How to Maintain your Sofa Cushions

Have you just bought a brand new sofa? Maybe you have got a sofa you want to start taking better care of? Or maybe you are just unsure how to take care of your beautiful cushions and keep them in good condition? 

Our experienced team at The Cushion guys have put together this extensive guide to help you keep your sofa cushions in as good a condition as possible. Our team understand that buying a sofa is an investment, and over the years, you will want to protect that investment, so it lasts as long as possible. 

The biggest question homeowners asking, how do I maintain my sofa cushions? The simplest way to keep them clean is by using the upholstery attachment on your hoover and giving them a good clean at least once a week, but there is a little more to it. Our team has pulled this article together to give you all the tips and tricks for keeping your sofa clean. 

There are many ways to keep your sofa cushions looking as good as the day you got them. Many people believe that simply putting your cushion covers in the washing machine is enough to keep them clean and fresh, but to maintain the quality of your sofa cushions, there are a few other things you can do. 

Once you have read our latest article, if you have any questions or queries, be sure to give one of our team members here at The Cushion Guys; we are always more than happy to help you.

Most homeowners clean their house once a week, whether a full deep clean or simply running a hoover around the house, but when you do your regular cleaning, do you consider the sofa cushions? If not, you need to re-evaluate your cleaning schedule; your sofa and the sofa cushions should be at the top of your cleaning list, especially if you spend a lot of time at home. 

When it comes to your sofa cushions, you will want to make sure you remove as much dirt and grim as possible, which does build up quickly, especially if you have children and pets. Your sofa cushions most likely get used every day, if not multiple times, but how many times do you wash the cushion covers? It is recommended that they are washed properly at least twice a year. Can you honestly say you do that? 

But it is also recommended that your sofa cushions be deep cleaned every three to four months if you have pets due to the dirt and grime that can get embedded into the fabric. To keep your sofa cushions in good condition, you need to make an effort to keep them clean; with regular hoovering, spot cleaning, and seasonal deep cleans, you can extend the lifespan of your sofa dramatically.

The first thing you need to do when you begin considering deep cleaning your sofa cushions is to read the label. Do not start cleaning your cushions until you have read the label attached to your sofa cushions; if you do not do this, you may unintentionally ruin them altogether. 

You need to make sure you know the exact cleaning instructions and what products you can or cannot use on them without causing any damage. All sofa cushions are made with different fabrics and materials, which is why they require different products every time you clean them, and the drying process can be particular. 

It is more than likely your sofa cushions will be made up of vinyl, linen, and leather of a cotton blend; these are the most common options on the market today. The best way to find this out is by checking the labels on your sofa cushions; it will explain everything you need.

When it comes to the labels on your sofa cushions, you must understand what each symbol stands for, these can easily be understood, but the codes attached to each cushion may be a little more complicated. Our team has pulled together this easy-to-follow guide on what each of your sofa cushion label symbols means. 

W

Finding a ‘W’ on your sofa cushion is one of the best symbols; this means the sofa cushion can be cleaned with water; simple and easy cleaning is ideal for every homeowner. Simply use a cloth with warm water. 

S

The ‘S’ stands for a sofa cushion that needs to be cleaned with a solvent; water alone will not clean the sofa cushion in a way that keeps it safe and protected. The best way to describe this is that your sofa cushion is only dry clean. To keep up with regular cleaning, we would recommend spot cleaning, using a hair dryer on the lowest setting to dry it. 

S/W

If you find a sofa cushion which says S/W, it means you can use a combination of cleaning solvents on the cushion; however, to be safe, we would still recommend using a dry cleaning company, just to be on the safe side. 

X 

Possibly the worst symbol you can find on a sofa cushion is because it simply means you cannot clean these cushions with anything other than a hoover. This symbol is rarely seen, so it is nothing to worry about, but if you come across it, please do not use anything other than an upholstery hoover attachment to clean them.

Can You Use A Domestic Washing Machine On Your Sofa Cushions? 

Now you know what symbols to look out for on your sofa cushions, you will be able to determine whether or not you can use your domestic washing machine; we would not recommend doing this if your specific cushion says it is safe to do so. 

If your sofa cushion label states you can wash it in a domestic washing machine, we suggest turning the sofa cushion inside before you put it in to wash; not only that, but wash it on a very gentle and cold cycle. 

Once the cushion covers have come out of the washing machine, we would recommend hanging the covers outside or as flat as possible inside the home; please do not use the tumble dryer, this will, without a doubt, cause them to shrink, meaning you will not get them back on your sofa cushion infills. 

