This Quick Routine Will Make Your Sofa Look and Feel Brand New

Regular maintenance is the key to making sure your high-dollar items live a long and fruitful life. People give their cars annual inspections—why shouldn’t a sofa get the same treatment?

It’s the most important, and possibly most expensive, piece of furniture in your home. So today, we’ll give our couches the check-up they deserve.

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.

• Sign up for email updates
• Visit the 2020 January Cure Page and catch up on assignments
• Download and save or print the January Cure calendar
• Share your progress on Instagram: #thejanuarycure
• Join the conversation in The Apartment Therapist Facebook group

The Cure doesn’t just happen in January. If you want to take your efforts to the next level, any time of year, pick up a copy of Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure book.