Over time, everything will require a thorough clean, and couches in particular will accumulate dust, dirt, food stains, odors and all sorts of other contaminants. Cleaning them will require the correct type of cleaning agent suitable for the material they are made of. Most furniture manufacturers will recommend either their own or other specific detergents. The most commonly recommended products for cleaning couches of varying materials can be found right here.

Upholstery Fabrics

For most upholstery fabrics, manufacturers and consumers recommend a choice of three products, namely Scotchgard Upholstery Cleaner, the Upholstery and Fabric Cleaner made by Bissell and the Best 70032 Upholstery and Carpet Cleaner. The Scotchgard product will create a deep foam that will remove even tough stains without altering the fabric's feel or look. Bissell's cleaner has a built-in brush that helps to loosen engrained dirt and stains, while the Best 70032 spray bottle is easy to use and will even tackle grease and red clay.

Leather Couches

For leather couches, Upholstery Cleaning Melbourne offers a variety of products in the shape of fluid, wipes and spray bottle. These products clean and restore leather without leaving oily residues and will repel water. No buffing will be required after use. Pledge Diverse, an aerosol spray furniture polish, dusts, cleans and polishes leather and will a pleasant scent of lemon. For aniline and pigmented leather, Stain buster, a water based cleaner that comes complete with a sponge, is often recommended. This product removes stains, restores shine and will not leave the waxy build-up often left by other products.

Delicate Fabrics

Couches made from silk, suede or velvet are best cleaned using a steam cleaner. Most manufacturers will recommend the Toby Steamer, which uses quick-change attachments and a lint brush to gently clean these fabrics. Another recommended steamer, the Conair GS15RN, is hand held and also uses steam and a lint brush to effectively clean and deodorize couches without taking the risk of scorching or burning the delicate fabrics.

Home-Made Solutions

For clean upholstery stains in a fast forward way, it is often possible to use home recipes. Mixing three tablespoons of baking soda with a single tablespoon of club soda, for instance, will provide a most effective stain removing paste that can be applied directly, rinsed off and vacuumed away complete with the stain. Toothpaste will also remove stains quite effectively, although it may be best to test it on a hidden part of the couch fist, to avoid discoloration. Leather couches can be cleaned with a solution made from a quart of distilled water and a squirt of moisturizing body soap.

The shine of leather couches can, by the way, be restored quite effectively by spraying it with a mixture of two parts linseed oil and one part white vinegar, leaving it for about ten minutes and then buffing it. Naturally, this can also be done by using a commercial leather conditioner, such as most users' old favorite Lexol, for instance, in which case the provided instructions should be followed.