The average lifespan of a sofa is anywhere between 7 and 15 years, depending on how well you take care of it. And since sofa’s are apparently the only thing we know how to talk about on this website anymore, we’re here with 6 pointers on how to keep your sofa in tip-top shape!

1. Regular Basic Maintenance

The key to keeping anything in good condition for as long as possible has been, and always will be – consistency. Regularly doing basic cleaning of your sofa, such as wiping it down and vacuuming between the cushions – will help you preserve your sofa for much longer. As an added bonus, it ensures that there are no leftover crumbs around to attract unwanted critters that can become a major pest in your home.

I was going to use a GIF of actual cockroaches, but got grossed out.

Additionally, if you have a sofa with removable cushions (like our Braxton sofa collection) consider periodically removing your cushion covers and washing them, while leaving your cushions outside to air and get rid of any trapped odours.

2. Prevention is Better than Cure

While it may be an old cliché, it’s one that rings true to this day. It’s a lot easier to take steps to prevent problems than it is to find solutions to one. As a general rule, try to avoid having food or drinks on your sofa – as this can lead to crumbs and undesirable stains. However, if you are going to eat or drink in your living room, consider investing in food trays or removable sofa covers that will protect your sofa from dirt and damage.

Additionally, watch out for sharp objects that could potentially scratch or damage upholstery and delicate fabrics (such as the soft touch velvet fabric on our Sitine L-Shape Sofa with Bar Storage and Cupholders), and keep them as far away from your sofa as possible. (This usually isn’t too much of a problem unless you’re really into spikes)

3. Act Fast

If something does happen – don’t delay. Fix the problem sooner rather than later. In this age where procrastination becomes more and more prevalent, it’s easy to think to yourself “I’ll do it later” – especially if you’re in the middle of a particularly thrilling Netflix binge.

But this attitude, much like it usually does, will often come back to haunt you. Procrastinating often results in forgetting, and the longer you leave a stain, the more it sets into your fabric, and the harder it is to clean. What seems inconvenient in the short term will often pay off in the long term, so stop putting it off, and get it done.

4. Flip and Fluff

If your sofa has removable cushions – take additional steps to maintain the fluffiness of the cushions by flipping them every so often. (Not too frequently, once or twice a month is more than sufficient). Additionally, fluff them as regularly as possible. This helps them keep their form and volume, and stops them from falling flat too soon.

PS: If your sofa has cushions of the non-removable variety, take steps to keep your cushions from falling flat too soon by changing up where you sit on the sofa. Consistently sitting in exactly the same place will cause your cushions to sink, making your sofa uneven. (Consider investing in our Basilica 6-Seater U-Shape sofa that will give you plenty of choice on where to sit.)   

5. Treat Your Sofa with Love

Just like any material object, the way you treat your sofa will play a big part in how long it lasts. Some basic things that can be taken into account are:

a. Sunlight – or lack thereof.

Direct sunlight can cause damage and fading in fabrics, so try to avoid having the sun shining directly on your sofa so that you can preserve its colour and quality for longer.

b. Sofa Arms

While it may seem harmless to sit yourself down on the arms of your sofa, what you don’t realise is that you’re actually doing some pretty serious structural damage. Sofa arms weren’t built to take a person’s full body weight, they were built as arm-rests, and that’s the only thing they should be used for. So avoid sitting down on your sofa arms.

While we’re on the topic of sofa arms – keep in mind, if they weren’t built to take your weight, they definitely weren’t built to take the entire sofa’s weight. When moving your sofa around, it’s always recommended to lift rather than push or drag – but keep in mind to always lift from the bottom, and don’t lift it by the arms. Doing so causes unnecessary (and potentially very damaging) strain on the sofa structure.

c. Jumping

While it may be tempting (especially if you have a very soft sofa) to jump onto your sofa and let the cushions swallow you up at the end of a particularly tiring day of work, constant, heavy impact is going to strain your sofa structure and cause it to wear out a lot quicker than it should. As much as possible, try to avoid jumping onto your sofa (or jumping on your sofa) to keep the structural integrity intact for longer.

This is why you don't jump on your sofa. One day, it will take revenge.

6. Treating Stains

If all else fails and you do, in fact, end up with an unsightly mark or stain on your sofa – don’t fear. Most stains – if you act quickly – can be treated with common household items.

Oil Stains

Turn to corn starch (or baking powder) for help! Spread corn starch over the affected area to let it soak up the oil. Leave it for 15 minutes, then remove the excess with a dry paper towel.

Then apply a drop of dish soap to an old toothbrush and scrub the stain, then blot the stained area with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove excess dish soap and oil.

Repeat until the stain is completely gone, then leave the cushions to air-dry.

A good example of blotting - just pretend like you're Taraji P Henson and Terrence Howard is your sofa. 

Chewing Gum

I know the idea of touching it is a little nasty, but not as nasty as having it left on your sofa.

Run to your freezer and grab an ice cube (or multiple ice cubes) and hold it against the chewing gum until it’s frozen. Then (gently!) scrape it off with a butter knife.

After that, blot the area with a dry paper towel to remove excess moisture, then leave the cushion to air-dry.

Ink

Leaving an uncapped pen on your sofa can lead to some very unsightly stains, so you want to act as quickly as possible with this one. The quickest way to remove ink stains is usually with rubbing alcohol, however if that’s not an option for you, grab some vinegar, and dilute it with water and soap, applying it to a cloth.

Gently blot the area (don’t pour!), periodically rinsing the cloth and reapplying the vinegar mixture, until the stain is completely gone.

P.S. Take note that these cleaning tips are written for sofas with standard linen or cotton fabrics in mind.

If your sofa has a more unique fabric, such as velvet, microfibre, or leather – you may want to consider getting a professional opinion, or doing an extensive Google search on how to clean stains off those fabrics.  

And there you go! Keeping these 6 things in mind – you should now be able to extend your sofa’s longevity and keep it in good shape for longer. Go ye forth and apply your newfound knowledge!

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