How to Steam Clean a Couch the Right Way
Give your seating the steam treatment
- Steam cleaner
- Vacuum
- Small bowl
- Microfiber cloth
- Furniture brush
- Dish soap
- Water
- Fabric conditioner
Your couch is more than just a place to sit. It’s a part of a room’s overall look and a centerpiece for important gatherings. Hence, it should be given some TLC from time to time. Whether there's a couple of stubborn stains you’ve been meaning to scrub at or it's just due for a refresh, here’s a quick guide on how to steam clean a couch so it feels brand-new again.
Preparing to Steam Clean a Couch
Before you jump into steam cleaning your couch, it’s important to know what exactly you’re working with. Knowing the type of fabric your couch is made of will help you determine which methods and supplies are safe to use on your upholstery. For instance, cleaning a microfiber couch will probably look a little different than cleaning a leather couch.
Your couch should have a tag on it with a code that determines what type of cleaner is OK to use on your furniture. For example, “W” means you can use a water-based solvent to clean it.
Vacuum Crumbs, Dust, and Debris
Photo: StefaNikolic / E+ / Getty ImagesBefore you steam clean a couch, make sure the fabric is as clean as possible. Vacuuming up surface crumbs, dust, and debris will give you a closer clean.
Most vacuum cleaners come with multiple attachments. An upholstery brush or crevice attachment should work well for this step in your steam cleaning process. Make sure you lift each seat cushion and vacuum around and underneath it, as well as around the base, sides, and seams of the couch.
Pretreat Any Stains
A couch bears witness to a lot, so it shouldn’t be too shocking if there are some stains you need to treat before you start steaming a couch. By pretreating them, you’re more likely to have them fully removed by the end of this process as opposed to hopping right into steam cleaning a couch.
Getting stains out of a couch is really quite simple. Mix 1/4 cup of dish soap with 1 cup of warm water in a small bowl, then dip a microfiber cloth in it and use the damp cloth to dab the stains. Once the stain is removed, wet the cloth with plain water and wipe away the remaining suds.
Condition the Couch
Yes, even your couch can use a conditioner. Conditioning your couch before steam cleaning helps bring soaked-in dirt to the surface for an even deeper clean. Apply the couch conditioner per the package instructions and use a fabric brush to gently scrub the area.
Steam the Couch in Even Sections
Photo: perfectlab / iStocck / Getty ImagesNow is the time to actually break out the steam cleaner. Be sure to follow the instructions for the steam cleaner of your choice when filling it with water and adhere to its manual for the whole cleaning process to ensure it's a safe and effective process.
Hold the steam cleaner close to the couch fabric and steam in even, overlapping strokes to ensure you don’t miss any spots. When steam cleaning couch cushions, remove them from the couch for a more comprehensive clean.
Be sure not to over-moisturize the fabric of the couch with a steam cleaner, as it can lead to mildew and mold.
Allow It to Dry
Once the couch is done being steam cleaned, it needs to be fully dry before its next use. If you’re able to open windows for fresh air, that’s a great start.
You can also turn fans on to ensure the air is circulating, speed up the drying process, and avoid any odor developing on your couch from the fabric being damp for too long.
How Much Does Professional Upholstery Cleaning Cost?
On average, professional couch cleaning costs $100 to $300. Pros are equipped with the necessary tools and experience to do the job well—even removing stubborn stains or cleaning delicate materials. You can compare prices of furniture cleaners near you to decide what best suits your needs.
DIY Couch Steam Cleaning vs. Hiring a Pro
Learning how to steam clean a couch on your own is fairly reasonable, as minimal supplies are needed and the task is pretty easy in terms of required labor. But of course, there may be certain cases where professional couch cleaning could be worth it.
If you don’t already have a steam cleaner of some sort, you will need to purchase one to do this task on your own. This is where the cost of cleaning upholstery can rise, as steam cleaners range from $50 to $200. Naturally, if you purchase your own steam cleaner, it can be a long-term investment that will be ready to use for regular couch cleanings in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
It will take somewhere between two to six hours for your couch to completely dry after being steam cleaned, depending on the type of fabric and size of your couch. Open windows for fresh air and turn on fans to ensure the air is circulating, speed up the drying process, and avoid any odor developing on your couch from the fabric being damp for too long.
Steam cleaning a couch should get rid of most smells, but there are some more potent smells that require a bit more work than steam cleaning. For instance, steam cleaning won’t likely get the smell of pee out of a couch. To remove urine odor from a couch, you’ll most likely need to use an enzymatic cleaner, which targets the smell and stain.
Unless you have a steam cleaner with an extractor (which is what most professionals use), a steam cleaner only breaks up all the dirt and grime stuck to your flooring and doesn’t actually remove the dirt. After a steam clean, the key to getting rid of dirt and grime is going back over it with a vacuum, mop, or microfiber cloth.
Yes, it can definitely be worth it to steam clean a couch if you have the means. Steam cleaning a couch will improve your couch’s look, remove allergens and debris, and sanitize the upholstery. If you hire a professional house cleaner, they can take care of steam cleaning a couch for you, as well as get your house cleaned and looking brand-new.
