How to Keep a Light-Colored Couch Clean and Stain-Free

Don't let stains ruin your chic couch.

White, khaki and tan are all colors that can make a couch look very chic. Unfortunately, a white couch doesn't fair well under everyday use. Stains, spills and general dust and debris can be a light-colored couch's worse enemy. There are a few measures, however, that you can take to prevent your couch from absorbing the color from every item that touches it.

Things You'll Need

• Towels
• Carpet or upholstery cleaner
• OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover

Instructions

1. Scan your couch before and after you sit down to see if there are any visible stains or markings on it. This doesn't have to be a major chore. It's as simple as standing up, turning around and looking at your seat. The same can be said when you go to sit down. Just do a very quick visual check to see if anything catches your attention.

2. Refrain from eating or drinking on your couch if possible. If you're holding an event like a Christmas party at your home and know it's not practical that no food or drink will be anywhere near it, think about covering your couch with a sheet or cloth, moving it into another room (if it's feasible) or serving light-colored beverages. If it's completely unavoidable to have items like red wine or chocolate cake around your couch, make sure you have extra towels and OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover on hand so that you can blot, spot clean and dry the affected area immediately before the stain sets in.

3. Clean your couch once a month with your preferred upholstery or, in some cases, carpet cleaner. Spot clean any areas where there are discolorations or stains. Then clean the areas of the couch that you sit on the most, as they obtain build-up overtime that can settle deep into cushions. Refrain from sitting on the couch until the cleaner has dried.

4. Place any removable pillowcases or cushion covers and place them inside-out in the washing machine once a month or so to remove any built-in debris.

5. Flip your couch cushions and pillows every other month to ensure that no one side gets worn out too quickly.

6. Rotate where you sit on the couch everyday to prevent any one section from sinking in or becoming subjected to too many spills and stains.

7. Keep your shoes, hands and feet off the couch when at all possible. Your shoes can drag dust, debris and a plethora of other undesirable substances onto your couch, while it may absorb sweat, dirt or other sticky materials from your hands and feet.

8. Designate an area for writing, arts and crafts, eating and lounging and/or cocktail imbibing. This will break people of the habit of wanting to bring a lot of materials and substances onto the couch. If you do use your couch for everyday entertaining you should still designate an area, such as a dining room or coffee table, where people can work on projects. This will prevent pens, crayons and other objects from writing on or becoming embedded in the couch.

9. Take any removable cushions or pillows to a professional dry cleaner or upholstery cleaner if you receive a deep, embedded stain that you have been unable to remove.

10. Flip over a couch cushion or pillow if it receives a stain that is impossible to get out.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the upholstery on your couch does wear out, which it eventually will, think about re-upholstering your couch. This will save money and give you a chance to do some re-decorating.

• If you love the way light-colored couches look, but don't want to invest a ton of money in something you're not sure you'll have the time to maintain and clean, think about buying a slipcover couch. That way you can buy a few different colors and don't have to stress if one cover gets too dirty.

• Test out any upholstery or carpet cleaners on the back of your couch or another area that noone sees to ensure that the chemicals won't damage or discolor your fabric.