How to Clean and Sanitise a Used Couch

Whether you brought it out after some months or years, someone gave it to you or you bought a used upholstered furniture, it’s crucial that you first thoroughly clean and sanitise it before you bring it inside your home. Unwanted microbes and pests might come along and harm your health or contaminate your food products and other items. Also, there might be some lingering smell that could trigger irritation and discomfort.

How to clean and sanitise a used couch

To help ensure that the used couch will be clean and free from pests, some people start with using a bug spray to get rid of the insects. These pests might have found a suitable habitat (especially if it’s a fabric couch) where they can hide and reproduce. This commonly happens in furniture pieces that were left in dark and moist rooms for too long.

In those areas where darkness and high moisture levels dominate, it’s also common for mould and microbes to thrive. And because the area is undisturbed, they will be quick to multiply in their new habitat. Whether it’s a result of an intentional or unintentional neglect, it’s good to immediately assume that the couch has already been home to unwanted germs and pests.

After using a bug spray, many people vacuum the couch to get rid of dirt and other particles. Every cranny should have been vacuumed so that it will be free from unwanted particles. It’s recommended to go through the couch a few times so that you won’t miss any spot. It’s also good to watch out for signs of infestation (such as dark faeces from pests and their remains). It’s possible that their habitat is out of reach from you or there’s another underlying problem.

After vacuuming the couch, often the next step is to wipe and disinfect the couch. But before you use any store-bought cleaner or a solution you formulated (e.g. baking soda, vinegar, warm water), it’s good to test it out first on a small hidden area and see the effects. If it caused some discolouration or damage, perhaps try another kind of product or solution to avoid damaging your furniture. Also avoid using bleach because it might damage the fabric as well as the exposed wood material and other non-fabric parts.

It should be a thorough and yet a careful process especially if the couch has great financial or sentimental value. To ensure care and detail, a professional can do it for you (e.g. someone who can clean delicate fabrics such as velvet, wool and linen). With professional cleaning, you can also be sure that safe and appropriate cleaning products were used.

Contact us today if you want your used couch to be cleaned and sanitised properly. We will remove tough stains, make it free from allergens and ensure a fresh-smelling couch. We can also perform some fabric stain protection measures to make your couch better resist the spills and stains. Contact us today for more information about our professional services and approach.