How to Steam Clean Your Couch

If you have a sofa marked “W” or “WS,” you may be able to use an upholstery steam cleaner. Before you get excited, consult the manufacturer’s instructions for the steamer to see whether it’s OK to use it on your couch fabric. While, “W” and “WS” sofas may be able to withstand water, they can’t always take the heat.

• W — You can clean this material using water.
• WS — You can use water or a solvent-based cleaner on this sofa.

Additionally, you’ll want to do a spot test on a small out-of-the-way part of the sofa to make sure steaming won’t cause any permanent damage.

When it comes to figuring out how to steam clean a couch, you’re really just going to follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the upholstery steamer. They should tell you what settings you’ll need to use. There are a few tricks that can make your cleaning more successful, though:

• Vacuum your sofa before you start to steam clean. After you have steamed and the sofa has completely dried, vacuum it again.
• Pick a nice day to steam clean your couch so that you can open the windows and air out the room.
• Some steam cleaners use microfiber cloths to help pick up debris. You’ll want to change these out as you steam so you can pick up all the dirt.
• After steaming, point a fan on your couch to help it dry completely.
• Wait until the water in the steamer cools before dumping it out.