If you’re unsure how to protect sofa from stains, we have the three best options you can try. They include using a fabric treatment and the more traditional methods, which are slipcovers and manual cleaning. However, it would also help that you know what stains and issues to anticipate.
Do you need to learn how to protect the sofa from dogs, for example? Why would you need to use stain protectors when the sofa material does not get soiled easily? Don’t go anywhere because all of these will be answered below:
How To Protect Sofa From Stains Cheaply But Effectively
Option 1. Fabric treatment
A quick way to protect your sofa from strains is to talk to your furniture store if they offer a pre-treatment for the fabric. The finish is relatively affordable, depending on the fabric company. They typically use Teflon and nanoscale molecules, as seen in Nano-tex fabrics.
You can also consider buying protective sprays to apply yourself. Just remember to check the material of your sofa if it’s compatible with the protectant. Brands like Scotchgard offer various suitable products for different materials ranging from cotton, suede, and even knitted fabrics.
Option 2. Sofa protectors and covers
If you don’t want to apply a solution to your furniture, a more straightforward way to keep your sofa from getting stained is with protectors and slipcovers. They vary in materials, and you can even make a sofa custom cover at home. Some standard fabrics for sofa protectors are cotton, drop cloths, or even upcycled bedsheets and curtains.
Understandably, some homeowners get turned off by the idea of covering their elegant couch with a tacky-looking cover. The excellent news is upholstery protectors nowadays are as stylish and comfortable as the sofa fabric. Just find the best fit and color for your sofa, and you can use the cover briefly if you have guests or kids and pets that use the couch often.
Option 3. Rollers and vacuum cleaners
Besides covering the couch or applying a protectant on the upholstery, maintain a regular cleaning schedule. Remember that the longer the dust and other build-up sit on the sofa, they are more likely to cause stains. This is especially crucial if you spilled something on the couch because it can set and stain the deeper fibers.
Have a cleaning roller nearby if you have pets that you allow on the couch. You also want to vacuum the sofa weekly, including the tight areas between the cushions and backrest. And as for spills, soak up the liquid and use the proper cleaning solution to prevent residues.
How Do You Protect A Light Colored Sofa?
You can successfully protect light-colored sofas from stains the same way as you would with darker-colored furniture pieces. Upholstery treatments, slipcovers, and regular cleaning should maintain your sofa’s look. However, here are three techniques that will be extra helpful if your sofa uses a lighter color:
Consider the light-colored sofa’s placement
Some materials fade quickly when exposed to sunlight. For example, if your light-colored couch uses linen or silk upholstery, do not place it in the living room area that catches the sunlight. It will also help if you use darker-colored sofas in the area that’s always busy with people, and move the beige, cream, white, or soft colors to a more intimate area.
Distribute the wear on the light-colored couch
Because of the lighter color, the sofa will look more noticeable if it has worn down areas. You can help it last longer by ensuring that you use it equally. Perhaps sit on one side now and then, and flip the cushions regularly to prevent premature creases and sagging.
Use the light-colored furniture with care
Getting a light-colored sofa means you must be prepared for extra care when using it. For example, make it a habit not to eat or do other activities that can cause spills on the couch. It would be best if you also talked to the household members about the responsible usage of furniture.
What Is The Most Stain Resistant Upholstery Fabric?
There are companies like Crypton that offer permanently treated fabrics where the protection is embedded in every fiber. However, olefin and microfiber are two upholstery fabrics that also have a good reputation against stains.
Should I Get Fabric Protection On My Couch?
If you can’t afford permanently treated fabrics, you can always learn how to Scotchgard a sofa. But is using fabric protection necessary anyway? Again, the answer depends on your lifestyle.
If you expect your couch to be used often or you have children and pets, you need to protect the upholstery to lengthen its lifespan. After all, stains are not only unsightly, but they can also encourage degradation of the material. And if treating the sofa every six months seems unfitting for you, you can always opt for easy-to-clean upholstery such as leather where vacuuming and wiping are enough.
Conclusion
Do you hate removing stains constantly? Then, we hope that you bookmarked this guide on how to protect sofa from stains. A quick recap of the discussion shows that you can use fabric treatments, slipcovers, and regular cleaning to keep the couch stain-free.
You can also use stain-resistant upholstery, to begin with. Overall, we hope this article helped you, and feel free to leave us a comment if you have other questions.