⏱ Read time: 8 min | 🌿 Difficulty: Beginner | ⏰ Time: Half a day (4 hrs) | 👷 1 person
Spilled tea, muddy paws, crisps welded into the cushions and one stain nobody owns up to. Our sofas go through a lot. Did you know our carpet cleaner can clean your sofas too? Hire the upholstery attachment alongside the cleaner and you’ll have your sofa looking brand new in the matter of minutes.
This guide covers how to clean a sofa and other upholstery with a carpet cleaner, without wrecking it, and what to check before anything gets wet.
What kit do I need for sofa cleaning?
What can I use to clean my sofa without ruining it?
Before you put anything on your sofa, check the care label first. You’ll usually find it under a cushion or along the base. The letter code tells you what a carpet and sofa cleaner can safely do.
- W means water based cleaning is fine, so carpet cleaner and attachment it is.
- S means solvent only. Water will mark it, so no spray extraction machine.
- WS or SW means either method works.
- X means vacuum only. No liquid at all.
No label? Test a patch that’s well hidden like the back panel. Clean a small area, let it dry fully, then check it in daylight for watermarks or colour change.
Important info: Our upholstery attachment is made for fabric, so it is not suitable for leather sofas or leather car seats. If your sofa is antique, silk, velvet or an S code fabric, hand cleaning is safer. Which? has a good walkthrough of cleaning a sofa by hand.
How to clean a sofa with a carpet cleaner
Step 1. Strip it and vacuum thoroughly
Take all the cushions and covers off, then vacuum the base, back, arms and down the sides. Use the crevice tool along every seam. Don’t skip this step! If you do, loose grit will turn into muddy paste the second you add water.
Step 2. Pre treat the stains
Deal with marks individually first. Blot them, never scrub. Scrubbing drives the stain into the padding and frays the fibres. Our guide to removing difficult stains covers the usual suspects, and most applies to upholstery. Give any treatment ten minutes.
Step 3. Fit the upholstery attachment
- Take off the floor nozzle and suction pipe, then fit the upholstery attachment in their place.
- Push the suction hose onto the connection on the attachment handle, then connect the other end to the suction inlet on the machine.
- Clip the spray hose coupling onto the handle until it latches, then push the other end into the spray connection on the machine.
- Tug both gently before you switch on. A loose spray coupling will hose down the room instead of the sofa.
Step 4. Fill the tank and mix your solution
When you mix your solution, make sure to stick to the measurements on the bottle. More is not always better. Too much detergent leaves a sticky residue that attracts dirt, so the sofa gets grubby faster than before.
Go easy on delicate fabrics and hold the tool about 200mm off the surface.
Our blog on the best cleaning solutions for your carpet cleaner explains what to use where.
Step 5. Clean in small sections
Going over one panel at a time, press the trigger and pull the upholstery attachment slowly towards you across about 30cm, then release.
Overlap each pass, or you will leave clean stripes with grubby gaps between.
Step 6. Do a dry pass over everything
You don’t want a sopping wet sofa after a clean. You’re aiming for damp. After cleaning, go back over each section without pressing the trigger to pull out as much moisture as you can. For the best results, do two or three passes per panel.
Step 7. Dry it properly
When it comes to making the drying process quicker, there are a few options you can try.
- open a window and get air moving
- hiring a carpet dryer or air mover cuts hours off the job
- hire a dehumidifier. It earns its keep in a cold or north facing room
- Stand cushions on their edges, so the larger surfaces can dry evenly
- don’t put covers back on until everything is bone dry, or you will get musty smells
How long does sofa cleaning take?
What else can I clean with the upholstery attachment?
You don’t have to stop at cleaning your sofa with an upholstery attachment, you know! It can handle most of the soft furnishings in your home.
- Stair: The hand tool fits neatly on the stairs, unlike the main part of a carpet cleaner. Make sure you work top down so you are not treading on the bit you just cleaned.
- Curtains: Who wants to pull the curtains down, to then pop them in the wash, to then struggle to put them back up again? Not us! Use the attachment to clean curtains as they are hanging so they keep their shape. Put an old towel behind the fabric to keep moisture off the wall.
