We m
ay spend hours each week cleaning our kitchen, disinfecting the bathroom, vacuuming the carpets and wiping down all the hard surfaces in our home, in an attempt to make our home more healthy, safe and clean. While our attention is constantly on these more obvious areas of the home, what about the areas of the home that are less obvious to clean? A great example of this is the couch, sofa or other soft furnishings such as beds and curtains. You use them every day and your family may spend a considerable amount of time using this furniture, but chances are you might clean it once a year, or less!
Once you see the dangers that could be lurking in a dirty couch, the clear benefits and advantages of maintaining safe and clean upholstery will be obvious.
- Dust Mites and Allergies
Carpets and rugs are not the only place allergens can hide. Dust and the ubiquitous dust mite can also be found in plentiful populations in any of your soft furnishings, such as sofas, couches, cushions, beanbags, curtains and beds. Unfortunately for the more allergy prone amongst us and those
suffering from asthma, dust mites are one of the most common triggers for allergies and asthma attacks. The dead mites along with their shed skins and faeces can be inhaled by us causing irritation to the airways. If that sounds highly unappealing to you, it’s a good idea to get your upholstery and soft furnishings thoroughly cleaned.
If you have specific needs about reducing allergens, it’s a good idea to speak to your professional cleaner about how often you should undertake a thorough cleaning.
- Harmful Mould
The unfortunate reality for homes in humid and warm climates is the presence of mould – in the bathroom tiles, kitchen, and even in soft furnishings and upholstery. Because these furnishings are often made of soft and absorbent fabric, then can collect excess moisture and provide conditions for mould to grow.
Mould spores can also irritate the airways causing allergy like symptoms along with asthmatic reactions, and immunologic responses. Mould can be present within a couch even outside of humid climates, as they may be old food scraps and crumbs lurking inside that couch too!
- Bacteria and Viruses
Chances are, if you or your family like to spend a lot of time hanging out on the couch, these germs do too. Families with kids or pets at home are particularly at risk, as it is so easy for these harmful germs to be transferred to the soft furnishing of couches or sofas and lay dormant until picked up by a suitable host.
If you’ve had a bout of illness in the house, or your soft furnishings are subject to a lot of traffic by animals or kids, it’s a good idea to get your couches and sofas thoroughly cleaned and sanitized fairly frequently to keep germ populations down.
- Grease and Oils
Nasty, greasy couches might not be inherently dangerous in themselves, but they can give rise to the promotion of unsanitary conditions. Grease and 
oil can create a haven for dirt and germs to collect, and can also make your couch look unsightly with dark and stained patches.
Our skin naturally contains oils which help protect it, so unfortunately the accumulation of oils on the couch is unavoidable. A regular clean helps to keep the fabric clean and fresh.
- Harmful Particulates and Chemicals
Aerosols, home cleaners, dust, paint and plastics can all leave their residue or particulates in the fabric of your soft furnishings or couch. Home cleaners are often full of chemicals that can irritate sensitive individuals and may not be great for health.
A professional upholstery cleaner uses safe techniques and environmentally friendly products to deep clean and remove all harmful particles from the furnishings.
While hearing about the hidden dangers lurking in your couch might leave you feeling a little grossed out, the upside is that professional cleaning can thoroughly and successfully take care of any mess, stain, bug or germ lurking in the depths of your couches or sofas. Renew your home and restore it to its original glory with a healthy and safe professional clean.