Microfiber is a great material for a couch because it is easy to clean and comes in many different colors. It is soft and plush while also being slightly firm for maximum comfort.
Inevitably, life happens and your couch is going to get dirty over time. From spills to general dust and debris, it can be difficult to clean a microfiber couch once the level of soil becomes extreme.
Since you are already stressing about how you are going to get your couch clean and why you waited so long, you probably do know where to begin. Do not stress because there are ways to successfully clean your microfiber couch until it looks almost new again.
If you need guidance, look no further. These steps are ideal for cleaning and disinfecting your microfiber couch. They will make it feel fresh and comfortable again, even if the couch is extremely soiled.
What You Need
To get started, you will need a few supplies. These are very simple products, and you might have many of them in your home already.
Make sure to gather a spray bottle, rubbing alcohol, a scrub brush, a white or tan sponge, and Poly-fil. The Poly-fil is just going to provide optional extra stuffing in case certain areas of your couch need fluffing.
Microfiber can stain, and these stains will become increasingly harder to clean the longer they are left untreated. Take a look over your couch for any problem spots that you notice right away.
These are usually the spots that need to be treated first. After you spot treat, you will be able to go ahead and complete your deep clean.
How to Begin
When you are ready, start by filling your spray bottle with rubbing alcohol. This acts as a great cleaner and a disinfectant at the same time.
You will completely saturate a cushion or section of the couch with the spray bottle, then use the sponge to begin scrubbing. Remember, you can choose to focus on the extremely soiled areas and stains first because they will likely need extra help.
It is a time-consuming process, but the end results will make it worthwhile. After you spray down your entire couch and scrub it, allow ample time for it to dry.
Once it is dry, you are going to take the scrub brush and use a circular motion to scrub any additional debris. You will do this over the entirety of your couch.
This is a great way to get any stubborn spots that you missed and to make the texture of the microfiber soft again. After this step, you are done completing the process.
Take a look at your couch and see if you are happy with it. Many people do have to repeat the process more than once to get their desired results.
You can complete it as many times as you feel necessary until you are happy with the end result. This part is up to your own personal preference.
Fixing Saggy Cushions
Over time, your couch is probably going to lose its filling because it is being compressed each time it gets sat on. This is a natural process, but you can spruce it up even more by turning to the Poly-fil.
This is just a name brand for couch stuffing, and you can use it accordingly. Most microfiber couches have zippers on their cushions that open up directly to the stuffing.
You can remove some of the flat stuffing and replace it with some new Poly-fil. This will give you the comfort you desire and work to make the couch feel like new again.
If you cannot locate a zipper, you can cut a small hole in the bottoms of your cushions. After you change the filling, you simply need to sew it back up.
Doing this on the back or bottom of the cushions will make the process discreet. It will allow you to have your desired end result without having to completely replace anything.
Gone Beyond Repair?
How do you know when your couch is too soiled to clean? This is a last-resort option, but there are times when this rigorous cleaning routine might not be enough to save it.
If you do this entire process three times while still not seeing any results, it might be time to consider getting a replacement couch. It is unfortunate, but this can happen when microfiber goes without being cleaned for too long.
You can definitely keep trying to clean it and even try additional methods to see if you can at least take care of the more stubborn spots and stains.
Additional Methods to Try
If the above method does not work out, you can try the following steps to see if they make a difference. While most routines are going to be similar, there are slight variations that use different products.
This method requires a bunch more products, but it can really get the job done if the first method fails. You will need a vacuum with crevice attachments, a whisk, a spray bottle, a scrub brush, two large bowls or buckets, a microfiber cleaning cloth, liquid dishwashing soap, water, and rubbing alcohol.
You will start by vacuuming the couch. This is going to get into each crack and crevice and will ultimately make the cleaning process easier because it is getting rid of the loose dirt and debris.
Next, it is time to make the cleaning solution. You will mix four cups of warm water in the bucket or bowl that you chose.
Add a quarter-cup of liquid dishwashing detergent, and use the whisk to stir it all together. You will want this mixture to become very soapy and bubbly, so it might take a lot of mixing.
In the other bucket, you will want plain water. These two will work in tandem to help you clean the microfiber.
After everything is mixed together, the process is very similar to the first. You will dip the scrub brush into the soapy water and start scrubbing away.
If you choose, you can use a sponge instead. Starting with the scrub brush might be a better idea because it is easier to really get the couch saturated in soapy water.
