Everything to Know to Keep a White Sofa Looking Brand New

Use a Fabric Protectant

Marisol Rivera, a cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid Austin, notes that applying a fabric protectant is crucial to keep white sofas white. That said, you need to ensure you use the correct fabric protectant depending on the type of sofa you’re maintaining.

“A quality fabric protector creates an invisible barrier on the fibers that causes liquids to bead on the surface instead of soaking in immediately,” says Rivera. “For fabric sofas, I use Scotchgard Fabric and Upholstery Protector, [and] for leather, I use a dedicated leather protectant cream.”

She advises evenly spraying and ensuring a complete dry at least twice a year for optimal protection.

Don’t Rub Spills

If you spill anything on your white sofa (which will likely happen even if you do your best to avoid it), knowing how to clean it properly (and within the first 30 seconds or so after spilling) is essential.

Rivera explains that you should never rub spills. Instead, you should blot them. “Grab a clean white cloth, press it straight down onto the spill, and lift,” she notes. “Rubbing pushes the liquid deeper into the fibers and spreads the stain outward, turning a small spot into a large discolored area.” She also suggests keeping your cleaning cloths white to prevent any accidental color transfers.

Regularly Rotate and Flip Cushions

As you would with a bed, Rivera notes that you need to regularly rotate and flip cushions to keep white sofas white. “Rotating your cushions spreads the wear evenly so that no single cushion develops yellowing, pilling, or permanent indentations faster than the rest,” she explains. “This also ensures even sun fading if your sofa is near a window, since UV exposure gradually changes the tone of white fabric over time.”

Deep Clean Every Few Months

Deep cleaning every few months has a significant impact on keeping white sofas white. “For fabric sofas, mix a small amount of mild dish soap or a gentle upholstery cleaner with warm water, dampen a white microfiber cloth with the solution, and wipe down the entire sofa section by section,” says Rivera. If any cushion covers are removable, she recommends washing those as well. You want to ensure that any oils, sweat, and dirt that may end up on your sofa are removed.

That said, the correct cleaning products depend on whether you’re cleaning a fabric or leather sofa. If you’re tending to a white fabric sofa, she recommends a mild dish soap, and if you’re caring for a white leather sofa, she recommends a specialty leather cleaner

Vacuum Your Sofa Weekly

Rivera notes that vacuuming should be part of your weekly sofa cleaning and maintenance routine to keep your white sofa white. “Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum once a week and get into every seam, crevice, and gap between the cushions,” says Rivera. Don’t forget to vacuum the frame underneath the sofa cushions, too. If you don’t do this, you risk dirt seeping into your white sofa, making it harder to remove.

Mind Your Feet

Your shoes and/or feet can bring unnecessary dirt and even footprints onto your sofa. While it might be tempting to skip taking off your shoes and/or changing into a clean pair of socks before making your way onto your white sofa, it is important (and worth it) to put in the extra effort. If you don’t do this, Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer of Professional Organizers Baton Rouge, notes that you can generally expect the typical areas where feet would rest to become discolored–and nobody wants that.

Avoid Using Bleach

While this might seem counterintuitive, Rivera advises against using bleach on white sofas. “Bleach, even diluted, can weaken and yellow fabric fibers over time,” says Rivera. Parks adds that the best thing you can do when cleaning is to use chemicals specifically designed for upholstery or the type of material the sofa you want to protect is made of.

About the Experts

• Marisol Rivera is a cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid Austin.
• Olivia Parks is the owner and lead organizer of Professional Organizers Baton Rouge.