The right way to clean a sofa depends on a small tag under the cushions: W means water-based cleaners are safe, S means solvent only, WS means either, and X means vacuum only. Check it first, test any product on a hidden spot, and blot instead of rubbing. Everything below follows that tag, because the most common sofa damage we see in Montreal homes isn’t the stain, it’s the water ring or the faded patch left by the wrong cleaner.
Step 1: find the tag and vacuum
The tag is usually under a seat cushion or on the underside of the frame. Then vacuum every surface with the upholstery brush, including the crevices and under the cushions, where crumbs and pet hair collect. Vacuuming first matters: wet cleaning over dust turns it into mud.
Step 2: match the method to the tag
| Tag | What it means | Safe method |
|---|---|---|
| W | Water-based cleaning | Mild dish soap in warm water, or a foaming upholstery cleaner; blot with a damp cloth, then dry |
| S | Solvent-based only | Dry-cleaning solvent or rubbing alcohol on a white cloth; no water at all |
| WS | Both | Start with water-based, use solvent on grease |
| X | No liquids | Vacuum and brush only; call a professional for stains |
Microfiber usually reads S or WS: rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, a white cloth, then a soft brush once dry to lift the nap. Leather is its own category: a damp cloth with a drop of mild soap, dried immediately, then a leather conditioner twice a year.
Step 3: stains, in the order to try
| Stain | First try | If that fails |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee, tea, wine | Blot, then cold water with a drop of dish soap | 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water, blot |
| Grease, food oil | Sprinkle baking soda, wait 20 minutes, vacuum | Dish soap solution (W) or rubbing alcohol (S) |
| Ink, marker | Rubbing alcohol on a white cloth, blot from the outside in | See our permanent marker removal guide |
| Pet accidents | Blot, then enzyme cleaner (it breaks down the smell, not just the stain) | Repeat; never use ammonia, it smells like urine to pets |
| Blood | Cold water only, blot | Hydrogen peroxide on a white cloth, test first |
Always blot from the edge toward the centre so you don’t spread it, and always dry the spot fully: a fan or a hair dryer on cool. Rings come from wet patches drying unevenly.
Step 4: smells
Baking soda over the whole sofa, 30 minutes, vacuum. For pet or smoke odours that sit in the foam, an enzyme spray on the cushions and a few hours in front of an open window. Steam is the last resort, and only on W or WS tags.
When to call a professional
X-tag fabrics, silk or velvet, set-in stains older than a few weeks, and anything that has soaked into the cushion foam. Sofa cleaning isn’t part of our standard deep cleaning checklist (we vacuum upholstery and under the cushions as part of it), so for an extraction clean, an upholstery specialist is the right call.
FAQ
Can I use a carpet cleaner machine on my sofa?
Only on W or WS fabrics, with the upholstery attachment, and go light on water. Over-wetting is how foam cushions get mildew.
How often should a sofa be cleaned?
Vacuum weekly if you have pets, otherwise every two weeks. A full clean twice a year, and immediately after any spill.
How do I remove pet hair fast?
A rubber glove, slightly damp, swept over the fabric. Or a squeegee. Both beat the vacuum on microfiber.
Does baking soda damage fabric?
No, but vacuum it thoroughly. Residue left in seams attracts moisture.