If you are concerned about putting your sofa cushion covers in the washing machine, you could always use a steamer; if you do not own one, they are readily available to hire from upholstery shops. Using a steamer, you can deep-clean your sofa cushions without removing the covers.

How To Keep your Sofa Cushions Clean

Your sofa is used daily by your family and any pets you own. Over time dirt builds up, including dead skin, pet hair, crumbs, dust, spilt drinks, and perhaps even urine from small children or pets. 

If left to sit, these things can make your sofa cushions look dull and lifeless, muting colours and causing lasting damage. Our team at The Cushion Guys have the following top tips to help keep your sofa cushions clean. 

Pre-Clean

Using a vacuum cleaner on your sofa cushions is a great way to remove loose debris and dirt like crumbs and dust. 

By using an upholstery brush attachment on your sofa, you not only remove surface-level dirt from the cushion, but you can also clean the nooks and crannies of the sofa itself in places where dirt and grime will gather. 

Pet Hair

As much as we love our furry friends, pet hair can be tricky to remove, especially during times of the year when shedding is heavier or if you own a breed with thick fur. Using a vacuum should remove most hair, but we have steps to follow to ensure your sofas are free from pet hair. 

Rubber Glove

Using a clean rubber glove to scrub over the cushions is a great way to remove excess pet hair as it will stick to the band and can be picked up and binned. 

Damp Sponge

You can use a damp sponge or cloth and wipe the cushions in one direction to ball up the hair and collect it on the sponge or cloth. 

Stain Removal

Removing stains off any surface can be tricky, but when it comes to the fabric sofa cushions that typically go with rattan and wicker furniture, you want to clean up a stain as soon as a spillage occurs. 

Soak up any excess liquid using a clean cloth or paper towel while the spillage is still damp; use bleach-free washing up liquid and cold water to gently scrub the spot with a clean white towel. 

Use the same towel, remove the soap, and use a dry cleaning solvent if the mark is still there. 

Steam Cleaning

If you own a steam cleaner, steam cleaning your sofa cushions is a great way to remove stains, lift stubborn dirt, and gather pet hair all in one go. 

Please check your cushions to ensure they are suitable for this before steam cleaning, as this process can damage some sofa cushion materials. 

When sofa cushions are used as back support, they inevitably begin to sag and sink, making them look old and untidy. 

Aside from looking unattractive, sagging sofa cushions can also lead to poor posture and back pain, so it’s essential to prevent sagging or do what you can to fix the problem. 

Why Do Sofa Cushions Sag? 

Sofa cushions begin to sag for a variety of reasons. Sitting down too hard, laying too much weight on the top part of the cushion, and sitting with a bad posture are the main reasons for sagging cushions. 

Apart from your bed, your sofa will be the most used item of furniture daily, and unfortunately, the daily wear and tear take effect. 

Additionally, as any pet owner will tell you, having your cat or dog decide the back of the sofa is the comfiest place in the house can speed up the sagging process, with many sofa cushions not designed to support the unexpected top weight. 

Children having fun and playing can affect how quickly your sofa cushions sag. Our expert team has put together the best ways to help your sagging sofa cushions here at The Cushion Guys. 

Restuff the Cushions: Most sofa cushions are equipped with a zip that allows you to access the inside of the cushions. One standard method of fixing sagging is removing the filling and restuffing the cushions. Depending on the material used in the cushions, you may be able to purchase extra filler to pad out the cushions and offer them more stability. 

Cinch the Cushions: This method is a little trickier. While it’s something you could do for yourself, any qualified shop or individual who provides sewing services will be able to do this if you aren’t confident doing it yourself. Cinching involves sewing buttons to your cushions to make them firmer. 

Add Plywood to the Cushions: It may sound like a radical idea, but sagging in sofa cushions is often a result of structural issues. A product called ‘sofa savers’ is designed to be placed beneath the cushions to provide extra structural support, and it’s straightforward to make your own using plywood.

Need Advice? Get in Touch with The Cushion Guys Today! 

Still have questions about maintaining your sofa cushions and keeping them in tip-top shape? The Cushion Guys are here to help. Please feel free to contact our friendly and experienced team today! 

We are on hand to offer advice and guidance to ensure that your sofa cushions look fabulous and last for years. We’re just a phone call away, and we can’t wait to hear from you! 

Along with offering advice and guidance on how to protect your current sofa cushions, we can provide you with brand new bespoke sofa cushions if they are already ruined. All you need to do is speak to our team today.