Why Should You Pull Your Couch Off the Wall?

February may be short, but it's bursting at the seams with much-anticipated and exciting events, including the highly anticipated big game and Pull Your Couch Off the Wall month! Okay, maybe the latter isn’t as anticipated, but it’s significant, nonetheless. At Merry Maids®, we're not just about cleaning – we're all for celebrating and exploring every nook and cranny of your home.

Discover why we're so enthusiastic about this month and moving the couch to uncover hidden treasures. You’ll also get expert advice on tackling the primary task like a pro and incorporating vital secondary cleaning to-dos. Let's dive into the world of under-furniture cleaning!

Why Should You Pull Your Couch Off the Wall?

For many people, the sofa is a comfortable place where friends and family gather to watch TV, play board games, read, and relax, often accompanied by snacks and beverages. And those dropped pieces of popcorn or sticky spilled soda trails don’t just disappear. They decompose, leave stains, and attract all sorts of pests that you don’t want.

Additionally, if you’re a pet owner, there’s no telling what may be lurking under your furniture. We’re talking everything from chew toys and catnip-stuffed mice to tufts of fur and dried hairballs.

Because of this, tending to the dark and mysterious realms under and behind your furniture should definitely be a part of any detailed cleaning routine.

How Often Should You Clean Your Sofa?

When cleaning your sofa, we suggest deep cleaning once or twice a year. However, more frequent cleaning may be necessary if you have pets or notice any unpleasant odors. It's also recommended to wash slipcovers and cushions once or twice a year, as foam and other soft materials can accumulate harmful bacteria. Professional upholstery cleaning should be done at least once every two years, but it can be more frequent depending on usage and dirt accumulation. Maintaining a clean sofa can help you create a healthier home environment and improve indoor air quality.

How Often Should You Vacuum Under the Couch?

As with any household chore, the frequency you clean under furniture will depend on how many people and pets live in your home and how often the area is used. That being said, you should pull your couch out for housekeeping purposes at least twice a year, though ideally, you’d vacuum under and behind the sofa once a month.

How Can You Make the Most of “Pull Your Sofa Off the Wall” Month?

Enlist Help and Be Safe

Obviously, cleaning under furniture isn’t worth the extra effort if you throw your back out or scratch your hardwood floors. Ensure you enlist some help when pulling the sofa away from the wall. You may also want to consider investing in furniture sliders to simplify the task. We suggest making cleaning safety a priority every time.

Clean the Couch Itself

You rarely see the back of this piece of furniture, so you may as well clean the sofa, right? Spend a few extra minutes pulling out the cushions and vacuuming any stale corn chips or random bits of pocket grit you may find. Then go ahead and take care of the upholstery. Keep in mind that you’ll need to take extra care with leather furniture and adjust your cleaning routine for fabric sofas.

Ride the Deep-Cleaning Wave

Vacuuming under the couch probably won’t take more than a few minutes. Why not take advantage of having these out-of-sight patches of flooring, carpet, and walls exposed while you’re at it? Tick some boxes off your deep cleaning checklist by cleaning the carpet, removing wall stains, and sweeping hardwood flooring.

Enjoy the Perks of Finding Lost Items

Maybe you’ll find that pair of sunglasses that disappeared three months ago or your dog’s favorite ball. You might also rack up enough in loose change and bills to buy yourself a coffee. Or this could be the perfect chance to rearrange the living room furniture and try out a new organizational flow. Whatever the case, cleaning shouldn’t equal misery, so try to find pleasure where you can!

Need more tips to maintain a nice and tidy abode throughout the coldest season of the year? Learn how to eliminate musty winter smells in your home, then check out some ideas for keeping snow and slush outside.

And if the short days of winter mean you’ve got no time or energy to deal with the housekeeping, let us lend a hand.