A writer has tested two popular sofa cleaning methods using washing up liquid and baking soda, and found that baking soda delivered the more effective clean.
Washing up liquid method
The first method involved squeezing washing up liquid into a bowl of hot water, soaking a dishtowel, then wrapping it around a pot lid and wiping it over the sofa. The writer noted that boiling the kettle made the water too hot to handle initially, and that warm tap water would have sufficed.
The process was quick, and the cushions appeared cleaner with dust and marks lifted. However, the fresh scent of the washing up liquid was barely noticeable after cleaning.
Baking soda method
The second method involved sprinkling baking soda over the sofa and leaving it for an hour before vacuuming it off with a soft brush attachment. The writer found this method easier and more thorough, as it absorbed odours rather than just masking them.
Both methods worked, but the writer preferred baking soda, stating it was fuss-free and left the sofa smelling fresher. She said she would not wait months between cleans again.
