Can You Use Rubbing Alcohol to Clean Your Furniture?

No, if the furniture’s finish is shellac, lacquer or varnish. Rubbing alcohol can dissolve and liquefy the finish and ruin the surface appearance of your furniture. It can also ruin delicate fabrics such as wool and silk. Also avoid mixing rubbing alcohol with bleach as this will produce chloroform, a substance that can cause fainting or even death.

What can you do with tough stains and smells?

Although rubbing alcohol can somehow help with removing the stains and masking the nasty odour, it’s still not the best solution to making your sofa look clean and fresh again. What it requires is professional cleaning especially if your furniture is still relatively new or that it’s pricey.

For couches and sofas covered with silk, suede or wool, you have to be extra careful as they can easily get damaged (which is almost impossible to repair unless you replace the whole fabric). It will be unsightly and you won’t be able to endure looking at the damage for long. It’s also the case with furniture coated with lacquer, varnish or shellac. Immediately after applying rubbing alcohol, the surface will look white or have white stains and spots. After all, alcohol is a good solvent for those coatings and substances.

What about using baking soda and vinegar? In general, vinegar is safe to use if diluted or applied in really small amounts. On the other hand, baking soda is good for deodorising (but first dust or wipe off the furniture to really remove the source of the smell). Some have seen good results with those so if you want to try this, you should take extra care and first do it in the hidden areas of your furniture.

Earlier we talked about professional cleaning. Many people choose this over using rubbing alcohol or going DIY because of better results and safety. In addition, deep cleaning can be done to truly make the couch or sofa looking and smelling fresh. Antimicrobial treatment and deodorising can also be done in a safe way (while even protecting the fabric or the furniture’s finish).

That’s what we’ve been doing here at LCS Sydney since 1972. With our professional upholstery cleaning services, our customers have seen and smelled a huge difference. Whether it’s after a gathering or a preparation for one, we can clean your fabric couch and sofa and ensure they’re safely disinfected. You’ll gain peace of mind because it will be safe for you, your family and your guests.