One Thing in Your Living Room that Probably Doesn’t Get Cleaned Enough

There are things that get used often and cleaned often, like dishes. And things that get used infrequently and therefore can be cleaned less frequently too, like winter gloves.

Somewhere in the middle is your sofa. You sit on it every day, maybe for many, many hours at a time. It probably sees as much action as your favorite t-shirt, but gets cleaned up far less often than it probably deserves.

If it’s been a while, make today the day you vacuum, fluff, and treat the sofa, and wash everything that you rest or roll up in while you’re on it.

Here’s the plan…

Spend a little time loving on your favorite seat at home. For most people, that’s probably their main sofa, but you can focus on a chair or any other perch.

Take the throw blanket and pillows off the sofa; give them a spin in the washing machine if you can (and they’re machine-safe).

Remove all the couch cushions and give the naked sofa underneath a quick vacuum. Then vacuum and fluff each cushion as you toss them all back on. When you return the cushions to the sofa, try to rotate and flip them around to new positions, if they have multiple “good sides” — you want to reveal fresh fabric and also even out the wear.

If you notice any stains as you’re going, treat them tonight. And if you notice any tears or pills or other fabric fixes you can solve right away, take a moment to get them done. If you spot anything that needs a more major repair, you can add it to your future projects list.

Once you’re through with the vacuum-and-flip routine, drop your blankets and throw pillows back into place, giving each pillow a quick fluff.

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