How to Clean Your Couch before Storage

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How to Clean Your Couch for Storage

For whatever reason you want to put that couch in storage, and save some space at home, you need to know how to prep (read: clean) your couch first. Unclean furniture accumulates dirt more easily in storage and might deteriorate over time. To keep your couch in optimal condition, we collect the following tips to help you clean your couch before storage.

1. Remove Loose Dirt with a Brush
Use a soft brush to brush off any visible dirt, dust, and (pet) hair. If your sofa has cushions, remove them and brush them separately.

2. Vacuum the Furniture
Then, use your vacuum and its attached brush cleaner to vacuum your entire couch. Pay special attention to the back, sides, arms, and bottom because they are often overlooked during regular cleaning.

3. Make Your Detergent Mix
You don't have to buy a specialized cleaning solution because it's easy to make your own. Just mix 1/4 cup of your laundry detergent and one cup of warm water. Mix them well using your hand or wire whisk until the texture is creamy.

Tip: DO NOT use bleach as it might damage or discolor the color of your furniture.

4. Test Your Detergent
This step is extremely important because your solution might not work with your couch. Use a soft cloth or sponge and rub some cleaning solution on a less visible part of your couch. Wipe the spot with a clean, wet (but not drenched) towel and let it air dry. Examine if decoloration or shrinkage occurs. If so, stop and try another solution. If not, continue to scrub your entire couch.

5. Dab Your Cleaning Solution on Any Stains
Pay special attention to any stains. Allow the cleaning solution to sit there for several minutes before you rinse it then wipe it off with a wet cloth or towel.

6. Rinse and Repeat
Rinse the soft cloth or sponge and repeat the cleaning process. After you are done, use a wet cloth to wipe the couch twice to remove any remaining cleaning solution. Then use a dry cloth to wipe it again to expedite the drying process.

7. Let It Dry
Let your couch air dry completely overnight, and then vacuum one last time to remove any dirt accumulated during the cleaning process.

Now you are all set to store your couch! Read our other blog post to learn about how to properly store your couch in a self storage unit.