How To Keep A Couch Clean When You Have Pets, Kids, Or Just a Busy Life

5 min readAfter five years of lounging on the lightweight two-seater sofa my wife had in her apartment before we moved in together, we finally revamped our couch setup this past spring. We went with the Inside Weather Bondi Three-Seater Sectional, which is a massive upgrade from our previous couch. There’s room for both of us and our 35-pound dog to fully lie down, cuddle up, and watch a movie. It’s been an absolute luxury to come home to such a comfortable living room staple, and, as a result, taking good care of the couch so it stays in good condition has quickly become a priority in our household.Since we have a dog, we went with a couch brand that offers machine-washable cushion covers. Having that option is incredibly convenient in the event of large spills or when that dirty dog smell just starts to take over when our pup is due for a bath. However, I will say, the cushions on our couch are oversized, and it can be quite a task to get the covers back on when they’re done in the washing machine. It also simply doesn’t make sense to take the whole couch apart and wait hours for the wash-and-dry cycle to complete every single time company is coming or there’s a minor stain.I’ve developed a pretty solid couch-cleaning routine to avoid taking my couch apart, and it works for couches with non-machine-washable cushion covers as well. Many of these tricks I learned from my dad over the years, who kept a large sectional clean and in good shape for over a decade in our chaotic household of four kids and two adults.Of course, consult the recommendations of your couch’s manufacturer before using any cleaning methods on your upholstery. Also, please note that these cleaning tips apply to soft couches—velvet, polyester, cotton, linen, etc. If you have a leather or faux leather couch, skip the steam cleaning and consult your couch’s manufacturer or a professional cleaning company for help with stain removal.Start With Sucking Up Crumbs and DebrisThe most important tools for any pet owner to have are a good lint roller and vacuum with crevice attachments. I’ve done in-depth testing and reviewed the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush Upright Vacuum, and it’s been a staple product for me since I got it. Any vacuum with decent suction will do, but I highly recommend the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser for its high-quality attachments that easily lift hair and other couch debris.Trevor RaabBut even with my specialized vacuum, I usually start my couch-cleaning process with a good lint roll, my Scotch-Brite Large Lint Roller gets used every single day. If I don’t swipe down my couch once or twice a day, there will be a film of dog hair on my couch that ends up on my clothes (fluffy dog and cat people get it). Starting with the lint roller before the vacuum allows me to lift up any larger clumps of dog hair so my vacuum can suck up the rest of the crumbs and debris more efficiently.It’s best to start your couch-cleaning process with a good lint roll and a vacuum so that if you end up steam cleaning the couch, you’re not just pushing larger dirt and debris around the upholstery.Vacuums and Lint Rollers for CouchesBissell Pet Hair Eraser DualBrush Upright VacuumBlack+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld VacuumNow 11% OffShark Ultra-Light Corded Bagless VacuumNow 10% OffFor Everyday Lint RollingScotch-Brite Pet Hair Extra Sticky Large Lint RollerTo Lift Debris Without Sticky PadsChomChom Roller Pet Hair RemoverScotch-Brite Extreme Clean Lint Rollers, 6 PackSpot Clean Problem AreasWe intentionally bought a dark colored couch. I can be clumsy and am prone to dripping coffee and other beverages. But even with the navy blue fabric, it’s important to clean up even the smallest spills and drips to keep the fabric soft. My favorite product for spot cleaning is the Woolite Advantage Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner. With the built-in brush on the canister, all I have to do is spray out a bit of foam, scrub, and let dry.For tougher stains, Popular Mechanics recommends the Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Cleaner. It works by spraying a mixture of water and cleaning solution onto the fabric, gently scrubbing the area, and then using strong suction to lift the dirty water, stains, and debris back out.Amber JoglarIt’s especially good for couches because the cleaning tool is designed for upholstery and other soft fabrics, making it useful for tackling everyday spills, food stains, pet messes, dirt, and odors without needing to clean the entire couch. It’s also only about seven pounds, so it’s easy to carry around and use for quick spot-cleaning whenever something gets spilled.Spot Cleaning EssentialsBissell Woolite Advantage Carpet & Upholstery CleanerBissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet and Upholstery Deep CleanerNow 11% OffBissell Little Green Spot & Stain Cleaning SolutionDon’t Skip the Deep CleanGrowing up, I recall my dad getting out the big, vacuum-style carpet steam cleaner, taking off all the sectional cushions, and steaming every inch, crack, and crevice of our sectional. It was a whole day-long event between cleaning and waiting for every piece to dry, but I remember being fascinated by the steam cleaner as a kid. I could actually see the dirt being sucked out of the couch, which was very cool to my 8-year-old brain. Carpet steam cleaners operate the same way as the Little Green, just on a much larger scale.Winston ZhouTo clean your couch with one of these large steam cleaners, fill the steam cleaner according to its instructions, then slowly run the cleaning attachment over the upholstery in small sections, avoiding oversaturating the fabric. Allow the couch to dry completely before using it again.Our gear team has tested several carpet steam cleaners, and our favorite is the Bissell TurboClean PET. We also liked the Tineco Carpet One Smart Carpet Cleaning Machine. Even if, like me, your couch pieces are machine-washable, it certainly doesn’t hurt to still do the full steam clean a few times a year, as steam cleaners have suction capabilities that washing machines simply cannot supply.Steam Cleaners We RecommendBissell TurboClean PETTineco Carpet One Smart Carpet Cleaner MachineNow 40% OffRug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Commercial Carpet CleanerNow 11% OffSimple Maintenance Can Make a Big DifferenceDeep cleaning is great, but staying on top of regular daily and weekly maintenance tasks with your sofa will keep your home aesthetically pleasing and reduce the number of deep cleans you’ll need.For me, simple maintenance looks like a lint roll and a fabric-safe disinfectant spray. One thing I’ve also loved using after a lint roll, when I have company who may be sensitive to pet dander, is an allergen spray. Not only do these add a nice scent and block odor, but they also neutralize pet dander, dust mite matter, and pollen.Getty ImagesKeeping a couch clean doesn’t have to mean turning it into an all-day project. A few minutes of regular maintenance, combined with occasional spot cleaning and a deeper steam clean when needed, can go a long way toward keeping your sofa looking and feeling fresh. After upgrading to a couch we actually want to keep for years, I’ve learned that staying ahead of pet hair, crumbs, stains, and odors is well worth the small amount of effort—and it makes that end-of-the-day spot on the couch that much more enjoyable.Couch Maintenance EssentialsClorox PURE Allergen Neutralizer Fabric SprayLysol Fabric Disinfectant SprayFlint Classic Retractable Lint RollerFor Cleaning Under the CouchAuruza Retractable Gap Dust Cleaner Cleaning ToolsLeather Honey Complete Leather Care KitNow 19% OffFuyulacom Washable Couch CoverSarah Connor is a Reviews Editor for Popular Mechanics. She also contributes to Runner’s World, Bicycling, Best Products, and Biography.com. Before joining the Hearst Magazines team, Sarah was a National Content Editor for Hearst Television. She holds a master's in Journalism from Syracuse University and a dual bachelor's in English and Communications from the University of Pittsburgh. When she isn’t writing up a review of the newest gadgets, you can find her heading to the nearest rink for a figure skating session or enjoying the outdoors with her beloved Australian Shepherd, Rosie.