Housekeeping House Cleaning Cleaning Tips How to Clean Couch Cushions Keep your couch cushions looking and smelling fresh with these routine and deep cleaning tips. By Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag ... And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha. Her work has appeared in GQ, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times and Town & Country. A graduate of Barnard College, Jolie lives in a tiny Manhattan apartment with her five vacuum cleaners. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on December 19, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Jay Wilde Project Overview Working Time: 1 hour Total Time: 1 day Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $0 to $5 We spend more time on our couches than almost any other piece of furniture, making it one of the dirtiest spots in the home. From spills and stains to the buildup of environmental and body soils like dust, pollen, dander, and hair—both pet and human—couch cushions are a magnet for messes, so learning how to clean couch cushions is a task everyone should know.Couch cushions should be cleaned regularly using a vacuum fitted with an upholstery brush attachment. Vacuum couch cushions at least once a week, more in households with pets, children, or high dust levels. Additionally, every six months, couch cushions should be deep cleaned. This guide offers instructions on both routine and deep cleaning, as well as the information you need to protect cushions from damage due to improper cleaning. How Often Should You Vacuum? Here's What the Pros Say Understanding Couch Cushion Types Upholstered furniture has a universal cleaning code or legend on the care tag that is attached to a hidden spot of the sofa (usually the underside of the seat). It's important to look for this code, which appears as one of four letter symbols, for instructions on how to clean couch cushions before getting started. Here's what the letters are and what they mean: W = Wet/water cleaning onlyS = Dry solvent cleaning onlySW = Dry solvent and/or wet cleaningX = Professional cleaning or vacuuming only Additional special care instructions are also included on the care tag. Before trying any of the cleaning techniques outlined in this article, perform a spot test on an inconspicuous area to ensure the products won't cause damage to your couch cushions. The 7 Best Pet- and Kid-Friendly Couches of 2024 for Active Households What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Tools for Routine Cleaning Vacuum Crevice tool attachment Upholstery brush attachment Tools for Deep Cleaning Vacuum Upholstery brush attachment Tools for Cleaning Non-Removable Cushions Vacuum Upholstery brush attachment Upholstery cleaning machine Materials Supplies for Routine Cleaning Light-colored cloth Mild detergent Supplies for Deep Cleaning Liquid laundry detergent Towels Instructions How to Clean Couch Cushions on a Routine Basis Regular upkeep using a vacuum cleaner is the best method for how to clean couch cushions and keeping them looking and smelling fresh. When vacuuming, take note of any stains or soiled areas and use a technique called spot-treating to remove them. Vacuum Cushions Using a vacuum fitted with an upholstery brush attachment, vacuum the cushions to remove crumbs, hair, dust, dander, and other environmental and body soils. Work in the direction of the fibers, and use a light touch to avoid abrading the fabric. If the cushions are removable, flip them over and vacuum the sides and bottoms. Use a Crevice Tool on Seams Switch to the vacuum's crevice tool and vacuum along the cushions' seams, where crumbs, hair, and dust collect. Spot-Treat Small Stains Dilute a small amount of dish soap or gentle liquid laundry detergent in water, and agitate the solution to create suds. Dip a light-colored cloth in the suds and, working in the direction of the fibers, apply the detergent to the stained or soiled area. After removing the stain, rinse the cloth with clean water and go over the area to remove any sudsy residue. 9 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Dawn Dish Soap How to Deep-Clean Removable Couch Cushions Even with regular cleaning, couch cushions will need to be deep cleaned every six months; households with pets or children may need to deep-clean couch cushions more often. Vacuum Sofa Cushions Before deep-cleaning couch cushions, take them off the couch and vacuum all sides using a vacuum fitted with an upholstery brush attachment. If the cushions have removable slipcovers, take them off and either machine-wash them separately in cold water or wash them by hand along with the cushions. Fill Tub with Water and Detergent Fill the bathtub about one-third of the way up with cool water, so that there is enough room to submerge the cushions and for your hands to move through the water. Add 1–2 Tbsp. liquid detergent, using your hands to dilute and distribute it in the water. Submerge Cushions in Detergent Solution Place the cushions in the detergent solution, using your hands to fully submerge them; add more water if necessary. Because of their size, it may be necessary to wash only 1 to 2 cushions at a time. Agitate and Soak Cushions Making a pumping motion with your hands, agitate the cushions so that the water and detergent penetrate their fibers, releasing dirt and grime. Allow the cushions to soak in the detergent solution for 10–15 minutes, then repeat the pumping motion. Rinse Cushions After soaking, drain the detergent solution. Using your hands, press down on the cushions to extrude sudsy water. Then, fill the tub with clean water and push out more of the suds with the same pumping motion. Repeat this process, draining and refilling the water as necessary until the suds are gone and the water runs clear. Extrude Excess Water While still in the tub, press down firmly on the cushions to extrude as much water as possible. Use the pumping motion and gently squeeze the cushions to push out excess water, but don't wring or twist them to avoid tearing or breaking up the fill. Then, remove the cushions from the tub and wrap them in clean, dry towels. Press down again so that the towel can absorb more excess water. Allow Cushions to Air Dry Allow the cushions to air dry completely before returning them to the couch. To promote even drying time, use a flat mesh drying rack or flip the cushions over at regular intervals. Setting up a dehumidifier and/or fan nearby can also help to speed up drying time. The 9 Best Dehumidifiers of 2024 to Reduce Mold, Mildew, and More, Tested By Us How to Deep-Clean Non-Removable Couch Cushions Carpet and upholstery cleaning machines force a cleaning solution deep into fibers, using suction to extract the solution, along with dirt, pollutants, and stains, from the fabric. They're the best way to clean non-removable couch cushions and are an excellent alternative to handwashing removable cushions, which is a time- and energy-consuming task. Vacuum Couch Cushions Before deep cleaning with an upholstery cleaning machine, vacuum sofa cushions using the upholstery brush attachment to remove environmental and body soils like dust, pollen, and hair. Prepare the Machine Consult the manufacturer's instructions for guidelines on the proper use of your upholstery cleaning machine. Fill the water tank and add the upholstery cleaning solution per the manufacturer's instructions. Perform a Spot Test Even if the care tag says it is safe to use an upholstery cleaning machine on the cushion, perform a spot test in an inconspicuous area to ensure it won't cause damage to the fabric. Work in Sections Working in sections and moving the nozzle in straight lines, clean the entire surface of the cushions with the upholstery cleaning machine. Cushions that have not been cleaned regularly may require more than one pass; you'll know the cushions are clean when the solution extracted from them runs clear. Allow Cushions to Dry Let the couch cushions air dry completely before using the couch. To promote even drying time, consider setting up a fan and/or dehumidifier nearby to help speed up drying time. The 10 Best Fabric Shavers of 2024 to Make Your Clothes Look Like New Cleaning Guides for Other Items In Your Home How to Clean Leather Furniture to Keep it Looking Its Best How to Clean Carpet for Floors That Look Like New How to Clean Wood Furniture to Make It Look New Again How to Clean Tarnished Copper to Restore Its Shine and Patina How to Clean a Chandelier