When we’re not at work, running errands or cooking dinner, there’s one spot in the house we flock to: the couch. It’s where we binge episodes of our favorite shows, play games with family and even enjoy the occasional late-night snack. It only makes sense that we sometimes spill a drink or get crumbs in between the cushions. But for a piece of furniture that gets a ton of use, not everyone knows how to clean their couch the right way.
Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, shares her expertise on the subject: “It's a good idea to vacuum away surface dust and debris at least once per month, especially if you eat on the couch or your pet calls it home too. Try to remove stains when you see them to keep them from setting in. Give the entire couch a deep cleaning with a portable cleaner if you have one once or twice a year, or more, depending on use.”
The first step towards a cleaner couch is checking the care label — we’re here to break down what each one means and where to go from there with help from our cleaning experts.
How to read care label codes
- W is the easiest to clean and means water-based cleaners are okay to use.
- W/S means that either water- or solvent-based cleaners are safe.
- S means only solvent-based cleaning chemicals should be used.
- X means do nothing more than vacuum or brush the fabric.
After checking the care tag, follow the guides below for fabric, microfiber and leather couches.
How to deep clean fabric and microfiber couches
- Vacuum the upholstery. With your vacuum’s upholstery attachment, go over the entire sofa: back, arms, skirt and cushions. If the cushions are removable, take them off and vacuum the fabric underneath, going as far under the back and arms as your vacuum can reach. With the crevice tool, go along the seams, around any buttons and along the trim.
- Steam the couch. Use a handheld garment steamer or bursts from your steam iron to kill surface dust mites. Go over the entire sofa, allowing just the steam to touch and penetrate the fabric. If you don’t have a steamer or iron, you can skip this step. After steaming, vacuum the sofa one more time to get rid of any lingering dirt before moving on to the next step.
- Test a hidden spot. Be sure to test any upholstery cleaner or cleaning appliance you choose in a hidden area first, to be certain that it’s safe for the fabric and doesn’t cause any water spotting or color loss.
- Spot clean stains. For fabrics that can safely be cleaned with water, treat food and pet stains with an enzyme-containing formula like Bissell Professional Pet Stain & Odor Remover following package directions. In a pinch, mix together ¼ teaspoon mild dish soap with one cup of warm water. If your cushions have removable covers, unzip them and place a paper towel between the fabric and filling to absorb excess moisture. Apply the cleaner to a cloth and blot the stain carefully, working from the outside in. Once the stain is removed, dab the area with another damp cloth to rinse thoroughly and blot dry. For "S" fabrics, remove stains according to package directions with a solvent-based product such as ForceField Dry Cleaning Fluid for Fine Fabrics.
- Clean dingy arms and headrests. For water-safe fabrics, use a portable extraction cleaner like Bissell’s Little Green ProHeat Portable Cleaner. Simply dispense the cleaner and water mixture through the hose, agitate the fabric with the brush nozzle, and vacuum up the dirt into the tank. For solvent-only fabrics, it's best to call in a professional for safe and thorough cleaning.
- Sanitize the couch. Once your sofa is clean and dry, kill lingering bacteria and eliminate odors on water-safe upholstery with a fabric sanitizing spray like, GH Seal star Tide Antibacterial Fabric Spray.
How to clean a finished leather couch
Cleaning a leather couch may seem intimidating at first, but it’s fairly easy especially if there are no stains to remove. For routine cleaning, follow the steps below:
- Wipe the fabric with a microfiber cloth to get rid of crumbs or dirt.
- Vacuum the couch using the crevice tool to go along seams, around any buttons and along the trim.
- Work a leather cleaner into the leather one small area at a time, using a soft damp cloth. We like GH Seal Star Weiman Leather Cleaner and Conditioner, you can also use a mild soap solution.
- Rinse the cleaner or soap with another damp cloth until it is removed. Buff with a dry cloth. If necessary, go over arms and headrests multiple times.
- Apply a protectant to condition the leather, like GH Seal star Furniture Clinic Leather Protection Cream, to make it easier to remove future stains.
How to get smells out of couch fabric
In between your deep cleans, freshen up your couch on a regular basis, especially as soon as it emits an unwanted stench. Whatever the reason — greasy takeout, wet dog, or messy kids — you can remove smells by sprinkling baking soda all over the sofa, or by spraying it with GH Seal Star Febreze FABRIC. Unlike some air fresheners, these products don't just mask odors; they actually eliminate them.
More couch cleaning tips
- If you only need to get rid of a few crumbs or stray hairs from a fabric couch, a lint roller is the easiest way to quickly nab small debris.
- For larger amounts of pet hair or crumbs, a good handheld vacuum can quickly clean up without the hassle of lugging out a full-size vacuum.
- Unfinished leather couches with stains will likely require a professional to handle the job.
The Products You Need to Clean and Sanitize Your Couch
BLACK+DECKER Advanced Handheld Fabric Steamer
Bissell Little Green Portable Spot and Stain Cleaner
Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.
Jamie Ueda is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.
