Clean your sofa in 5 minutes: use the pot lid method

How pleasant it is to relax on the sofa after a busy day - but not when it's dirty or smelly. With removable covers, we can leave cleaning to the washing machine. But when it is not possible to wash the covers separately, we have to do this by hand. In this case, we can use the lid-cleaning tip.

This is a popular tip, used by many. The principle is that the surface area covered by the lid of a pot or pan is larger than our hands, and so, with each pass, we can clean a larger area using an even pressure.

How the lid method works

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All you need is a lid from some pot, pan or pan that is large enough. You will then need a microfibre cloth, or an old towel and the liquid mixture to clean your upholstery ready in a bowl - alternatively, you can use a suitable spray product.

The process is really simple:

• Mix the chosen cleaning product with water in a bowl or basin.
• Dip the cloth or towel into the mixture, soak it and then wring out properly.
• Place the cloth on the sofa, and place the lid on top. Fold the edges of the cloth around the lid's handle, so that the cloth remains taut at the bottom.
• If, however, you use a spray product, spray this on the stretched-out cloth now.
• Pass the lid and cloth over the sofa, applying constant pressure.
• When necessary, wet and wring out the cloth again, repeating these steps until you have cleaned the entire sofa.

If you need to rinse off, you can use another cloth with water only and using the same lid method.

The important thing is that the cloth is not soaked in the cleaning liquids - it only needs to be damp.

Products for washing the sofa

Generally, for different types of sofas, you can prepare a multipurpose mixture using water and Marseille soap, and to which you can also add a little sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

In the case of microfibre-clad sofas, you can also use dishwashing liquid: use two teaspoons in a basin with plenty of warm water. Alternatively, you can use isopropyl alcohol: one part alcohol with two parts of water. Rinse off using water only.

In the case of leather sofas, it is best to use specialized products or delicate, neutral soaps.

Have you ever tried this tip at home?