggestions?
What about slip covers? I feel like this is a good option; they are easy to remove and toss in the wash even if just monthly.

musictchr25

Your cushions likely have a zipper on the backside that makes them removable. You could always wash the covers and let the cushion parts sit outside in the sun for some fresh air and sun bleaching. You may also find a tag somewhere on your sofa that tells you the materials it is made of and how to treat them cleaning wise. 

Also, a slipcover will help keep dirt off of the outside of the couch, but spills and smells will still penetrate the fabric and batting underneath the cover, so this may not be the best option for you. It actually sounds like it might end up being more work because you would have an extra layer to clean.

LansJefferson

I must admit since me and my girlfriend got separated I've become a little lazy and just don't bother with too many cleaning activities. Of course this does not mean I am living in a total misery ;d. I do like to be clean and tidy but with all the stress from the separation combined with working from 9/5 6 days a week I just prefer to turn to some agency when it comes to more complex cleaning tasks. In the past I did it myself by using a simple homemade solution. To create it I mixed together 1 cup of warm water with ¼ cup of liquid dish soap in a container. Then used a whisk to mix the water and dish soap together in order to form suds or foam. The best thing about this homemade cleaner is that it does not use harsh, toxic chemicals that will pollute your home. And if anyone like me prefers to drink a few beers with friends or to visit some relatives, then just order some professionals. Last time I referred to  http://carpetcleaningexpertsmelbourne.com.au/  . They did pretty good job and didn't charge me a lot but I think it is about time to pull myself together and start doing more of the maintenance responsibilities on by myself. If you know any homemade solutions please share it with me. 

DangerMuffin23

Late to your question here, but keep in mind that while most couch cushions have removable covers, they're really not supposed to be machine washed. A lot of times it will void a manufacturers warranty. And, it can change the color of the covers compared to the fabric on the frame. If it's a nice piece I recommend getting cleaning details from where you purchased it first, or having it professionally cleaned second. But in the real world, I use a steam cleaner attachment once a year on the seats and arms. :-) (I work for a furniture retailer so I'm just letting you know what the nitty gritty)

iloveu4ever

Baking soda sprinkle and vacuum.