How to Clean a Sofa With a Steamer

The vapor produced by a dry-steam cleaner allows you to deodorize and sanitize your sofa without using any chemicals. The high-temperature steam also loosens and dissolves surface dirt, brightening the fabric's colors. Steam cleaner units are supplied with a variety of cleaning heads. Use the cleaning head recommended for upholstery by your appliance's manufacturer.

  1. Remove your steam cleaner's boiler cap. Fill the boiler with water, and replace the cap, ensuring it is firmly in position. Attach the hose that includes the steam gun. If the steam gun has a safety lock, activate it so steam does not accidentally release. Plug the cleaner into an electrical outlet and switch it on. Leave the steam cleaner to heat up.

  2. Vacuum the sofa thoroughly to remove all loose dust and debris. Use the upholstery attachment, and go over every surface. If it has loose seat cushions, remove them, and vacuum all of their surfaces. Attach the crevice nozzle to clean gaps at the sides and along the back. Vacuum the surface under the seat cushions.

  3. Fold over a microfiber cloth to form a thick cleaning pad, and clip it to the tool recommended for upholstery by your steam cleaner's manufacturer. Deactivate the safety lock on the steam trigger. Release steam into a basin until any surplus water in the hose has run off and only dry vapor is produced. Attach the cleaning tool to the steam gun.

  4. Select the steam pressure recommended for upholstery by your machine's manufacturer. Release the steam, and gently wipe a small, inconspicuous area of the sofa with the microfiber cloth attached to the cleaning tool. Reactivate the safety lock. Wait 15 minutes and inspect the area you cleaned. If it has suffered no adverse effects and you are satisfied with the result, clean the rest of the sofa in the same way.

  5. Change the microfiber cloth clipped to the cleaning head frequently during the cleaning process. The heat and pressure of the steam loosens dirt, which is then collected by the cloth, so it is important to change it before it reaches its maximum dirt absorption capacity.

  6. Leave the sofa to air until completely dry. Allow the steam cleaner to cool before emptying excess water from the boiler and removing the hose. Wash the microfiber cloths in warm water and detergent. Rinse them thoroughly, but do not use fabric softener as this affects their dirt absorption abilities.

  7. Vacuum the sofa again, when it is completely dry. This will remove any dirt loosened by the steam cleaner but not picked up by the microfiber cloth.

  8. Things You Will Need

    • Vacuum cleaner

    • Microfiber cloths


    Steam your sofa on a day when you can leave the window open in the room in which you are working. This will prevent steam building up and will allow the sofa to air thoroughly when you complete the cleaning process.


    If your sofa is made of Dralon, velvet or leather, read your steam cleaner instructions carefully to see what method its manufacturer recommends for these delicate surfaces, which can be easily damaged.