How to Clean a Fabric Sofa with Vinegar

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: July 14, 2022

Your sofa is a hub for dirt and odors, and cleaning it can seem like a hassle. If you don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on getting your fabric sofa professionally cleaned and hate the chemical smell of some fabric cleaners, vinegar may be the perfect solution! Keep reading to find out how you can clean your fabric sofa with vinegar and a few household items.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making a Vinegar Cleaning Solution

1
Fill a spray bottle with 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water. The water breaks up and dissolves dirt and odors so they can be swept away. Club soda can also be used as a substitute, but the extra carbonation may cause bubbles to form.^{[1]
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Mix ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of white vinegar into the spray bottle. Use a funnel to avoid spills. The vinegar is a mild acid that breaks down dirt and neutralizes odors.^{[2]
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- You can find white vinegar at your local grocery store or online.
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3
Add ¹⁄₂ tablespoon (7.4 ml) of liquid soap to your solution. A natural soap or dish detergent can be used. The small amount of soap will help remove grease and grime. Mix the solution gently to avoid bubbles by either stirring with a utensil or slowly swirling the spray bottle.^{[3]
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- It’s best to use natural liquid soap if you want to avoid fragrances.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Cleaning Your Fabric Couch with Vinegar

1
Remove any slipcovers on the sofa. If your sofa has slipcovers, take them off to clean separately. Slipcovers are the fabric on top of your sofa cushions and pillows, and can be easily removed by unzipping their zippers.
- If you don’t know if your sofa has slipcovers, check the bottom seams of the cushions. Chances are there’s a zipper hiding there!^{[4]
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- Slipcovers can be washed separately in a washing machine on a warm, gentle cycle.^{[5]
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- Once washed, lay slipcovers out to air-dry.
2
Vacuum the sofa to remove loose dirt and crumbs. Using a vacuum on your sofa regularly will help keep your sofa clean. All dust, dirt, and crumbs must be removed from the fabric before using the vinegar solution.^{[6]
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- Use vacuum extensions to reach hard to reach places.
- Remove cushions to suck out dirt trapped in sofa cracks.
3
Dab any wet stains with a paper towel. Removing the liquid from the stain will let the vinegar solution do its job. Gently pat the stain and be careful not to rub the area.
4
Spray the vinegar solution on the sofa. If you are spot cleaning, target the specific stain. If you are cleaning the entire sofa, spray the fabric with light mists. Let the solution rest on the fabric for a few minutes before scrubbing.^{[7]
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- Be careful not to completely soak the sofa. The goal is to make the fabric damp to the touch, not wet.
- Vinegar is also a great odor neutralizer.
5
Dab the vinegar solution with a cloth or paper towel. While the solution is drying, gently pat the area. If there are stains that need more attention, spray the area again and pat thoroughly. ^{[8]
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- Repeat the process until stains, dirt, and odors are removed.
- To remove hard stains, carefully scrub the area with a toothbrush or cleaning brush using circular motions.^{[9]
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6
Allow the sofa to air dry. Once dry, the odor should be gone and your sofa will be looking almost new! Repeat this process whenever your fabric sofa starts to smell a little funky or you accidentally spill something on it.
- Suck the fabric dry with a shop vac or vacuum to speed up the drying process.^{[10]
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- There may be a lingering vinegar smell when you are done cleaning. This will go away on its own with time, but if the smell isn’t ideal, spray your now clean sofa with a light mist of your favorite spray odor eliminator.
- Label the spray bottle and keep the extra solution for future use. You never know when you’ll need an emergency cleaner and stain remover!

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you remove dog urine stains from a fabric sofa?

Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Green Cleaning Expert

Expert Answer

First, make sure all of the urine is soaked up using rags. Clean the area with a mixture of 7th Generation Dish Soap and warm water. Scrub the area thoroughly with a clean white rag. Rinse the area and make sure you get all of the dish soap solution washed out. Dry very thoroughly. Then do the same thing all over again (dry, clean), but this time with a mixture of ½ vinegar and ½ water. This will work on the odors (vinegar neutralizes the ammonia smell of the urine). Dry again very thoroughly. The last step is to sprinkle baking soda liberally all over the entire area and let it absorb all the moisture and smells. Leave it on until it is completely dry, or at least an hour, whichever is longer.