Taking care of your sofa in summer

On a sofa, we relax, we eat, we enjoy, we laugh... we live! Since the summer period is the sunniest, it reveals the slightest defect in your sofa . Whether it's leather or fabric, it's the ideal time to clean it well and give it a makeover!

How to clean your sofa properly in summer

Your sofa has endured life's ups and downs all year long. When summer arrives, with the increased brightness, even the slightest flaw will be visible. Natural wear and stains on a sofa will spoil and shorten the lifespan of your furniture. To restore its aesthetics and comfort, you must start by cleaning it properly, depending on its upholstery. Although the different steps must be followed, they will not be done in the same way depending on the type of upholstery.

Step 1: Dust your sofa

The essential yet all too often overlooked step is properly dusting your sofa. Since dust never takes a day off, it accumulates over the days. In addition to causing allergic reactions, it will make the washing step more difficult. When dust comes into contact with moisture and dirt, it becomes embedded and stains!

Vacuum cleaner with upholstery brush

• For fabric sofas: A vacuum cleaner is ideal, as long as you use it gently! The trick, to avoid damaging the fabric threads, is to use a soft brush head. By making small circular movements without rubbing, pressing, or scraping, you will remove all the dust that has accumulated over the days without loosening the threads.

• For leather sofas: Use a chamois leather or a very soft, slightly damp cloth to gently dust the surface of the sofa.

Gentle cleaning with a chamois leather glove

Good to know: Some professionals recommend dusting your sofa every week, others every two months... One thing is certain, as soon as you want to clean, you must first dust!

Step 2: Wash the sofa completely

A common mistake is to clean only the stained area. However, to avoid any demarcation and especially the creation of new stains, it is best to clean the entire surface.

• For fabric sofas: Start by referring to the label to see if the fabric is water resistant.

If you find a symbol representing a basin with water inside, you can use a commercial liquid shampoo intended for this purpose or white vinegar. The number, which is sometimes written inside the basin, corresponds to the maximum washing temperature.

If the basin symbol is crossed out, your sofa can only be dry cleaned. In this case, sprinkle some Fuller's Earth or baking soda on the surface and let it sit for an hour before vacuuming.

• Leather sofas require special care, and our grandmothers had the best recipe. Beat an egg white with the juice of 1/2 lemon. Dab the mixture onto your sofa, without rubbing, using a cloth. To keep the leather supple for as long as possible, you should also apply a moisturizing lotion to the entire surface once a month. The more nourished the leather is, the less likely it is to dry out or crack.

To find out everything you need to know about caring for your sofa, find out how to clean your leather sofa.

• If your sofa cover is removable, either fully or partially, a quick spin in the washing machine or dry cleaning will do the trick. When machine cleaning, it's important to follow the washing instructions on the label. Generally, wash cold and on a delicate cycle to avoid damaging or shrinking the fabric. And above all, no spinning!

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Step 3: Protect your sofa

To keep your sofa in the best possible condition, you need to protect it from the ravages of time and, above all, its environment.

Whether fabric or leather, the coating must be water-repellent and waterproof. This thin, transparent protective layer has no odor, does not harden the textile fibers, and does not affect the colors. This invisible barrier is particularly effective against water, oils, and dust. With only advantages, it would be unwise to deprive yourself of it!

You have to be very careful with the sun and especially the moon, which burn the pigments and therefore discolor the sofa. At the moment, there is no waterproofing agent that is truly effective against UV rays. Protection must therefore be done manually, using a blanket for example. When you go on vacation, remember to cover it entirely with a sheet, especially if you don't have shutters!

Good to know: Today, most sofas are chemically treated in the manufacturing process to protect them. As these products fade over time, it is important to renew this treatment regularly.

Rethink your sofa in summer

Rethink your comfort

A sofa never ages evenly. Due to repeated friction, the seat is the part that suffers the most wear. You may need to consider reupholstering the seat cushion. It's best not to do this yourself. More and more specialized companies come to your home and repair your sofa in less than two hours.

If you have children, repeated jumping may also have damaged the armrest of your sofa. If it's damaged, torn, or stained, you can certainly replace it, as most armrests are mounted on rails.

If one of the legs is damaged, you can also replace it by contacting the seller of your sofa directly. When the legs are mounted on screw threads, they can be removed and therefore easily replaced. If the sofa legs are included in the armrest, you will have to replace this entire part...

Give your sofa a summer makeover

After maintaining and repairing your sofa, why not give it a new look? There are many tips to personalize your sofa and make it unique...

• You can change the color of your sofa. If it comes with an extra cover, take advantage of it! If not, choose your color carefully because you can't change it forever without compromising the quality of the upholstery. Your choice of stain must absolutely be made based on the texture and initial color of your sofa. There is now a whole range of very easy-to-use stains that can also hide certain imperfections caused by wear. It is best to waterproof your sofa before and after dyeing.

• Don't forget to accessorize your sofa! By adding cushions in a variety of shapes, textures, and patterns, you can create the sofa that suits you, without having to change much. You can also place a rug in front of the sofa, which will bring out its color and add depth to the room.

Good to know: If you want to change the upholstery of your sofa, whether it's a question of color, texture or even to redo it identically, know that it will cost you at least 1/3 of the cost of your sofa.

To continue personalizing your interior, why not invite Feng Shui into your home?