Posted By FarmerJ on June 15, 2011

No, not really.  We have a clean couch!  We’ve had this couch for nearly ten years now, and I am ashamed to admit I’ve never thoroughly cleaned it.  I mean, I’ve spot cleaned it, but that’s as far as it went.  Needless to say, it was beginning to look like it’d seen better days.  Probably because it had.

Our couch and matching recliner is made with camel tan microfiber fabric.  All things considered, it’s held up pretty well to our wear and tear.  We certainly don’t ‘baby’ our furniture ~ our house is one that is ‘lived’ in.  The fabric lends itself to be somewhat water and stain resistant, plus I do believe it had Scotch Guard protection when we got it.  No doubt, though, that protection has long since worn off.

I spent a few minutes over the weekend doing some research on how to clean microfiber furniture.  I discovered that the method of cleaning depending on the cleaning code indicated on the furniture tag.  After bravely peeking under a couch cushion, I learned that our cleaning code is ‘W’.  Freshly edumacated on all things microfiber, I knew our furniture could be cleaned with a water soluble cleaning solution.  Woot!

From my readings on the internet, I knew that several people had washed their cushion coverings in their washing machine’s gentle cycle with much success.  I was willing to take the chance at being successful, too.  But, only two of the seat cushions and the three pillow back cushions have removable covers.  The lounge portion of the couch is all one piece, which meant I’d be using the Resolve Carpet and Upholstery Foam Cleanser I’d purchased last week on that section.

Just as I was going to get started on my adventure-of-the-day, Darling Husbie called during his lunch break to see what I was up to.  I told him, “I’m getting ready to either clean or ruin our couch.”  His response?  A quick giggle and the words, “I love you.”  Am I not blessed with a terrific husband?!  How many husbands would tell you they love you when you announce you are about to embark on something that could destroy our couch?

I didn’t hesitate to jump in once my conversation with Husbie ended.  I quickly unzipped one of the pillow back covers ~ remember…I’d never done this before, so I had no idea really what was in there.  Amazingly, a-a-a-l-l-l-l-l-l of that stuffing was in just one pillow back.  You can see that Abigail wasn’t yet too concerned about what was happening.  I was a little concerned about what I was going to do with all that stuffing times three!  Why didn’t I at least empty the cover in a location where I wouldn’t have to move the forever expanding contents?  What was I thinking?!  Obviously, I wasn’t.

I decided to move the stuffing pile into the office.  It would mostly be out of the way in there.  Honestly, there isn’t anywhere I could have put all that stuffing that it wouldn’t have been in the way.  But, the girls and I made the best of it.  Abigail thought it was something I’d made just for her to toss her toys into.  The curious Mon-kay was just way too messed up to even come near it ~ I guess it was just too overwhelming to try to figure out what this new monstrosity was all about.  The old bag, Peanie, just plopped herself down in front of the pile and sort of grunted.  She probably wondered how many trips back and forth to the living room this endeavor was going to take.  Oh, and in case I got lost, there was a nice cotton trail leading right back to the couch.  Bonus.

Thankfully, I became a little wiser and it dawned on me to ‘unload’ the remaining two pillow backs in the office.  See?  I’m a quick learner after all.  I only have to make a mess while trying to clean once before I can figure a better method out.

So, just a few short minutes later, the first load of covers was in the washing machine.  I washed one seat cushion and two pillow back covers in the first load, and the remaining seat cushion and pillow back cover in the second load ~ at the suggestion of my Buddy…who is always in the thick of things with me via Verizon cellular minutes.  Those are the best minutes ever when it comes to keeping in touch with your buddy, by the way.  If you can’t be there in person, of course.

I wasn’t too worried about the washing machine aspect of this cleaning frenzy.  It was the foam that had me somewhat concerned.  If you’re brave enough to enlarge the photo above, you’ll see that by the number of stains on the lounge, it really couldn’t get much worse.  Some of that is water stains from cleaning spills, and some of that is just ‘wear and tear’ from being rubbed against for the past ten years.  The microfiber gets like suede or leather does after it’s ‘broken in.’  You know, that dark smooth, shiny look.

I worked in small sections at a time, spraying the foam, scrubbing with a nylon bristle brush, and then wiping with a damp white cloth.  Over and over.  Wipe, rinse, wipe, rinse.  Wipe again, rinse again, wipe again.  Until the white cloth stayed white.  Then I’d move on to the next section.

In the meantime, both loads of zippered covers had completed washing and were in the drying process.  The first load of three covers went into the dryer on air tumble.  The second load of two covers found themselves draped over the railing of the deck to air dry au-natural.  It was too soon to be sure, but they looked like they were going to be a success…aka, not ruined.  Clean, even.

A little over four hours later, and a little ‘brush and fluff’ to loosen up the microfibers, the couch was once again whole.  It is nearly like the day we brought it home from Ashley’s ten years ago.  Seriously.  The transformation is absolutely amazing!  And, I am even more ashamed of how long I let it go before giving it a good, deep cleaning.  Even the pillow backs are standing tall once again ~ no longer droopy from a ten-pound tuna named Abigail lounging on it for a good portion of the day.

Squeeeeeeeeeee!  ♥

Just don’t look too closely at the top of that poor, pathetic little table in front of the couch.  It’s the victim of a few too many glass rings.  Someday it, too, will get a makeover.  Soon.  I promise.

Categories: Plainly Ponderings
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