Giving your sofa a little TLC

How to look after your sofa

A sofa is a big investment, so taking care of it (the right way) is a must. We’ve put together this go-to guide for some of our favourite tricks to keep your sofa in tip-top shape.

In general…

It sounds obvious but first, it helps to look around your sofa. Add felt pads or castor cups to save your poor wooden floors from unsightly scratches. That was pretty simple, right? Now onto your sofa.

Don’t fade away

Make sure to protect your sofa from fading by avoiding direct sunlight.

Any heat can play havoc, so push your sofa away from radiators too. All fabrics will fade over time– it's part of their natural antiquing process – but to keep them looking newer for longer, this simple move will make all the difference.

Plump up the volume!

Over time cushions naturally lose volume - so keep your cushions looking their best by regularly plumping, turning and rotating your cushions after you’ve sat on them. If you’ve got a favourite snuggle spot, it might be worth a cushion rotation to stop one side from sagging.

Psst! Just a head’s up, feather fillings are captured within down-proof inner lining containment bags (but sometimes a feather or two will slip the net).

“If you’ve got a favourite snuggle spot, it might be worth a cushion rotation to stop one side from sagging.”

Don’t cry over spilt milk (or any other drinks)

Accidents are bound to happen. But attend to them immediately to avoid permanent damage to your sofa's surface.
Soak up liquids with a dry cloth, then use a hair dryer to avoid water marks – but take care not to make direct contact between the fabric and the hairdryer.

Set to medium heat and keep a distance of at least 30cm. If you've spilt something that might leave a stain (like red wine), it's best to call on the professionals.

Cleaning your fabric sofa 101

Regularly vacuum over your sofa regularly to avoid dust building up. If your sofa's in need of a deep clean, get in touch with a local professional to give your sofa a spruce rather than trying to clean it yourself (save yourself the heartache).

Soft like velvet

Velvet sofas are not for the faint-hearted. Known for the satin-to-matte magic it creates when you run your hands over it (thanks to the pile). It's not unusual for velvet to appear 'crushed' when new. Panic not! Simply brush it with a (clean) clothes brush to fluff the pile back up. Because of the way it's woven, the velvet pile will naturally ‘crush’ over time, but this is part of its antiquing process (it doesn't affect its durability).

Here are a few more tips for maintaining velvet

1. Always brush velvet in the direction of the pile

2. Turn the cushions regularly, and gently brush or vacuum (with an upholstery attachment or cloth-covered regular nozzle) weekly

3. Soak up spilt liquids immediately by blotting with a dry cloth – this will help to prevent watermarks. Don't rub or put pressure on the affected area – you might push the stain in deeper. Once you've soaked up most of the spillage, use a hairdryer at a distance to make sure the velvet's properly dried. Once dry, go over the area with a velvet brush to prevent matting.