Looking for a safe dry cleaning solvent for my couch.

January 30, 2021 10:57 AM

I've had my couch for about five years and vacuum it from time to time. After years of heavy use it's starting to gross me out a bit. According to the manufacturer's website the upholstery is rated "S", so apparently I can only use dry cleaning solvents. Are there any that are safe to use around young children and indoors?

I'm sensitive to fragrance and, given that it's below freezing where we are and we're also stuck at home due to the pandemic, leaving the windows wide open and letting things air out for a day or so isn't practical at the moment.

The couch is the Petrie sectional sofa from Crate and Barrel and the fabric is a kind of dark grey textured material. I have a Bissel Spotclean Pro that I'm itching to use, but I'm sitting on my hands right now out of fear that I'll ruin an expensive piece of furniture.

posted by poppyseed to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

Can you unzip/remove the fabric covers from the cushions and take them to a dry-cleaners?

The usual fluids used in dry-cleaning result in superfund sites when they leak into the soil, so it's probably not a great idea to allow them to evaporate into your airspace and be breathed by you and your children.
posted by heatherlogan at 11:43 AM on January 30, 2021 [2 favorites]

Best answer: This method uses only a stiff brush, vacuum, rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and cotton towels. I would do a discreet spot test to make sure there wasn't any dye transfer, and I'd leave a window open while I was working and for the hour or however-long it took for everything to evaporate (I say this in January from Western Canada). Maybe I'm too cavalier, but it seems safe and straightforward enough to me?
posted by wreckingball at 12:39 PM on January 30, 2021 [2 favorites]

I’d take off any removable covers, wash them very gently - soak in several changes of soap, cool water, lay flat to dry. I’d try wreckingball‘s method or your steam cleaner on the least visible back corner of the permanent upholstery first. And I’d be looking at washable slipcovers. Upholstered furniture is just delicate - the possibilities are 1) steam cleaner works, or you breathe solvents 2) living with `parlor’ furniture 3) disposable furniture 4) slipcovers.

Or 5) grime, but ew.
posted by clew at 12:46 PM on January 30, 2021 [1 favorite]

You could get a sofa or carpet cleaning service to come out and steam clean the sofa. They won't use detergent if you tell them not to, and can spot clean with dry clean solvent where needed.

Its not that expensive to have done.
posted by jello at 3:14 PM on January 30, 2021

Best answer: I used the rubbing alcohol method mentioned above on a microfibre couch of unknown fabric type and it worked a treat. I followed this tutorial. This is in Ottawa with very cold weather but we didn't have to open windows or anything because the smell wasn't strong.
posted by urbanlenny at 7:35 PM on January 30, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks, all, for the helpful replies! I'm going to try the alcohol technique suggested by wreckingball and seconded by urbanlenny, as soon as the snow lets up and I can get to the store. In the meanwhile, I have a new favorite YouTube channel. If the rubbing alcohol technique doesn't work, I'll bring in a professional sometime this spring.

I bought this couch way before I had any idea what I was doing. I didn't know that some couches need professional care. That idea still seems a little bit insane to me... live and learn, I guess.
posted by poppyseed at 11:50 AM on February 1, 2021