Couch Clean: “Descratching” and Deep Cleaning

Mr. Lovelee and I have wanted a new couch for a while. We bought our current one second hand when we moved into our first home (we’ve had it “new to us” for four years). Over time, with two kids, a dog and a momma who has an infinity for spilling, it has become the stomping ground for stains, dog hair, yogurt cups and whatever else could find its way onto the fabric.

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We looked for a second hand option, but the reality is that the couch is a great size for our space and it really isn’t in our budget for a new one. Enter my mum and dad, who also have carpet throughout their main floor, and a dog, two grandkids and a daughter who likes to spill. My parents invested in a Bissel Steam cleaner for their house, and as their favourite daughter,  I have unlimited borrowing privileges. Cleaning the couch seemed like the best option (aside from setting it on fire, like Mr. Lovelee wanted to do so badly), especially now that we had access to this incredible tool. 

I started by fixing up the fabric itself. About a year ago we house-sat a cat named Rupert. He was completely adorable and rambunctious and a really good test for us if we wanted a cat. Turns out cat sitting was enough for us to get our feline fix, but it was fun nonetheless. However, he did decide to use our couch as a cat scratch post. 

The cat scratches made our couch look especially ratty, but I thought if I could give it a clean and get the scratched off, it might just be salvageable. 

*Make sure to test each step on a small, discreet piece of fabric first to make sure it can take this technique. 

I started by cutting off all the loose ends with sharp scissors. Get as close to the fabric as you can. Do not pull on the threads as this could cause holes or ripping. 

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Then using a clean razor, move it in all directions on the fabric, pressing down, applying pressure but be careful not to cut the fabric. I found this also worked on sections of the sofa that had a lot of pills. A three blade razor would work best, but I only had a two blade Bic (leftover from the days of a clean shaved Mr. Lovelee). It seems obvious, but make sure you use a clean razor as you want the blades to be as sharp as possible. 

Taking off the cat scratches changed the couch so much. This was the perfect opportunity for a deep clean. As I was taking off the two blankets, two extra large pillows and at least 4 throw pillows, I realized, one of the reasons we did not like sitting on the couch was because we were trying to hid the stains with all this extra stuff. 

I used the Bissel hand help option. I went over the couch twice. You want to keep going over each strip on the fabric until there is little to know water bring sopped up. You want as little water left over to not cause dampness when you sit or mold if it was too wet. 

The couch turned out incredible! Honestly, something as simple as repairing the legs and cleaning the base really made a difference. The couch feels refreshed, inviting and gives it a new life for the next little while.

“Sometimes an item only needs to be deep cleaned or repaired instead of being replaced.”

Miss Lovelee

Lovelee Lessons:

• If you cannot afford to invest in a large steam cleaner, there are smaller options that are more affordable. Being able to clean fabric is such a great way to keep items clean, especially if you have pets, or kids or tend to spill a lot. By maintaining fabrics, you extend their longevity, 
• Renting a steam cleaner is cost effective solution if you cannot afford (or have the space to store) a steam cleaner. Plan a  day to do allll the things (floors, couch, rugs, fabric chairs, etc….). Where I live, Home Depot rents out steam cleaners for as little as $25.00.
• Being able to deep clean can also contribute to overall health, getting rid of dust, dirt, allergens, etc… Its a great cleaning task to add to your list every few months or however often you can.