Pull the couch at least 5 feet away from the wall. Remove the cushions and any throw pillows.
Turn the couch upside-down; the bottom of the couch should be facing you, tilted at an angle. Pull up the skirt and locate the staples underneath along the frame.
Pry off the staples one at a time with a flat-head screwdriver. If there isn't enough room to slide the screwdriver under a staple, use needle-nosed pliers to pull it out slightly. As you remove the staples, drop them in a bowl for easy disposal.
Pull the skirt away from the frame as you go. When all of the staples have been removed, the skirt will come off entirely.
Return the couch to its original position, and replace the cushions.