How often should you clean a couch? Experts suggest it is more often than you think

Our couches embrace a lot of usage throughout their life. From cozy movie nights with all the family and being the pet's favorite sleep spot, to acting as a playground for younger family members, these workhorses are often taken for granted. So, how often should you clean a couch?

While we might think that quickly vacuuming up loose crumbs every once in a while is enough, they often need much more detailed attention to keep them looking and smelling their best.

Professional cleaners have already guided us through how to clean a couch, here, the pros reveal how often you should clean a couch to ensure your favorite seat space lasts for many more years to come – it may be more often than you think.

How often you should clean a couch?

Generally speaking, it is a good idea to run some light cleaning maintenance on your couch monthly, and deep clean your couch every six to 12 months, depending on if you have pets or children. For busier households with paws and sticky fingers, erring on more frequently than not is your best bet.

When exploring how to clean upholstery, the process might sound like a mammoth task, but it is often quick and easy – especially if you do it often enough to avoid deep-set stains and odors. Sticking to a weekly, monthly, and deep cleaning schedule for your couch is the best way to stay on top of the biggest messes.

Weekly couch cleaning

Vacuuming furniture without damaging upholstery is one household chore you should be doing weekly, begins Tony Hoang, couch designer and owner of What a Room.

He suggests you should, ‘Vacuum your sofa at least twice a week. Once isn’t enough to prevent dust and allergens from settling deep into the fabric. Use a vacuum attachment with a soft brush to avoid damaging delicate upholstery. Don’t forget the crevices where crumbs and dirt accumulate, especially between cushions.'

‘Sofas can trap up to 80% of dust mites and bacteria in your home, so regular cleaning isn’t just about appearance,’ he continues. ‘It’s a health measure that impacts air quality, reduces allergens, and extends the life of your sofa by preventing fabric degradation caused by dirt particles. Skipping regular cleanings can lead to permanent discoloration and worn-down fabric that will require costly professional restoration or early replacement.’

There are plenty of ways to clean a sofa without a vacuum if you are left in a pinch, but there is nothing quite like the suction of the best vacuum cleaners to really draw out the dust and crumbs that become embedded over time.

Monthly couch cleaning

Regularly vacuuming a sofa is one of the best ways to stay on top of the mess, but it is not enough to tackle stains or remove odors from upholstery.

To do that, you need to clean them more rigorously at least once a month, says Marla Mock, cleaning expert and president at Molly Maid USA. ‘If you have couch cushion covers that can be zipped off, we recommend throwing those in the wash every month. It will keep your couch looking new and smelling fresh, and you’ll have a much more sanitary surface to lay your head on each time you settle down to watch a movie.’

If your couch covers are not machine washable, you can clean with baking soda instead. Start by mixing baking soda, such as Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, from Walmart, with a small amount of water to form a paste. This can then be rubbed into stains and left to dry to help brighten areas and remove residue. To remove odors, you can sprinkle your sofa with a fine, even layer of baking soda and leave it to sit for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight. Finish by brushing most of the baking soda away before vacuuming up the remaining debris.

Bi-annual deep cleaning

Monthly cleaning is usually more than enough to stay on top of the majority of messes and odors, but it can be beneficial to add a deep clean to your spring cleaning checklist or fall cleaning checklist. This is a good time to check your couch for wear and tear and steam clean a couch.

Tony Hoang, couch designer, says, ‘Deep cleaning should be done every six months, but a good rule of thumb is to schedule a deep clean seasonally. Rotate your cushions to distribute wear and tear evenly, and always test any cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area first. For leather sofas, condition them twice a year to prevent cracking, but in high-humidity areas, you might need to clean them more often to prevent mold growth.’ We explore how to clean a leather sofa in our dedicated guide.

Robin Wilson, founder of Clean Design Home adds that this is also a good time to consider, ‘Drycleaning or washing the cushion covers that are unzippable.’ She also suggests that you, ‘Limit the use of spray cleaners that "limit odors" as they may have toxic chemicals. If needed, rent a steam cleaner and clean all upholstered surfaces.

‘Review the foam in the cushions to ensure the firmness. It may be time to replace the foam due to the tendency to hold onto odors. Buy foam replacements in the same size as your cushions or trim the larger size.'

Before diving headfirst into cleaning your couch, be sure to check the care label and brush up on the cleaning methods you should never use on a fabric couch to prevent lasting damage. If you are ever not sure about a cleaning tip, try it out on inconspicuous areas, such as the back or underside of the couch first so if it is damaging, it is not noticeable.