Pets and sofas: your vital cleaning guide
Sometimes our precious pooches and furry felines might have an accident, or view your sofa as their personal grooming station, which can cause headaches when you want to relax on your brand new sofa and have peace of mind that it’ll go the distance. Here’s our guide on how to protect your sofa from pets.
How to keep your sofa clean when you have pets
No one likes bad odours or stains in their living room, especially on the sofa. To get rid of accidents and prevent stains on your fabric and leather sofa, use the following tips:
- If you have throws, blankets or scatter cushions, remove them and (following manufacturer instructions) give them a thorough wash in the washing machine or by hand.
- Use colourfast cloths to absorb the excess liquid before it soaks deep into the upholstery.
- Dab gently to move liquid to the centre – never rub, as this can spread the stain.
- We recommend using our care kits for any pet accidents. On your fabric sofa, you should use the bottle of fabric cleaner, followed by the organic stain cleaner and deodoriser. This will help to neutralise bacteria and smells.
- For leather, use the bottle of soft leather cleaner to remove the stain and any smells left behind. If you notice that there is still a lingering odour or stain, you may need to repeat these steps until they are gone
We recommend vacuuming your sofa as often as possible to remove pet hairs and any lingering odours. You should never use an ammonia-based cleaner for cat accidents, as the scent may encourage repeat offences. We only recommend using the specially formulated products in our care kits, as these have been tried and tested on our sofas and aren’t liable to damage the upholstery or make stains worse.
Check out our help centre articles on caring for fabric and leather sofas for instructions on regular sofa cleaning.
How to get dog and cat hair off your sofa
For both fabric and leather sofas, it’s important to keep up with regular sofa cleaning. This will help prevent and remove excess fur staying on your sofa and should keep it fresh and clean. Here’s how to clean pet hair from your sofa:
- Use an adhesive lint roller (and a little perseverance) to lift pet hair off your fabric or leather sofa.
- Follow this up with a thorough vacuum.
- For leather sofas, vacuuming and then wiping with a damp cloth is best. Wipe all of the panel seam to seam to ensure it dries evenly.
It’s worth investing in protective sofa accessories like throws to reduce the risk of pet hair, stains, accidents and damage.
How to stop your dog chewing the sofa
Scented repellents are often the best way to help your dog kick its sofa-chewing habit. We recommend you avoid using these directly on your fabric or leather sofa, and instead spray it on a throw, blanket or scatter cushions where possible. The smell will still be there and it should help protect your sofa from your pets.
However, the best way to prevent problem puppies chewing your living room centrepiece is by redirecting your pet’s energy. Ensure your dog is well-exercised and act on any underlying causes of excessive chewing, such as separation anxiety. Then, provide an alternative such as a chew toy.
How to stop your dog licking the sofa
Dogs usually lick the sofa because the texture reminds them of a comforting surface – like fur or skin. This behaviour is more common than you might think and may be exacerbated by tasty spills or crumbs on your sofa.
Stop your sofa tasting like a treat by:
- Cleaning up any food residue and crumbs immediately. If possible, try to avoid eating on the sofa.
- Use a throw or blanket to protect the seats and back cushions of your sofa, and apply a bitter lick-deterrent spray. Try to avoid spraying it directly on the sofa.
- If the behaviour does not cease or is excessive, you may want to take your dog to a vet to rule out any health issues.
How to prevent cats from scratching your sofa
In order to prevent cat scratching, it’s important to understand why they do it. Generally, cats aren’t deliberately trying to destroy your furniture, but instead they have an instinctive desire to use their claws – in the wild, large cats use trees to keep them sharp and primed for hunting. Scratching can also help to keep paws clean and mark out territory with their scent.
Domestic cats have these same wild instincts – they want to stretch, mark their presence and maintain their razor-sharp claws. Unfortunately, this can result in a scratched or even torn sofa. Instinctive behaviours are difficult to prevent, but you can stop your pet scratching the sofa by:
- Providing an alternative nearby, like a scratching post or pad.
- Using throws made from colourfast fabric to protect the sofa from wayward claws when you’ve got curious kittens.
- Cats naturally don’t like the smell of citrus, so you could use a cat-safe citrus repellent spray on any throws, blankets or cushions, but you should avoid spraying this directly onto the sofa.
Choose our pet friendly fabric
More resistant to claw snagging and staining, our easy-clean pet friendly fabric is the ideal choice for you if you like to curl up with your four-legged friends on the sofa. Part of our lifestyle fabric selection, it’s designed with style, comfort and durability in mind, making it a great choice for families with children and pets.
The fabric is more resistant to snagging from pet claws, as well as having a smooth surface which makes removing pet hairs a breeze. What’s more, it’s hypoallergenic, which helps protect the whole family from bacteria, mites and viruses.
Find out more about our pet friendly fabric
Frequently asked questions
How to remove pet hair from a fabric sofa?
Use an adhesive lint roller to lift pet hair off your fabric or leather sofa. Follow this up with a thorough vacuum. For leather sofas, vacuuming and then wiping with a damp cloth is best. Wipe all of the panel seam to seam to ensure it dries evenly.
How to get pet stains out of a fabric sofa?
Act fast to avoid any lasting damage. Use colourfast cloths to gently dab at the stain. We recommend using our specially formulated products from our care kits to remove the accident. You may need to repeat a few times, followed by a wiping seam to seam with a wet cloth.
How to get pet smell out of the sofa?
Remove any throws and scatter cushions and give them a thorough wash. Vacuum your sofa and any scatter cushions to remove dust, skin or fur. Use products from our Sofology care kits to clean any stains, then wipe seam to seam with a wet cloth to finish.