- Car mats & interiors: Use an extension lead to plug the cleaner in closer to your car and keep it looking spotless. Lift out the car mats and clean both sides flat on the drive. They hold more grit than anything else you own.
You don’t have to stop at your car mats either. You can use the upholstery attachment on fabric seats, boot linings and door cards all come up well. Check for leather or part leather trim first. - Mattresses and dining chairs: To get these looking fresh again, all you need to do is lightly pass the attachment over your mattresses and dining chairs. And it even be a good place to practise before you start the sofa.
Is it cheaper to hire or buy a sofa cleaner?
Well, that depends. Are you going to use it often or do you clean your sofa as and when it needs doing? We’ve put together some info to see which option will suit your needs more.
⚠️Is it safe to clean a sofa with a carpet cleaner?
Nothing about this job is dangerous, but you are running a mains powered machine over wet fabric, so a few sensible habits go a long way.
- Keep the plug, socket and cable away from the wet area, never across a patch you just cleaned.
- Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive, because cleaning solutions are degreasers. See our gloves and personal protection equipment.
- Ventilate the room while you work and while it dries.
- Lift with your knees. The machine is 10.3kg empty and heavier with a full tank.
- Do not over wet the fabric. Soaking can mark covers and reach the foam or frame.
- Keep children and pets off the sofa until it is completely dry.
What do customers say about our carpet cleaner?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "It cleans carpets well and hiring it saved a lot of money compared to paying someone." - Matthew’s review on the carpet cleaner.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "It's easy to use and does a great job. I was quite amazed about the dirt it extracted from the carpets." Jen’s review on our carpet cleaner.
Your sofa cleaning checklist
Keep on track with your sofa cleaning with this handy checklist.
Print it or screenshot it, then work down the list, ticking off as you go.
☐ Check the care label code
☐ Test a hidden patch and let it dry fully
☐ Book the carpet cleaner and upholstery attachment
☐ Buy cleaning solution, not included with the machine
☐ Remove cushions and covers
☐ Vacuum every surface and seam
☐ Pre treat stains
☐ Fit the attachment, both hoses clipped in
☐ Mix solution to the dose on the bottle
☐ Clean in 30cm overlapping sections
☐ Two or three dry passes per panel
☐ Stand cushions on edge and get air moving
☐ Wait until bone dry before covers go back
☐ While the machine is out, do stairs, curtains and car
Sofa cleaning FAQs
Can I clean a leather sofa with a carpet cleaner?
No. Our upholstery attachment is for fabric only, not leather sofas or leather car seats. Leather needs a dedicated cleaner and conditioner applied by hand.
How often should I clean my sofa?
Vacuum weekly, deal with spills straight away and deep clean every six to twelve months. Pets, toddlers or a sofa that doubles as the dining table push you to the shorter end.
Will a carpet cleaner get rid of pet smells?
Usually, yes. Odour sits in the padding rather than the surface, and spray extraction reaches further than wiping. Stubborn cases need an enzyme treatment left to work first.
How long does a sofa take to dry?
Four to six hours with decent airflow. Cold rooms, thick fabrics and a heavy hand on the trigger stretch it to a day, so hire an air mover if you need the sofa back quickly.
Do I need proper cleaning solution or will washing up liquid do?
Use a proper carpet and upholstery cleaning solution. Washing up liquid foams badly in the machine and leaves a residue that attracts dirt.
Can I use the same machine on my car seats?
Yes, on fabric seats, mats and boot linings. Check for leather or part leather trim first.
Get your sofa looking like new with HSS DIY
And just like that, you’ve become a sofa cleaning expert (sorta!) All you need is half an afternoon, one machine and a hired attachment.
Don’t forget to check the sofa label, vacuum properly, keep the fabric damp rather than soaked, then dry it thoroughly. The satisfying bit is the colour of the water in the waste tank when you are done.
Ready to crack on? Hire the carpet cleaner and add the upholstery attachment, solution and gloves while you are there. Order it online 24/7 for next day delivery and you’ll be cleaning your sofas, stairs, curtains, car seats and more in no time.
Buy the materials. Hire the tools. One order. All in one place
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