STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

Has anyone had their couches cleaned?

cahabo · Kate Spade

My family has had a set of couches cleaned recently. We did it with a steam cleaner. It is one of those carpet ones that comes with attachements to do upholstery. It really did the job. It was so disgusting to see the dirt and stuff that came out of the couches! Lots of baby spit up too! Although our furniture isn't microsuede, I don't see how cleaning your couches will ruin them. Definitely worth giving it a try instead of tossing out your furniture and replacing them.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I would rent a machine and a test a spot that isn't super visible like the back (if you keep yours next to a wall)

ViViDogWear · Kate Spade

I would say a portable steam cleaner with the attachments (or the carpet cleaner) can do really great jobs on stains and dirt. Microsuede is really difficult though - doubtful it would be easy to clean (at least not yourself).

Sun damage will not likely go away. In fact - it's usually just that the fabric itself is permanatly changed/altered. I'd do a little test spot - even with just some stain remover from target and see. I know my sun damage did not go away.
If you could afford it/would be worth it - you may want to get it re-upholstered. On my set though - the re-upholstering would cost almost as much as a new set.

lovinglife · Nine West

Once upon a time I thought cream colored couches would be great. I loved them. They didn't love the children.

I couldn't have them cleaned, so I vacuumed them really well...and then I went to the regular grocery store. (Foodlion in this case.) I bought 1 can of their foaming carpet cleaner and tried a spot on the couch. With a little elbow grease and a white "rag" I had it cleaned and presentable. Took several cans...but I cleaned the couch and the love seat both that way.

If the couch may be shot anyway, I'd try a spot that is out of the way and see how it does.

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

Cortney1982 wrote:

I would rent a machine and a test a spot that isn't super visible like the back (if you keep yours next to a wall)

Hmm, I didnt know you could clean them ourselves. Maybe we'll try that, its worth a shot. We're planning on getting a new set anyway when we buy our house, but since we'll have so much other furniture to buy, if we can keep these we will have more liberty to spend on the furniture we dont have. Thanks!

Suasoria · Chanel

It's excellent advice. Though mine are red and have been easier to keep clean, I'll never buy ultra/microsuede again. There are bald spots on the arms after only 5 or 6 years, and I can't wait for them to be bad enough to reupholster.