How to Clean a Microfiber Couch


Microfiber couches can be difficult to clean without the right technique. Are you doing it correctly?
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Microfiber couches have become a popular alternative to leather. Many homeowners are now opting for microfiber furniture over other fabrics due to its low maintenance and aesthetic value. Also, for rough and tumble households with kids and pets, no other fabric can boast microfiber’s stain resistance and durability.

However, despite its resilience, it retains dust over time which may be hard to spot to the naked eye and is quite prone to watermarks if not cleaned at the right time. So your couch’s stain resistance is not a reason to boycott cleaning duties.

How Often Should You Clean Your Microfiber Couch?

Regular upkeep of your microfiber couch will keep it looking new for a long time. Spillages and stains should be treated as soon as they happen, and a light wipe down of the whole couch should be done every 2-3 days to get rid of gathered dust and dirt that may not be visible.

The couch should be thoroughly cleaned every month if it sees a lot of kids and pets. Every two months would suffice for less busy households. 

How to Spot-Clean Your Microfiber Couch

Spot-cleaning your couch is a light cleaning process to remove fresh stains from the microfiber, such as liquid, food, or dirt. You can also quickly carry out this process for your weekly upkeep to ensure your couch maintains its new look and smell.

What You Need

  • Vacuum with upholstery tools
  • Spray bottle
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • White microfiber cloths or bristle cleaning brush
  • White terry cloths

Steps to Spot Clean

  1. To clean your couch, begin by vacuuming it. The quality fiber helps stop dirt from penetrating the fabric, but it still collects on the surface. Vacuum cleaning before applying cleaning agents makes sure you don’t grind dirt into the fabric and potentially cause damage.
  2. Pour some rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle and shake gently. While microfiber is designed to repel water, cleaning your couch regularly with water can leave marks due to dampness. Rubbing alcohol is a great cleaning agent because it evaporates quickly.
A white spray bottle and three rolls of clean towel on a wooden table.
  1. Spray the rubbing alcohol on the couch and quickly scrub the area with a white terry cloth. Using a colored terry cloth on white microfiber or microfiber of a different color could transfer its color to your couch and leave a difficult stain. If you’re cleaning the entire couch, make sure you work in small sections at a time.
  2. When you’re done wiping down the couch with rubbing alcohol, leave for a short while to dry. Use a microfiber cloth or bristle brush to fluff the couch and loosen any matted fibers

How to Deep Clean Your Microfiber Couch

Deep cleaning your couch at least once every couple of months is recommended. For households with pets and young kids, your couch might see stains very regularly, and while spot cleaning removes some of the daily stains, some stains remain on the couch. These will need a sterner cleaning method to get rid of them.

Most microfiber couches come with a removable cover. Washing the cover with a washing machine is the best way to thoroughly clean your couch. However, before throwing your microfiber covers in the washing machine, there are a few rules you should follow:

  1. Always wash in isolation. Do not wash your covers with other fabrics like wool and cotton.
  2. Do not use bleach
  3. No excess heat in the dryer
  4. Never use fabric softeners. Fabric softeners clog up the microfibers and reduce its durability.

What you need

  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Mild detergent like oxi clean
Packaging of an Oxi Clean laundry detergent.

Washing your microfiber couch covers is a straightforward process. First, you need to vacuum them clean while still on the couch. This is to remove as much dirt as possible before letting the machine do the rest.

After vacuuming, you can choose to hand wash them or use a washing machine. Either way, make sure they are washed with warm water and detergent with no extra cleaning agents or fabric softener.

Rinse gently in clean, warm water and leave to air dry. If you choose to tumble dry your fabric, make sure it is dried on very low heat to prevent clogs in the fabric.

Due to their durability, many people fail to care for their microfiber properly. Over time, this negligence can show as the fabric begins to lose some of its sturdiness. Always clean and maintain them regularly to keep your couch looking brand new for years. 

Derrick Porter
Derrick Porter is a stay-at-home father of two that enjoys fixing things around the house and doing DIY projects. He has a degree in engineering, and is always looking for the most efficient way to complete different tasks such as cleaning and organizing. He also enjoys reading, writing and spending time with his family.
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