upholstery stains

[earthnut]

Our couch has built up quite a lot of little stains, from food, dirty paws, and me not knowing how to clean them (when I try dabbing them with a moist cloth, they just get bigger). I was wondering if there was some kind of hand vac that will wash the upholstery? Then I could easily run it all over the couch and get it all clean. The other thing I was thinking was to get a slipcover for it and forget about the existing stains. What do you guys think?

[Katie T]

Can you unzip the existing covers? I took mine off (all the looses fiberfill went into garbage bags) then washed & line dried. It was awsome! I know some carpet cleaning machines have furniture attachments too.

[luv-my-boys]

what kind of fabric is it? We have a cough with chenille type fabric cushions that are marked "W" fro the upholstery tag. I unzip them and wash them in cold gentle with woolite and line dry. Its the best thing ever. I actually had to use a seam ripper to get the back cushions off the coach because they came somewhat attached but its much easier to clean this way. Previously we had been using are attachment hose from our steam carpet cleaner (bissel pro heat and also a spot bot) mixed with some water to clean them up. Wtih all the boys and pets in our house our coach has to be cleaned every 4 months or it would get gross.

We also have a microfiber recliner that I use the hose attachement on. the key to not getting "spots" from the cleaning is to actually clean the whole thing at one time. I usually clean it and then either put them outside to dry or have a fan blowing directly on it to speed the drying up.

[earthnut]

The existing fabric cannot be removed, except for the cushions. I think it's cotton duck. Some kind of cotton anyway. I did once take the cushion covers off and wash them, but the piping got kinda screwed up and is wavy now.

I don't know that I want to get a big carpet cleaner, as we don't have carpets...