How to Protect Your Sofa Fabric

Cover the sofa completely with plastic sheeting whenever you are moving, painting or remodeling in any capacity. Ensure the plastic sheeting has no tears or holes that would allow paint or other stains onto the fabric.

Vacuum the fabric regularly to avoid a buildup of dust and grime that will eventually stain the fabric.

Clean the area where any stain has occurred with a cloth and water first before resorting to stronger cleaners; it may come off with just water.

Test an oxy-type cleanser specifically labeled for sofa fabric for colorfastness on the sofa; areas underneath the couch or on the back of the couch if it is facing a wall make good test spots. Apply as you would to the stain according to label directions, and wait 24 hours. If the fabric shows no signs of residue or discoloration, clean stains with this cleanser according to label directions.

Treat hard-to-remove red wine stains with white wine or white wine vinegar before cleaning off with water or cleanser. Again, test this solution on a hard-to-see area for color fastness before using on a stain on a visible surface.

Dab off any moisture from the cleaned area of the sofa, and use a hairdryer on cool setting or fans to help it dry quickly. A moist area will attract dust, dirt and grime quickly, which means another cleaning and additional associated wear on that area of your sofa fabric. Repeatedly cleaning the same spot or allowing moisture to grow mold will reduce the longevity of your sofa fabric.

Give the sofa a proper cleaning twice a year with a wet cloth to remove the natural dingy buildup and aid the longevity of the true fabric color.