You will want to work from top to bottom. This prevents any dirty soapy water from dripping onto areas of the couch that you have already scrubbed clean.
Rinse your brush or sponge frequently in the bucket of clean water. This process will take a long time, but it will give you a very deep clean.
After you have gone over the entire couch, you can then slightly dampen your microfiber cleaning cloth in the sink and wipe down everything you scrubbed. Once this is done, you will let your couch air dry.
This can take several hours, so make sure that no one is using the couch until it dries fully. There is one additional step you can take if you want to really make sure that all of the debris is gone.
Take your vacuum again and go over all of the cracks and crevices as you did in the beginning. This will gather up any dust or debris that you might have missed or that settled during the cleaning process.
Tackling Specific Stains
There are some stains or situations that make your couch extra hard to clean. When you know a little bit more about how to treat them, you will end up having a lot more success.
- Grease: Grease stains show up really well on microfiber because they penetrate deep. It is possible to get grease stains on your couch while eating on it or even when it gets transferred from your clothing.
To rid microfiber of grease stains, you will want to apply cornstarch. Any household brand cornstarch will work just fine.
Take an old toothbrush and make sure you are getting the cornstarch deep into the stain. If it is a grease stain, it will slowly begin to disappear.
You can repeat this as many times as necessary. Tougher stains might require this done multiple times before you notice a difference.
- Chewing Gum: Getting gum on your couch is never a good time. Gum is incredibly sticky and hardens fast once it gets on microfiber surfaces.
Accidents do happen, but there are ways to remove the gum that you could not fully remove from the beginning. All you need to do this is some ice cubes and a plastic bag.
After placing the ice in the bag, put them on top of the gum to make it harden more. Eventually, it will become hard enough to break away with your fingernails or a dull knife.
This trick tends to work really well because it puts the gum in a state that is much easier to work with. Never try this while the gum is still sticky because it will prove to be frustrating and ineffective.
- Odors: Having a microfiber couch does mean it is more susceptible to holding onto unpleasant odors. These can come from anyone, anywhere, and at any time.
If you are starting to become put off from the smell, the solution is a fairly simple one. Using baking soda, sprinkle this all over your couch before bedtime.
With a scrub brush, work the baking soda into the microfiber. Instead of cleaning it away, allow it to sit overnight.
When you wake up in the morning, you can vacuum up the baking soda. Since it is an odor neutralizer, your couch should smell a lot better.
If you want some extra fragrance, there are baking soda options that come scented. They are specifically for furniture.
These problems are never great to have, but you can rest assured that there are ample options when it comes to their removal. You do not have to accept that your microfiber couch has grown dingy.
In addition to improving the cleanliness and smell of your couch, this is also going to improve your living room as a whole. You will feel a lot better knowing that the couch is clean, fresh, and almost back to new without actually having to replace it.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have these tips and tricks, you can work on cleaning your couch right away. Even though certain methods do take time because they are tedious, they are all relatively simple to perform.
Do your best to only use natural products when you clean your microfiber couch. Anything with harsh chemicals or dyes is going to have a higher chance of ruining it.
It is recommended to devote an entire day to cleaning your couch because it will need ample drying time. Make sure to let your family know not to sit on it to prevent you from having to do double the work.
Once you get your couch clean, keep up with the routine that worked for you! Getting into the habit of regularly cleaning your couch will prevent you from having really bad stains and debris built up later on.
Try to do this around once every month with light spot treatment in between. If you do have an active stain, you can try to tackle this one area first.
There is probably not any reason why you need to clean your couch weekly or daily because it is something that is used frequently in your home. It is bound to get dirty, but you can make sure to keep it clean with monthly or every-other-month treatment plans.
Your couch is going to look good as new, and you will begin to enjoy your living space again. It is never fun looking over at your couch and seeing an eye sore, so this is a stressor you will no longer have to deal with.
At any point, you can refer back to these methods if one does not seem to be working as well. Cleaning microfiber tends to be a process of trial and error.
You might need to try several, or a combination of a few, to get the right routine for your couch. Once you do this, you are all set!
I have two Associate’s degrees, one in Medical Assisting and the other in Computer Technician, and I am roughly five classes from a bachelor’s degree. Though I never ended up working in the medical field, I have five and a half years of experience in IT. I recently became a stay-at-home mom to my two young boys, and I’m so excited to start this adventure with them! In my spare time, I love to bake and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.