Usually you get home from a hard day’s work or outing at the park and crash onto to couch. You aren’t thinking about how dirty your clothing might be and how it is now getting onto the furniture. After months and years of dirty clothes, food, and fort building, your couch and cushions are probably looking a lot darker than they used to. While we’d love to help you if you want to skip the work, you can make your own upholstering cleaning solution at home!

Upholstery can be tricky to clean. What it really comes down to is the type of fabric.

Important Note: When trying out any cleaners on your upholstery, first try cleaning a small, inconspicuous spot to make sure that the fabric is not discolored or ruined by the cleaner.

• Cloth Upholstery Cleaning: Your first step will be to vacuum the piece you want to clean. Then use a hand mixer to mix ½ cup of liquid dish detergent (flakes will also work) and ½ cup of water until frothy. Dip your washing cloth into the solution and wipe down the upholstery. Do not scrub too hard, as this can damage the fabric. Wipe with a clean, wet cloth and allow to dry.
• Leather Upholstery Cleaning: For general cleaning of leather upholstery, you can use a moisturizing soap mixed with a little water. Add this to a soft cloth and create a lather. Do not over-wet! Wash the leather to remove dirt. Do not rinse after washing, but buff the leather with a dry, soft cloth. For removing stains, usually a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and then rubbed onto the stain will do the trick.
• Microfiber Upholstery Cleaning: Vacuum the object that needs cleaning, and then fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol. Spray the rubbing alcohol over the area you want cleaned. With the scrub-side of a clean sponge, scrub the area firmly. After scrubbing, allow the microfiber to dry. Once it is completely dry, use a clean, soft scrub brush to gently brush the area in a circular motion.